Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Reading
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.
Any standard color bin or heavy-duty trash bags Bin (Trash)
Limit of four (4) 55-gallon bags per week. Bags must be securely tied. Place out after 5:00 PM the night before pickup. Bins must be removed from the curb and cannot be stored in the front yard.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging and wrappers
City-issued bins Bin (Recycling)
Reading uses an All-in-One single-stream recycling program. Bins are the property of the city and must remain with the assigned address. Do not bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic containers, jugs, and bottles
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (rinsed)
- ✓Metal and aluminum cans
- ✓Food and beverage cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags (do not bag recyclables)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Household hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
You must schedule pickup in advance via phone or the Reading 311 app. Must be placed in brown biodegradable lawn bags or bundled (branches under 3 inches thick). No plastic bags. Grass clippings are rejected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Hedge trimmings
- ✓Leafy plants
- ✓Small sticks and twigs (bundled)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week (set out with regular trash)
Placement
Place your single allowed bulk item at the curb after 5:00 PM the evening before your standard collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and upholstered furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (MUST be plastic-wrapped and set out on different weeks)
- ✓ Small amounts of bundled construction debris (max 70 lbs and 3 feet in length)
- ✓ Carpet rolls (cut to 3 feet and tied)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Refrigerators, freezers, or AC units (unless tagged by a certified technician confirming Freon removal)
- ✕ Excessively heavy items requiring special lifts
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals and wet paint
- ✕ Loose construction debris
Bulk pickup is included in the monthly solid waste fee (billed via the RAWA water bill). Electronics and tires are also free but require an advance appointment.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection routes are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that specific week.
Yard Waste Exception
If a holiday falls on your designated zone's yard waste collection day, there will be absolutely no yard waste collection for that zone until the following week.
Download the Recycle Coach app or the Reading 311 app for automated push notifications regarding sudden holiday or weather-related collection delays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Grass Clippings Out of Yard Bags
The City of Reading explicitly bans grass clippings from the yard waste collection program. Do not put grass in your biodegradable leaf bags; you are expected to grasscycle or compost them on your own property.
Space Out Your Bed Set Disposal
Do not place your mattress and your box spring out on the same night. Because the city only allows one bulky item per week, you must schedule them for two consecutive weeks, and both must be heavily wrapped in plastic.
Never Hide Electronics in Bulk Trash
It is illegal to place televisions or computers in standard trash bags or pass them off as regular bulk waste. You must use the Reading 311 app to schedule a free, specialized electronic curbside pickup.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberPublic Works crews begin a specialized curbside loose leaf vacuuming program throughout the city starting in October. Do not mix any brush, grass, or debris into these loose leaf piles, as it damages the vacuum equipment.
Winter
December and JanuaryFor safe post-holiday disposal, the city does not collect Christmas trees curbside. Instead, completely undecorated holiday trees must be dropped off at designated sites in City Park and Schlegel Park between late December and late January.
Spring and Summer
March to SeptemberThe on-demand yard waste collection season officially ramps up in late March. Remember to download the Reading 311 app to request a specific pickup day based on your neighborhood's designated zone (Monday for NE Reading, Tuesday for South of Penn, Wednesday for NW Reading).
About Reading Waste Management
Reading's Strict Curbside Bag Limits and Bin Storage Laws
The City of Reading operates on a unique collection model where heavy-duty bags are strictly regulated. Residential properties with up to six units are permitted to place a maximum of four 55-gallon bags of trash at the curb each week. While residents can use standard garbage cans to hold these bags, local property maintenance codes strictly prohibit storing your trash or recycling bins in the front of your home between collection days. All waste must be placed out no earlier than 5:00 PM the evening before your scheduled pickup.
Mandatory Plastic Wrapping for Mattresses
Reading includes the disposal of one bulky item per week in its standard solid waste fee. However, the Department of Public Works enforces strict rules for beds: a mattress and a box spring are legally classified as two separate bulk items. This means you must dispose of them on completely separate collection weeks. Furthermore, to protect Republic Services sanitation crews from bed bugs and biological hazards, both mattresses and box springs must be entirely sealed in plastic wrapping before they hit the curb.
On-Demand Curbside Electronics and Tire Collection
In a major perk for residents, the City of Reading offers curbside recycling for both electronics and used tires—a rarity in Pennsylvania due to state e-waste disposal laws. Residents are entitled to the pickup of one electronic device per week, or up to four rimless tires per request (capped at 12 tires annually). Because these items require a special truck and will not be taken with regular garbage, residents must actively schedule this service by calling the Citizens Service Center or submitting a ticket through the free Reading 311 mobile app.
Grasscycling and On-Demand Yard Waste Pickup
Reading approaches organic yard debris through an on-demand system. Except for specialized fall leaf collection, residents who need brush, twigs, or leaves picked up must pre-schedule their collection day using the 311 app. Notably, the city completely refuses to collect grass clippings curbside. Officials strongly advocate for 'grasscycling'—leaving clippings on your lawn to decompose and act as a natural organic fertilizer—or composting them in your backyard.
Drop-off Facilities
Berks County Solid Waste Authority Recycling Center
1316 Hilltop Road, Leesport, PA 19533
Materials Accepted
City Park and Schlegel Park Drop-Offs (Seasonal Only)
City Park & Schlegel Park, Reading, PA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of trash can I put out in the City of Reading?
Residential properties are strictly limited to putting out a maximum of four (4) securely closed trash bags per week. Each bag cannot exceed 55 gallons in size or be too heavy to safely lift without breaking.
Can I leave my empty garbage cans in front of my house?
No. Under local property maintenance ordinances, trash and recycling bins may not be stored in the front of your home or on the sidewalk. They must be removed from the curb promptly after collection and stored out of sight.
How do I get my yard waste or branches picked up?
Yard waste is collected on an on-demand basis. You must actively schedule a pickup by calling the Streets Division at 610-655-6285, contacting the Citizens Service Center, or submitting a request through the free Reading 311 mobile app. Branches must be bundled and leaves must be in biodegradable brown paper bags.
Are refrigerators and air conditioners accepted for bulk pickup?
They are only accepted if the refrigerant has been professionally removed. You must have a certified technician drain the Freon and legally tag the appliance with a sticker before Republic Services will pick it up at the curb.