Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lancaster
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.
Varies (Resident provided or rented 96-gallon cart from Penn Waste) Bin (Trash)
Place curbside between 6 PM the night before and 5 AM on collection day. Remove empty containers by 8 PM. Limit 6 bags/cans (32-gal/30 lbs) per week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household trash
- ✓Small bags placed inside larger heavy-duty bags or cans
Green or Blue (Free bins available from the city) Bin (Recycling)
Rinse all containers, remove lids and caps, flatten cardboard. Do not bag recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs WITH a neck
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Newsprint
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Foil
- ✕Cutlery
- ✕Pots
- ✕Wire hangers
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in biodegradable brown paper bags or bundled (max 4 ft long, 6 inches diameter, 30 lbs). No plastic tape or wire.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree trimmings
- ✓Plant debris
- ✓Shrubbery clippings
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Limited grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly limit of 1 oversized item (replaces 2 standard trash bags). White goods collected monthly.
Placement
Set out the oversized item on your normal collection day instead of two regular trash containers.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas
- ✓ Stuffed chairs
- ✓ Mattress and box spring sets
- ✓ Carpet rolls (under 4 feet wide)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Large appliances/white goods (without tag)
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Tires
Regular oversized items are free within the weekly limit. Large appliances (white goods) cost $15 per tag, and are collected on the third Friday of each month.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, service is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collections follow the same holiday delay schedule as regular trash and recycling.
If an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change in service for the preceding or following week.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Halt the Wishful Recycling
Stop hoping unlisted items get recycled. Stick strictly to Lancaster's "Big 4" (cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles/jugs with necks, and glass). Throwing in extra plastics or old mail only pollutes the single-stream system.
Keep Yard Waste Bags Natural
When bundling yard debris, always use biodegradable twine. Never secure bundles with duct tape, wire, or plastic rope, as these materials ruin the local composting process.
Caps Off Before the Bin
Before tossing your glass jars or plastic jugs into the recycling, remove all lids and caps. Toss the caps in your regular household garbage to avoid clogging the sorting machinery at the materials recovery facility.
Seasonal Information
Fall
September - NovemberBag leaves from your private property in the city-provided biodegradable bags. Do not sweep private yard leaves into the street, as it overwhelms Lancaster's street sweepers.
Winter
December - JanuaryChristmas trees are collected on your regular trash day according to the city calendar. Keep an eye on holiday delays due to Christmas and New Year's Day, which push collection back by one day.
Spring / Summer
March - AugustEnsure your brown yard waste bags are kept dry until collection day. Wet organic waste combined with warm summer temperatures can cause bags to prematurely decompose and fall apart at the curb.
About Lancaster Waste Management
Comprehensive Waste Management in the Red Rose City
Lancaster residents enjoy reliable curbside trash and recycling services managed through the city's partnership with Penn Waste. By staying informed about proper set-out times and bag limits, you can help keep the historic streets of Lancaster looking beautiful while avoiding strict ordinance violation fines.
Understanding Lancaster's Bag Limits and Curb Carts
The city maintains a strict maximum of six 32-gallon (or 30-pound) bags per household per week. If you need more space, Penn Waste offers large 96-gallon curb carts for a modest quarterly fee, which count as three of your allotted standard bags, offering a sturdy solution to deter pests in urban neighborhoods.
Getting Back to Basics with the "Big 4" Recycling Approach
To combat the nationwide recycling contamination crisis, Lancaster County focuses exclusively on the "Big 4" recyclables: corrugated cardboard, metal food or beverage cans, plastic bottles or jugs with a neck, and glass jars. Sticking strictly to these items prevents wishful recycling and ensures our local processing facilities can effectively sort and sell the materials.
Yard Waste and Seasonal Leaf Collection
Maintaining your urban garden is made easier with Lancaster’s free biodegradable yard waste bag program. Residents can pick up complimentary bags at multiple locations, including City Hall and the Recycling Drop-Off Center on New Holland Avenue. These bags are essential during the autumn leaf sweep, keeping private property leaves out of public gutters.
Drop-off Facilities
Lancaster Recycling Drop Off Center
850 New Holland Ave, Lancaster, PA 17601
Materials Accepted
Treasury Office
39 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of trash can I put out each week in Lancaster?
You are allowed up to six 32-gallon bags or containers, each weighing no more than 30 pounds. If you need more space, you can purchase extra bag tags at the Treasury Office, or substitute two bags for one oversized furniture item.
Can I sweep my fall leaves into the street?
Leaves falling on public sidewalks may be swept into the gutters right before street sweeping. However, leaves from your private yard must be bagged in biodegradable yard waste bags, or else they can clog the street sweepers.
How do I dispose of a refrigerator or air conditioner in Lancaster?
Large appliances, known as white goods, require a $15 tag from the Treasury Office. They are collected separately on the third Friday of each month to ensure refrigerant gases are safely recovered according to environmental regulations.
What is the rule for setting out and putting away my bins?
According to City Ordinance, containers must be placed at the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before collection and must be removed by 8:00 PM on the day of collection. When not at the curb, bins must be hidden from public view at the side or rear of your property.