Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pottstown
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.
Gray Tote Bin (Trash)
Trash is collected once weekly. Place the gray tote out no earlier than 4:00 PM the night before collection. The lid must be closed. All empty totes must be removed from the curb by 6:00 PM on the day of pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household trash
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-hazardous household items
Blue Tote Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected once weekly on a separate day from trash. Keep materials loose in the blue tote with the lid firmly closed to prevent materials from blowing away.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Clear and colored glass
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Aseptic cartons
- ✓Cardboard and paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household garbage
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in brown leaf bags, a separate lidless can, or bundled with twine. Do not place in gray or blue totes. Do not use plastic bags. No grass clippings or dirt allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Sticks and branches (max 3-4 ft in length and 5 inches in width)
- ✓Twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once weekly on your regular trash collection day.
Placement
Place your single free bulk item alongside your gray tote. Do not place out prior to 4:00 PM the night before pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Rolled carpets
- ✓ Tree limbs larger than 3 inches in diameter but under 36 inches long
- ✓ Appliances (White goods)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Dirt or grass clippings
Any additional bulk items beyond the one free item require a fee to be paid in advance at Borough Hall. You will receive a sticker to display on the extra items.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a scheduled trash or recycling day, each collection will be pushed back one day.
Yard Waste Exception
If a holiday falls on a Wednesday yard material pick-up day, or the Monday/Tuesday prior to it, the yard pick-up is entirely skipped for the week.
Check the Borough website for any specific weather-related delays during severe winter storms.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring through Fall
April 1st to December 16thThe dedicated Wednesday yard material pickup is active during these months. Be aware that if a holiday falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, the yard waste pickup is completely skipped for that week.
Winter
Late December through MarchCurbside yard waste collection is suspended during the winter months. Any remaining woody debris must be held until spring collections resume.
All Seasons
Year-RoundEmpty totes must not linger at the curb. Whether it is snowing or sunny, Borough ordinance requires residents to pull their gray and blue totes back onto their property by 6:00 PM on collection day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Understanding Pottstown's Divisional Collection Routes
Waste management in the Borough of Pottstown operates on a strict geographic schedule rather than a universal pickup day. The community is split into two primary divisions: the North/West zone and the South/East zone, generally separated by Adams and Beech Streets. If your property is located in the North/West territory, standard refuse and heavy items are serviced on Fridays, with recycling occurring on Tuesdays. Conversely, South/East residents have their standard trash removed on Mondays, and their recyclables processed on Thursdays. Identifying your specific divisional boundary is the first step to ensuring your domestic waste is efficiently handled.
Strict Tote Placement and Retrieval Regulations
The Borough enforces strict timelines for when you can push your bins to the alley or curb. Gray trash totes and blue recycling carts must not be set out before 4:00 PM on the evening preceding your designated collection day. Once the sanitation trucks have cleared your street, all empty bins must be returned to your property by 6:00 PM that same evening. Pottstown allocates one standard tote for every two residential units, with a strict maximum of three totes per multi-unit property. Ensuring lids are completely closed is mandatory to prevent rainwater accumulation and keep loose materials from blowing into neighboring yards.
The Free Weekly Bulk Item Allowance
Getting rid of a large piece of furniture or an old mattress is highly convenient for Pottstown homeowners. The Borough permits one free bulk item to be collected per property each week alongside your regular gray tote. If you are doing a major cleanout and have multiple bulky pieces, you can easily arrange for additional pickups. To do so, you must visit Borough Hall, pay an advanced fee, and acquire a specialized sticker to attach to the extra items. Keep in mind that appliances containing Freon, such as freezers and window air conditioning units, are strictly prohibited unless properly tagged by a certified technician confirming the refrigerant has been safely removed.
Seasonal Yard Material and Holiday Shifts
Keeping your property manicured is easier with Pottstown's dedicated yard material service, which runs every Wednesday from April 1st through mid-December. Landscaping debris must be packed in brown leaf bags, placed in a separate open can, or tied securely with twine. Plastic bags, grass clippings, and dirt are explicitly banned from this special Wednesday route. When federal holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Thanksgiving interrupt the calendar, all standard collections are delayed by 24 hours. Furthermore, if a holiday falls on or immediately before a Wednesday, the yard waste pickup is completely skipped for that week.
Drop-off Facilities
Montgomery County Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various locations across Montgomery County (Pre-registration required)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put my trash cans out in the Borough of Pottstown?
Residents are permitted to set out their gray and blue totes no earlier than 4:00 PM the night before their scheduled collection day, and all empty bins must be removed by 6:00 PM post-pickup.
Do I have to pay to throw away a large couch?
You are allowed one free bulk item per week. Any extra large items require you to purchase a pre-paid disposal sticker from Borough Hall before placing them curbside.
How do I dispose of tree branches and leaves?
Yard waste is collected on Wednesdays from April to December. Materials must be in brown biodegradable bags, an open-top can, or securely bundled. Branches must not exceed four feet in length.