Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Upper Dublin Township
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.
Brown Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the brown cart with the lid completely closed. Do not overstuff. Carts must be placed 3 feet away from mailboxes and cars by 7:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste (drained and wrapped)
- ✓Latex paint (must be completely dried out with no lid)
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must remain loose inside the blue cart. The lid must close completely. Cardboard must be cut to 1-foot by 1-foot pieces if placed in the cart, or saved for the bulky Wednesday pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (rigid containers)
- ✓Clear and colored glass bottles/jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and bi-metal cans
- ✓Thin cardboard (cereal boxes) and paper
- ✓Food and beverage cartons (milk, juice, broth)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Pizza boxes and food-contaminated paper
- ✕Plastic bags, bubble wrap, and film
- ✕Styrofoam (Polystyrene #6)
- ✕Syringes and medical waste
- ✕Hardback books
Yard Waste Bin
Use the green yard waste cart for standard weekly service (March-November). For larger amounts, schedule a free extra collection for up to 9 paper bags or bundles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Garden residue
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Scheduled on Wednesdays
Placement
Place your paid bulk item at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled Wednesday. Ensure fuel tanks are completely emptied and doors on appliances are secured.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses ($20/item)
- ✓ Refrigerators and AC units ($40/item for Freon)
- ✓ Lawn mowers and snow blowers ($30/item, fuel must be emptied)
- ✓ Playground equipment and basketball poles (must be disassembled)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (drywall, roofing, asphalt)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
Fees vary by category: $40 for Freon items, $30 for fuel tank items, and $20 for all standard items. A non-refundable processing fee applies to credit card transactions on OpenGov.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a collection day falls on an observed holiday, Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste routes are typically rescheduled. Most often, missed collections are shifted to the Wednesday or Saturday of that same week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows a similarly adjusted schedule during holiday weeks, so always check the Township's Holiday Collection Schedule chart to confirm your exact rescheduled day.
Public Works will also delay or adjust collections if a severe snow emergency is declared in the Township.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Pizza Boxes Belong in the Trash
Despite being made of cardboard, pizza boxes are saturated with grease and baked-on cheese, which destroys the paper recycling process. Always throw pizza boxes into your brown trash cart, never the blue recycling cart.
Skip the Styrofoam and Films
While Upper Dublin accepts a wide range of plastics (#1 through #7), they strictly prohibit soft plastic films, bubble wrap, and any form of Styrofoam (Polystyrene #6). These materials easily jam the sorting equipment at the Montgomery County recycling facility.
Don't Overstuff Your Carts
The automated mechanical arms on the Township's garbage trucks require carts to have their lids completely shut. If you cram too much cardboard or trash into a bin so that the lid protrudes, you will receive a written violation and your collection will be skipped.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late DecemberTo help manage holiday waste, the Township generously allows up to five extra bags of trash to be placed next to your brown cart on your regular collection day during the last two weeks of December.
Spring & Summer
March - NovemberThe Township's automated yard waste program runs exclusively from March through November. Ensure your green cart is placed out the night before your scheduled yard waste day, which may differ from your trash day depending on your zone.
Winter
JanuaryReal Christmas trees are collected curbside seasonally. Be sure to strip the tree entirely of lights, ornaments, tinsel, and plastic tree disposal bags before bringing it to the curb for environmentally friendly composting.
About Upper Dublin Township Waste Management
Managing Waste with Upper Dublin's Automated Cart System
Upper Dublin Township utilizes a highly efficient single-sided automated collection system operated by the local Public Works Sanitation Division. Residents are issued specific color-coded carts: a brown cart for household trash, a blue cart for recycling, and a green cart for seasonal yard waste. A critical rule to remember is that the lid on each cart must completely close. If debris protrudes from the top or if the cart is significantly overstuffed, the automated trucks cannot safely service it, and the collection will be skipped until the issue is corrected.
Utilizing OpenGov for Bulk and Extra Trash Scheduling
Disposing of heavy items like a mattress or refrigerator in Montgomery County requires advanced planning. Upper Dublin Township does not offer free weekly bulk pickup; instead, residents must use the digital OpenGov portal to schedule and pay for special Wednesday collections. Whether you are discarding an old couch for $20 or a Freon-containing appliance for $40, all online requests and payments must be finalized by 12:00 PM on Tuesday to guarantee a spot on Wednesday's route. If you have just a few extra bags of garbage, you can also use this system to schedule an 'Additional Trash' collection for a flat $10 fee.
The Special Wednesday Cardboard Pilot Program
With the dramatic rise in home deliveries, managing large shipping boxes can easily overwhelm a standard blue recycling cart. To address this, Upper Dublin launched a unique pilot program offering a free, dedicated Wednesday pickup exclusively for excessive or bulky corrugated cardboard. Homeowners simply need to log into the OpenGov portal by noon on Tuesday to request the service. Remember to flatten all boxes, bundle them together with twine, or fold them neatly into one large intact box before placing them at the curb.
Yard Waste and the Free Extra Collection Perk
Maintaining your property in Upper Dublin is made easier with a robust yard waste program running from March through mid-November. During these months, residents place their green yard waste cart curbside on their designated service day. Remarkably, the Township offers a 'Free Extra Yard Waste Collection' for major landscaping projects. By calling the municipal reception desk in advance, you can set out up to nine extra paper bags, bundles, or rigid containers of organic debris at no additional cost, ensuring your lawn stays pristine all season long.
Drop-off Facilities
Upper Dublin Township Compost Facility
1128 Camp Hill Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away a large piece of furniture in Upper Dublin?
Bulk items are collected exclusively on Wednesdays. You must create an account on the Township's OpenGov portal, complete the Bulk Trash request form, and pay the $20 fee by 12:00 PM on Tuesday to secure your Wednesday pickup.
Can I put extra garbage bags outside my brown cart?
Generally, no. All weekly trash must fit inside the brown cart with the lid closed. However, during the last two weeks of December, the Township allows up to 5 extra bags for free. At any other time of the year, you must pay a $10 fee on OpenGov to schedule an 'Additional Trash' pickup for up to three extra bags.
What is the Wednesday Cardboard Collection program?
If you have an excessive amount of oversized cardboard shipping boxes that won't fit in your blue recycling cart, Upper Dublin offers a free Wednesday bulk cardboard pickup. You simply need to request the service via the OpenGov portal by Tuesday at noon, flatten the boxes, and tie them in a bundle.
Are there limits on how much yard waste I can put out?
For your standard weekly collection, you are limited to what fits inside your green yard waste cart. However, you can schedule a 'Free Extra Yard Waste Collection' by calling the reception desk at 215-643-1600 ext. 0, which allows you to place up to 9 extra paper bags or bundles at the curb.