Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Upper Providence
Trash Day
Twice weekly: Tuesdays and Fridays for residents west of Providence Road; Mondays and Thursdays for residents east of Providence Road.
Recycling
Once weekly: Tuesdays (West of Providence Rd, North of Route 1), Fridays (West of Providence Rd, South of Route 1), Mondays (East of Providence Rd, North of Sandy Bank Rd including Greenhill Rd), or Thursdays (East of Providence Rd, South of Sandy Bank Rd).
Yard Waste
1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month (April–September), every Wednesday in January (including holiday trees), and every Wednesday from October through December for bagged leaves (no collection in February or March).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside trash and recycling collection is contracted through B&L Disposal and billed directly on a quarterly basis.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone
Resident provided Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Ensure bins are securely closed to prevent litter and deter wildlife.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Solidified latex paint (lid removed)
Blue (Township-purchased or resident-provided with official sticker) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Materials must be placed loosely in the bin; never bag your recyclables. Free recycling stickers are available at the township building for personal cans.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clear, green, and brown glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Office paper, newspaper, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and shipping film
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Mixed or soft plastics (#3, #4, #6, #7)
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Light bulbs and broken glass
Yard Waste Bin
Placed out on scheduled Wednesdays. Bagged leaves must be in appropriate yard waste bags. Do not mix yard debris with regular household trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and small brush
- ✓Holiday trees (in January)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week
Placement
Place your single bulk item at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on Thursday (East Side) or Friday (West Side).
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses (must be wrapped)
- ✓ Standard large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions and computers
- ✕ Refrigerators and freezers
- ✕ Air conditioners and dehumidifiers
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Standard bulk furniture is free. However, disposing of appliances containing Freon (AC units, refrigerators) or electronics requires calling B&L Disposal directly to pay an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled trash collection falls on a recognized holiday, your garbage will be collected on your next regularly scheduled collection day (e.g., if Monday is a holiday, you wait until Thursday). However, if your recycling collection falls on a holiday, it will be picked up the very next day.
Yard Waste Exception
Wednesday yard waste may be delayed if a major holiday falls during the week; always refer to the township calendar for specific Wednesday adjustments.
Because refuse is collected twice a week, Upper Providence does not shift trash by one day, but rather skips the holiday entirely.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
JulyPlease be aware that all standard curbside yard waste collections are entirely suspended during the month of July. Plan your landscaping and pruning projects accordingly.
Fall
October - DecemberTo handle the heavy autumn foliage, the township's yard waste schedule increases. Bagged leaves are collected on every Wednesday throughout these three months.
Winter
JanuaryReal holiday trees are collected every Wednesday during the month of January as part of the yard waste program. Ensure all lights, ornaments, and stands are removed prior to placing the tree at the curb.
Local Tips & Community Info
Free-Market Sanitation Solutions
Property owners in Upper Providence Township are empowered to select their own sanitation providers. Because the local government does not operate a municipal fleet for household garbage, the township utilizes an open-market approach. Residents must independently research and hire a licensed private hauler to manage their weekly refuse. Local neighborhoods are heavily serviced by major regional companies such as J.P. Mascaro & Sons, Whitetail Disposal, and Waste Management. Shopping around allows you to find competitive pricing and select a container size that matches your family's actual waste output.
Curbside Etiquette and Collection Standards
Even though private contractors handle the physical pickup, the township enforces baseline standards for neighborhood cleanliness. Trash receptacles and recycling bins should not be dragged to the street edge before dusk on the evening preceding your collection route. Furthermore, all empty containers must be hauled back up your driveway and out of the public right-of-way by the end of the pickup day. To facilitate automated collection, ensure the bins are placed on level ground, a few feet apart, and far away from mailboxes or overhanging tree branches.
The Black Rock Road Compost Center
One of the premier amenities available to Upper Providence residents is the municipal Compost Center situated on Black Rock Road. Instead of paying your private hauler extra fees to take away yard debris, you can bring it here. The facility accepts grass clippings, leaves, and brush from township homeowners. To gain entry, you must purchase an annual yard waste pass from the administration building. In return, residents have access to high-quality, double-ground mulch and screened leaf compost, perfect for spring gardening projects, at no additional charge.
Guidelines for Montgomery County Recycling
Adhering to Pennsylvania's Act 101, Upper Providence requires every household to actively participate in recycling. Your chosen hauler will provide a dedicated bin for this purpose. The region uses a single-stream sorting method, meaning glass, aluminum, steel cans, and mixed plastics can all share the same container. However, contamination is a serious issue that threatens the viability of recycling programs. Never toss greasy pizza boxes, medical waste, or plastic grocery bags into your recycling cart. Plastic bags wrap around the sorting gears at the county facility and halt the entire mechanical process.
Managing Toxic Household Substances
Pouring chemicals down the drain or hiding them in your garbage bin presents a severe threat to local waterways and sanitation workers. Upper Providence Township partners closely with the Montgomery County Household Hazardous Waste program to safely intercept these dangerous materials. Throughout the spring and fall, the county orchestrates several regional drop-off events. You must pre-register online to attend. These events are the only legal way to discard old antifreeze, pool chlorine, turpentine, pesticides, and oil-based paints.
Drop-off Facilities
Upper Providence Township Building
935 N. Providence Road, Media, PA 19063
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Upper Providence Township provide my trash cans?
No. Because residents must hire their own private waste hauler, your selected company will deliver the necessary trash and recycling receptacles directly to your home.
Where can I take my tree branches and grass clippings?
Residents can purchase an annual pass to use the township's Compost Center on Black Rock Road to drop off yard waste and pick up free mulch.
How do I safely dispose of old pool chemicals and paint?
Hazardous materials must be taken to one of the scheduled Montgomery County Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events. Pre-registration is required to participate.