Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Upper Darby
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 (provided by resident) Bin (Trash)
Maximum of 5 containers. Bins must be 32 gallons or smaller and weigh under 40 pounds each. Bins with attached lids are completely prohibited. Must be at the curb by 7:00 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Small non-hazardous household items
Standard recycling bin Bin (Recycling)
Upper Darby uses a single-stream recycling program. All items must be placed loosely in the bin. Do not bag recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Items with food residue
Yard Waste Bin
Collected on your recycling day. Must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or loose in an open trash can. Plastic bags are banned. Branches must be tied in bundles weighing under 40 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree trimmings (bundled to 3 feet)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (collected on your normal trash day)
Placement
Place your allowed bulk item at the curb before 7:00 AM on your normal collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Televisions (limit 1 per trash day)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be sealed in plastic)
- ✓ Large metal appliances
- ✓ Carpeting (cut to 3 feet in length, rolled, and tied into bundles under 40 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Rain-soaked heavy carpet rolls
- ✕ Construction debris and hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Unwrapped mattresses
Bulk pickup is included as part of the municipal sanitation service at no extra cost, provided residents stay within the 1-item per pickup limit.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Upper Darby uses a unique shift system rather than a standard one-day delay. For example, when a holiday falls on a Monday, Monday's trash/recycling route will be collected on Wednesday. Wednesday recycling routes for certain sections will be pushed to Tuesday or Friday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the same unique holiday shifts as your designated recycling day.
Because the holiday adjustments are complex and vary by neighborhood (Section 1 vs Section 2), always consult the Township's Holiday FAQ webpage for exact alternate collection days.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Do Not Use Bins With Attached Lids
For the safety and speed of the sanitation workers manually lifting waste, Upper Darby explicitly prohibits trash cans with attached or hinged lids. Use standard removable-lid containers instead.
Seal Mattresses in Clear Plastic
If you are placing a mattress or box spring out for your weekly bulk pickup, both pieces must be individually wrapped and permanently sealed in clear plastic or vinyl covering. Unsealed mattresses will be rejected.
Keep Pizza Boxes Out of the Recycling
Greasy pizza boxes and any cardboard containing food residue cannot be processed by the Township's single-stream recycling facility. Throw these directly into your regular trash.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June 1 to September 4The Township switches to a highly anticipated Summer Trash Schedule. During these months, all residential areas receive trash collection twice a week instead of once a week to help control odors and heat-related sanitation issues.
Fall
October to DecemberThe Highway Street Cleaning Division manages a specialized leaf collection program to keep local storm drains clear. Ensure leaves are packed into biodegradable paper bags or piled according to the Township's seasonal newsletter instructions.
Winter
JanuaryPublic Works offers designated curbside pickup for post-holiday Christmas trees. The exact dates are published annually in the Township Newsletter. Trees must be completely stripped of all decorations, lights, and stands.
About Upper Darby Waste Management
Strict 32-Gallon Limit and the 'No Attached Lid' Rule
Upper Darby’s Sanitation Division relies heavily on manual collection by Public Works crews. To protect sanitation workers from lifting injuries, the Township enforce strict rules on residential trash containers: bins cannot exceed 32 gallons in capacity, and each household is limited to a maximum of five containers per collection day (each weighing under 40 pounds). Notably, Upper Darby explicitly bans the use of trash cans with attached lids. All waste must be placed at the curb line before 7:00 AM on the day of your collection.
Twice-a-Week Summer Trash Collection Surge
To help manage household odors, pests, and overflow during the sweltering heat of the mid-Atlantic summer, Upper Darby temporarily shifts its garbage collection schedule. From June 1 through September 4, the Township operates a specialized Summer Trash Schedule where every residential area receives twice-a-week trash pickup. Single-stream recycling collection remains on its standard once-a-week rotation during this period.
Free Weekly Mattress and Television Pickup
Upper Darby offers exceptionally generous bulk waste removal privileges compared to neighboring Pennsylvania municipalities. Under local ordinances, residents are allowed to place out exactly one (1) television at the curb during each regular trash day without paying an extra e-waste fee. Furthermore, you can dispose of one mattress and one box spring per trash day, provided both items are completely sealed in a clear plastic or vinyl mattress bag to prevent bed bug transmission.
Coordinated Yard Waste and Recycling Days
Keeping yard debris out of the general landfill stream is a priority for the Township. Upper Darby collects residential yard waste every week on the same day as your designated recycling collection. Homeowners must place grass and organic debris in biodegradable brown paper bags or leave them loose in a dedicated trash can. Branches and tree trimmings must be cut down to a maximum of 3 feet in length, bundled, tied, and weigh less than 40 pounds per bundle. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Drop-off Facilities
Delco Mulch (Yard Waste Alternative)
1720 State Road, Upper Darby, PA 19082
Materials Accepted
Delaware County Solid Waste Authority (Household Hazardous Waste Events)
Various locations across Delaware County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What size garbage cans are allowed in Upper Darby?
The Township strictly mandates that residential trash cans must be 32 gallons or smaller and weigh under 40 pounds when filled. Most importantly, you cannot use any garbage cans that have an attached or hinged lid.
Can I put my old television out for the trash?
Yes. Unlike many other municipalities, Upper Darby allows residents to place exactly one (1) television at the curb during each regular trash collection day without any additional fees.
How do I get rid of an old mattress and box spring?
You can throw away one mattress and one box spring on your normal trash day. However, Upper Darby requires that both the mattress and the box spring be individually wrapped and completely sealed in a clear plastic or vinyl bag.
Does my trash pickup schedule change in the summer?
Yes! To help manage odors and pests during the hotter months, Upper Darby shifts to a Summer Trash Schedule from June 1 through September 4, during which trash is collected twice a week instead of once.