Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Harrisburg
Pennsylvania waste collection runs weekly, with exact days varying by local township, borough, or city routing schedules.
State Mandate
Follow Act 101 guidelines for mandatory community recycling.
Standard color (varies by container type) Bin (Trash)
Place bins at the designated collection spot. Construction and demolition waste (plaster, sheet rock, soil, cinder blocks) is strictly forbidden.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household solid waste
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓General household refuse
City-issued recycling bin Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. Break down cardboard boxes and tie them with string; if it is raining on collection day, store cardboard indoors until the next collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics labeled #1 (PET), #2 (HDPE), and #5 (PP)
- ✓Aluminum and steel containers (rinsed)
- ✓Paper and corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (must go to drop-off sites)
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed at the FRONT of your property on your designated STREET CLEANING DAY. Leaves and trimmings must be in separate paper compost bags. Branches must be tied in bundles under 4 feet and under 40 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubbery clippings
- ✓Tree branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (on your regular trash collection day)
Placement
Place your single bulk item at the curb next to your regular refuse bins on your standard collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Standard pieces of furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Rolls of carpeting
- ✓ Large non-electronic household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Sofa beds
- ✕ Electronic items (TVs, computers, microwaves)
- ✕ Construction and demolition waste (sheet rock, cinder blocks, plumbing)
- ✕ Tires
The pickup of one bulk item per week is included in your standard municipal sanitation fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday occurs, trash and recycling collections are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is collected on street cleaning days, which are also suspended or altered during city-observed holidays.
Because collection routes are split into five specific zones, holiday delays can vary by neighborhood. Download the Recycle Coach app or call 3-1-1 to confirm your modified holiday schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of the Curbside Bin
Never place glass bottles or jars into your curbside recycling bin. Harrisburg's recycling broker does not accept mixed glass; you must take glass items to one of the 10 free drop-off locations around the city.
Grass Clippings Are Completely Banned
The Department of Public Works explicitly bans grass clippings from both the trash and the yard waste collection streams. Residents are expected to 'grasscycle' by mowing often and leaving the clippings to mulch naturally on their lawns.
Do Not Mix Leaves and Trimmings
When bagging yard waste for street cleaning day, do not mix your autumn leaves with other shrubbery or plant trimmings. The city requires leaves and trimmings to be packaged into completely separate paper compost bags.
Seasonal Information
Spring through Fall
April to NovemberYard waste collection is highly active during these months. Remember that collection happens on your designated street cleaning day, not on your regular trash collection day, and relies on a dedicated yard waste truck.
Rainy Weather
Year-RoundIf heavy rain is forecasted on your collection day, the Sanitation Office requests that you store excess bundled cardboard indoors until your next collection day to prevent the paper from dissolving and becoming unrecyclable.
Holidays
Year-RoundThe city periodically adjusts collection dates to accommodate City holidays and municipal furlough days. Residents should utilize the Recycle Coach app for real-time notifications on holiday delays for their specific zone.
About Harrisburg Waste Management
Navigating Harrisburg's 5-Zone Collection Schedule
The City of Harrisburg's Department of Public Works directly manages the collection of residential solid waste for over 20,000 households. The city is geographically divided into five specific zones to ensure daily pickups run smoothly from Monday through Friday. For example, Midtown and Uptown residents are typically serviced on Mondays and Wednesdays, while Downtown and Allison Hill are serviced on Tuesdays. Residents can utilize the city's Recycle Coach app to confirm their exact designated day.
Strict Separation of Glass from Single-Stream Recycling
While Harrisburg offers convenient single-stream curbside recycling for plastics (#1, #2, and #5), aluminum, steel, and paper products, it explicitly prohibits glass in curbside bins. To prevent contamination and glass shard hazards, residents are required to separate all glass bottles and jars and transport them to one of 10 dedicated municipal drop-off sites located throughout the city, such as the Broad Street Market, Kline Plaza, or designated fire stations.
Coordinating Yard Waste with Street Cleaning Days
Unlike many municipalities that collect yard waste alongside regular trash, Harrisburg takes a unique approach: organic yard debris is collected exclusively on your neighborhood's designated street cleaning days by a specialized truck. When placing yard waste out, residents must place it at the front of their property and are required to keep leaves completely separated from shrubbery clippings, using distinct paper compost bags for each.
Weekly Bulk Perks and Construction Debris Bans
The Sanitation Office allows every household to dispose of exactly one bulk item each week during their regular trash service at no extra cost. While items like a standard mattress, box spring, or rolled carpet are perfectly acceptable, the city strictly bans sofa beds and all electronic devices from this bulk service. Additionally, no construction or demolition waste—such as sheet rock, cinder blocks, or plumbing materials—can ever be placed in residential trash bins.
Drop-off Facilities
Dauphin County Recycling Center
1625 South Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17104
Materials Accepted
Broad Street Market Glass Drop-Off
Sayford & Fulton Streets, Harrisburg, PA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put glass in my curbside recycling bin in Harrisburg?
No. The City of Harrisburg does not accept glass in its single-stream curbside recycling program. You must separate all glass bottles and jars and take them to one of the 10 municipal drop-off sites, such as the Department of Public Works building or Kline Plaza.
When does the city pick up yard waste?
In Harrisburg, yard waste is collected on your designated street cleaning day, not on your regular trash collection day. You must place your paper compost bags and bundled branches at the front of your property for the dedicated yard waste truck to collect.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch?
The Sanitation Office allows every household to place one bulk item, such as a mattress or a standard couch, out for collection each week on their regular trash day. Note that sofa beds are strictly excluded from this service.
What should I do with my grass clippings?
The City of Harrisburg strictly prohibits placing grass clippings in your trash bins or mixing them with your yard waste bags. The Department of Public Works asks that all residents mulch their grass clippings naturally by leaving them on the lawn after mowing.