Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for State College
Trash Day
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays depending on your street route
Recycling
Collected on the same day as refuse (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday)
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste carts are collected on your regular trash day; bulk brush is collected on Mondays upon request
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Borough refuse and organics billing is managed through the State College Finance Department, with semi-annual automatic payments drafted each February 15th and August 15th.
Billing Cycle
Semi-Annually
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
No specific income-based discounts listed, but qualifying residents with physical disabilities or health impairments can apply for an exemption to receive at-door collection service.
Black/Gray Cart (Property of State College Borough) Bin (Trash)
All household refuse must be bagged and stored in appropriate carts. Place the cart 3 feet from obstructions, cars, and trees. Carts must be ready by 7:00 AM on collection day (or 6:00 AM during the summer).
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household refuse
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Food waste (if not using the organics cart)
Red Bin (Provided by CCRRA) Bin (Recycling)
Paper products MUST be bagged/bundled together inside the red bin. Cardboard MUST be flattened and placed next to the bin. Set out by 7:00 AM (or 6:00 AM between Memorial Day and Labor Day).
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed paper and newspaper (bagged or bundled inside bin)
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars (rinsed, lids attached)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (rinsed, lids attached)
- ✓Steel and aluminum cans
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (flattened and placed beside the bin)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Miscellaneous plastics (tubs, trays, clamshells)
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Medical waste and medicine
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard waste and grass must go into the organics cart. Brush larger than 2 inches in diameter is collected curbside on Mondays by appointment only. Do not bag organics in standard plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Hedge clippings
- ✓Food scraps and kitchen organics
- ✓Loose leaves (seasonally)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Mondays only, strictly by appointment.
Placement
Place items at the curb (or by your usual dumpster) by 6:00 AM on Monday. Do not place bulk items out more than 48 hours prior to the scheduled collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators and stoves
- ✓ Washing machines and dryers
- ✓ Furniture, sofas, and mattresses
- ✓ Scrap metal and riff-raff
Not Accepted
- ✕ Building materials (earth, rock, stumps)
- ✕ Tires (requires special paid arrangement)
- ✕ Tree limbs weighing over 40 pounds
- ✕ Electronic devices (must go to CCRRA drop-off)
Standard bulk pickup for typical household furniture and appliances is provided at no extra cost. Unscheduled tires or excessive building materials left out may be forcibly removed by the Borough for a fee (labor, equipment, and disposal costs).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
State College Borough frequently utilizes an alternate collection date system for holidays rather than a standard rolling one-day delay. For example, Thursday Thanksgiving collections are often advanced to the Wednesday prior.
Yard Waste Exception
If a legal holiday falls during the week, the scheduled Monday bulk item and brush collections are completely canceled for that week and will resume the following Monday.
Always check the 'Dates that Impact Residential Collection' schedule on the Borough website, as alternate makeup days for refuse and recycling are manually scheduled by Public Works.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
Memorial Day - Labor DayTo protect sanitation workers from severe summer heat, collection crews start their routes an hour earlier. During this period, all refuse and recycling containers must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM rather than the standard 7:00 AM.
Fall
September - DecemberDuring the designated Fall Leaf Collection season, Public Works crews canvas the Borough zone-by-zone to vacuum loose leaves from the curb. Rake leaves within 5 feet of the curb line, but do not bag them or sweep them directly into the street.
Winter
December - MarchWhen placing your carts out during the winter months, ensure they are kept completely clear of snow and ice banks. Do not place carts in the street where they could interfere with municipal snow plows; keep them in a cleared area of your driveway apron.
Local Tips & Community Info
Automated Refuse Collection Service
In the Borough of State College, residential garbage collection is managed directly by the municipal Public Works Department utilizing a highly efficient automated cart system. Property owners are required to use the designated refuse carts issued by the local government. For new residents looking to establish a solid waste account, requests should be directed to the State College Borough Finance Department via phone or email. To maintain neighborhood cleanliness, all household trash should be bagged before being placed inside the cart, and the bins must be wheeled to the curb by early morning on your scheduled pickup day.
Curbside Recycling with CCRRA
Unlike regular refuse, the recycling services in State College are operated by the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority (CCRRA). They collect recyclable materials curbside on the exact same day as your standard garbage pickup. Residents must sort their items according to CCRRA guidelines, placing clean glass bottles, plastic jugs, mixed office paper, and flattened corrugated cardboard into the proper bins. It is crucial to remember that plastic grocery bags cannot be processed in your curbside bin and will contaminate the sorting machinery.
Organics and Compost Program
State College is extremely proactive regarding environmental sustainability, offering a specialized organics and compost collection program to its residents. Households can divert food scraps—such as meat, dairy products, coffee grounds, and vegetable peels—as well as soiled paper napkins and greasy pizza boxes away from the landfill. If you prefer to bag your organic waste, you must use certified compostable bags, as standard plastic or falsely labeled degradable bags are strictly prohibited. The collected material is processed into high-quality compost that is eventually made available for local delivery.
Scheduling Bulk Item Pickups
If you are clearing out bulky furniture, appliances, or old mattresses, you cannot simply leave them next to your refuse cart unannounced. The Borough provides bulk item collection strictly by appointment. Pickups typically begin on Mondays and continue throughout the week until all stops are completed. To get on the manifest, residents must submit a Bulk Refuse Pickup Form online or call the Public Works office prior to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. You are permitted to place up to three large items at the curb per scheduled appointment.
Disability Exemptions for Refuse Carts
Recognizing that wheeling heavy refuse carts to the street can be physically challenging or impossible for some individuals, the Borough of State College offers an at-door service exemption. Residents suffering from physical disabilities due to advanced age, poor health, or as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act can apply for this special accommodation. By completing the Disability Exemption Refuse Collection Form, eligible community members can have sanitation workers retrieve their carts directly from their property rather than forcing them to navigate curbside placement.
Drop-off Facilities
Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority (CCRRA)
253 Transfer Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823
Materials Accepted
Glenn O. Hawbaker Recycling Center
Hawbaker Industrial Drive, State College, PA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I contact to set up a new trash account in State College?
You must contact the State College Borough Finance Department to establish a new residential refuse collection account and arrange for your automated cart delivery.
Does the Borough collect electronics with bulk trash?
No, standard bulk collection does not include electronic devices. Televisions and computers must be taken directly to the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority for proper e-waste processing.
Can I throw food waste in my regular garbage?
While permitted, the Borough strongly encourages residents to use the dedicated organics and compost collection program to sustainably dispose of food scraps, greasy pizza boxes, and coffee grounds.