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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Grass Clippings Out
Unlike some neighboring municipalities, Pottstown strictly prohibits grass clippings and dirt in the Wednesday yard waste collection. Leave clippings on your lawn to act as a natural fertilizer.
Ban the Plastic Yard Bags
Never use plastic bags for your leaves or twigs. The Borough will not collect yard waste packaged in plastic; you must use biodegradable brown paper leaf bags or an open container.
Keep Totes Closed Tight
Always ensure the lids on both your blue recycling tote and gray trash tote are shut completely. This simple habit keeps rain from making your recycling soggy and prevents windblown litter.
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.
About Pottstown Waste Management
Understanding Pottstown's Zoned Waste Collection Schedule
Pottstown Borough is uniquely divided into two primary service zones for waste management: the North/West division and the South/East division. To keep operations smooth and predictable, trash, bulk items, and single-stream recycling are collected on alternating days depending on where your property is located. Residents in the North/West zone see garbage and bulk pickups on Fridays and recycling on Tuesdays, while the South/East zone receives trash and bulk service on Mondays and recycling on Thursdays.
Maximizing the Blue and Gray Tote System
To modernize sanitation efforts and keep neighborhood streets clean, the Borough issues specific colored receptacles for household waste. Your everyday garbage must exclusively go into the gray tote, while all recyclable materials belong in the blue tote. It is a strict municipal requirement to keep the lids securely closed on these totes at the curb; this simple step prevents rainwater from pooling inside and stops lightweight plastics and paper from blowing across Montgomery County roads during storms.
Taking Advantage of Weekly Bulk Item Allowances
One of the most generous aspects of Pottstown's municipal waste program is the weekly bulk trash allowance. Every week, residential units are permitted to place one large item—such as an old mattress, a broken chair, or rolled carpet—at the curb entirely free of charge on their designated trash day. For those doing heavy cleanouts who need to dispose of multiple bulky items or large appliances (White Goods), you can arrange extra pickups by paying an advance fee at Borough Hall and displaying the issued sticker on the additional items.
Navigating Wednesday Yard Material Collections
Yard maintenance in Pottstown requires adhering to the Borough's specific seasonal guidelines. From the beginning of April through mid-December, a dedicated yard material collection runs every Wednesday. Instead of tossing branches in your gray garbage tote, you must bundle sticks (under four feet in length) with twine, or use brown biodegradable leaf bags or an open, lidless trash can. Bear in mind that grass clippings and dirt are completely banned from this pickup, and utilizing plastic bags will result in your yard waste being left behind at the curb.
Drop-off Facilities
Montgomery County Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various locations across Montgomery County (Pre-registration required)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put out my trash and recycling in Pottstown?
You can place your gray and blue totes out at the curb no earlier than 4:00 PM the night before your scheduled collection day. All empty totes must be removed by 6:00 PM on the day of pickup.
How do I dispose of yard waste in the Borough?
Yard waste is collected every Wednesday from April 1st to mid-December. It must be placed in brown leaf bags, a separate open can without a lid, or bundled securely with twine. Grass clippings, dirt, and plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Can I put out a mattress or large furniture item with my regular trash?
Yes. The Borough allows one bulk item per property to be picked up free of charge each week on your regular trash day. If you have additional bulk items or appliances, you must pay a fee in advance at Borough Hall and attach the provided sticker to the extra item.
What happens to my pickup if there is a major holiday?
If a major holiday (like Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, or Christmas) falls on your scheduled collection day, your pickup will be pushed back by one day. However, for Wednesday yard waste, if the holiday falls on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, the yard pickup is completely skipped for that week.