Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Norristown
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on your designated trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Collected on the second Saturday of every month.
Set Out Time
Place containers curbside no more than 18 hours before collection, or by 6:00 AM on collection day.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash collection and disposal fees are billed annually as a dedicated line item on the Norristown Municipal Real Estate Tax bill mailed out in mid-February.
Billing Cycle
Annual (Included on Real Estate Tax Bill)
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A 2% early-bird discount is available if taxes and trash fees are paid by April 15. No specific senior or low-income discounts are listed.
Resident's Choice (Must have a tight-fitting lid) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed in heavy-duty plastic bags or durable leak-proof containers not exceeding 32 gallons or 50 pounds. Cans must have tight-fitting lids to deter pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small amounts of bagged household debris
Blue (Municipality-issued or clearly marked) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable containers must be rinsed completely clean of food and liquid residue. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely inside the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Aluminum and steel/bimetal cans
- ✓Clear, brown, and green glass bottles and jars
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam (EPS)
- ✕Food-soiled paper (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be placed in biodegradable brown paper bags or open, clearly marked trash cans. Branches must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 feet and no thicker than 3 inches in diameter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Weeds and garden residues
- ✓Brush and tree trimmings (tied in bundles)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One (1) bulk item per week.
Placement
Place the bulk item out on your normal trash day by 6:00 AM. It must be light enough for two sanitation workers to safely lift into the truck.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and upholstered chairs
- ✓ Wooden or metal furniture
- ✓ Non-Freon household appliances (washers, dryers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions and computers (Covered Devices)
- ✕ Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units (unless Freon is certified removed)
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (bricks, drywall)
The single weekly bulk item is included in your standard municipal service fees. Excessive cleanouts or additional large items will require a private dumpster rental or direct coordination with a private junk hauler.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection for that day and all subsequent days that week will be delayed by one day (e.g., Friday collections move to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collections observe the same one-day delay rule during holiday weeks.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is generally no disruption to the regular Monday-Friday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - DecemberThe Municipality of Norristown conducts specialized curbside leaf vacuuming and bagging collection during the autumn months. Leaves should be placed in biodegradable bags or swept to the curb line strictly according to the published seasonal zone schedule.
Winter
JanuaryCurbside Christmas tree collection typically occurs during the first two weeks of January. All tinsel, lights, ornaments, and plastic tree stands must be completely removed for the tree to be chipped and composted.
Spring/Summer
April - SeptemberWeekly yard waste collection ramps up to accommodate grass clippings and spring pruning. Ensure you never use plastic bags for yard waste, as this will result in the hauler leaving the debris at your curb.
Local Tips & Community Info
Norristown Refuse Services via J.P. Mascaro & Sons
The Municipality of Norristown has partnered exclusively with J.P. Mascaro and Sons to provide comprehensive curbside trash removal for local households. Residents are required to place all standard household garbage inside the officially provided brown wheeled carts, ensuring the lid is securely closed. Loose bags left on the sidewalk will not be collected. The municipality enforces a strict limit of no more than four total containers per property. To maintain clean streets, you should not push your carts to the curb more than 18 hours prior to your designated collection timeframe, and they must be brought back onto your property within 18 hours after pickup.
Streamlined Blue-Lid Recycling
To help divert materials from local landfills, Norristown equips homes with a specific brown recycling cart featuring a distinct blue lid. You should place your recyclables directly into this container without bagging them. Plastic grocery sacks, film packaging, and trash bags are major contaminants that disrupt the recycling facility's machinery. Acceptable items include rinsed glass bottles, metal soup cans, cardboard boxes, and standard plastic jugs. If your recyclables are contaminated with food or liquid, the hauler may reject the entire bin.
Convenient Routine Bulk Item Pickup
Unlike many cities that require special appointments for large items, Norristown allows for the convenient disposal of bulk waste directly on your regular trash collection day. Homeowners are permitted to place up to two large bulk items—such as mattresses, box springs, or pieces of old furniture—out at the curb each week. However, this regular bulk service strictly prohibits major household appliances, often called white goods, as well as any heavy construction debris. If you set out more than two bulk items, the sanitation crew will only remove the allowed limit.
Second Saturday Yard Waste Sweeps
Managing seasonal foliage and grass clippings is straightforward with Norristown's dedicated yard waste program. Collection for organic outdoor debris occurs specifically on the second Saturday of every single month. Residents must pack their trimmings, leaves, and brush into rigid containers or specialized biodegradable paper leaf bags. Utilizing plastic bags for yard waste is an immediate code violation, and those bags will be left behind. This collected material is sustainably composted rather than being buried in a landfill.
Holiday Shifts and Missed Collections
When major national holidays—such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas—occur during the workweek, J.P. Mascaro & Sons will adjust the collection schedule. Typically, if a recognized holiday falls on or before your normal service day, your pickup will be delayed by exactly 24 hours. If you comply with all container rules but still experience a missed pickup, you can directly email the Norristown residential trash department or call the hauler's customer service hotline at 800-432-1616 to have the issue swiftly resolved.
Drop-off Facilities
Montgomery County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Various locations across Montgomery County (Event-based)
Materials Accepted
Norristown Public Works Department
235 E Airy St, Norristown, PA 19401
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulk items can I throw away each week in Norristown?
Residents can place a maximum of two bulk items, such as furniture or mattresses, at the curb alongside their regular weekly garbage.
What is the rule for setting out my trash bins?
Carts cannot be placed at the curb more than 18 hours before your scheduled pickup time, and they must be retrieved within 18 hours after collection.
When does Norristown collect yard waste?
Yard waste is collected once a month, specifically on the second Saturday. All organic material must be placed in a rigid container or a biodegradable paper bag.