Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wilkes-Barre
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.
Resident's Choice (Bags Must Have Official Sticker) Bin (Trash)
All garbage bags up to 30 lbs must have an official $2.00 city sticker clearly affixed and facing the street. Alternatively, residents may use official small blue bags (up to 15 lbs) which do not require a sticker. Set out by 7:00 AM (6:00 AM in summer).
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
City-Issued Bin or Resident-Purchased 30-Gallon Bin Bin (Recycling)
Dual stream system alternating weekly. Recyclables must be loose in the bin, never bagged. Cardboard must be compacted. Overloaded bins will be left at the curb.
Accepted Items
- ✓Week 1: Paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Week 2: Plastic bottles (#1 & #2), clear/colored glass, aluminum/steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Collected from April through November on your regular trash day. Limit of 5 paper yard waste bags or open-top bins per week. Tree trunks, dirt, and bundled yard waste products will NOT be collected. No plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaf waste
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Garden waste and residue
- ✓Wood waste and sod
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Only during periodically advertised Special Collection events.
Placement
Do not leave bulk items at the curb with a standard garbage sticker. You must wait for the City to announce a Special Collection, or hire a private junk hauler.
Accepted
- ✓ White goods (large appliances) during designated events
- ✓ Tires during specific tire recycling events
Not Accepted
- ✕ Furniture and couches
- ✕ Rugs and carpets
- ✕ Bricks, dirt, and stone
- ✕ General construction materials
Garbage stickers are not valid for bulk items or furniture. Any fees associated with Special Collections (like tire disposal) will be announced prior to the event.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major holiday falls on a weekday, City Hall closes and DPW routes are typically suspended for the day, shifting collections back. Always check the 'Newsflash' section on the city homepage for exact route modifications.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and dual-stream recycling pickups follow the exact same holiday suspension and delay schedule as the standard garbage routes.
The City provides an updated annual calendar detailing exact recycling weeks and holiday shifts on the Dual Stream Recycling webpage.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Face the Sticker Outward
When placing your garbage bags at the curb, ensure the $2.00 municipal sticker is clearly visible and facing the street. If the DPW crew cannot easily see the sticker, they will assume the bag is unpaid and leave it behind.
Dual Stream Means Strict Separation
Do not mix your paper and plastics. Wilkes-Barre operates on a Dual Stream schedule. If you place plastic bottles out during a designated Paper & Cardboard week, the recycling crew will reject your bin to prevent load contamination.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Yard Waste
Yard waste will only be accepted in reusable open-top bins or biodegradable paper leaf bags. If you place grass clippings or leaves inside a plastic garbage bag, it will be classified as trash and require a paid sticker, or be left at the curb.
Seasonal Information
Summer
Memorial Day - Labor DayThe DPW shifts to early summer hours. You must place all garbage, recycling, and yard waste at the curb by 6:00 AM to ensure collection and protect workers from the midday heat.
Winter
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected curbside throughout the entire month of January. Ensure all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and plastic disposal bags are entirely removed before placing the tree at the curb.
Spring/Fall
April - NovemberCurbside yard waste collection is active. You are allowed up to five containers or paper bags per week. Outside of these months, yard waste is not collected at the curb.
About Wilkes-Barre Waste Management
The Wilkes-Barre Pay-Per-Bag Sticker System
To encourage waste reduction and keep municipal utility costs manageable, the City of Wilkes-Barre operates a unique 'pay-per-bag' usage system. Rather than a flat monthly fee for unlimited garbage, residents must purchase official $2.00 garbage stickers to affix to their own 30-pound trash bags, or buy the city's official small blue bags for $1.25 each (which hold up to 15 pounds). This pay-as-you-throw model ensures households only pay for the exact amount of refuse they generate.
Maximizing Quality with Dual Stream Recycling
Wilkes-Barre transitioned to a Dual Stream Recycling program to drastically reduce cross-contamination and secure better processing rates. Unlike single-stream systems where everything is tossed into one bin, residents must alternate their recycling set-outs weekly. Paper and flattened cardboard are collected one week, while plastic bottles, glass jars, and metal cans are picked up the following week according to the official DPW calendar.
Navigating Furniture and Bulk Appliance Disposal
If you are remodeling or moving, it is critical to know that the Wilkes-Barre DPW does not collect furniture, mattresses, rugs, or large appliances during standard weekly routes. Residents cannot leave these bulk items at the curb with a garbage sticker. Instead, households must wait for periodically announced municipal 'Special Collection' events for white goods, or independently hire a private junk removal service for immediate disposal.
Seasonal Yard Waste and Christmas Tree Sweeps
Keeping organic debris out of the landfill is a major municipal priority. From early April through late November, the city collects up to five paper leaf bags or open yard waste bins per household each week. In addition to the standard yard waste season, the DPW conducts specialized curbside sweeps throughout the entire month of January to collect bare Christmas trees, transforming them into beneficial compost and mulch.
Summer Heat Safety Collection Hours
To protect sanitation crews from severe summer temperatures and humidity, Wilkes-Barre enforces strict seasonal set-out deadlines. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, all garbage and recycling must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM. During the cooler months (Labor Day through Memorial Day), the morning deadline relaxes slightly to 7:00 AM.
Drop-off Facilities
Department of Public Works Garage Drop-Off
3 Conyngham Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
Materials Accepted
Earth Conservancy
101 S Main St, Ashley, PA 18706 (Main Office) - Check for local compost site access
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the garbage sticker program work in Wilkes-Barre?
Wilkes-Barre utilizes a pay-per-bag system. Residents must buy a $2.00 sticker to place on any garbage bag weighing up to 30 pounds. If you have less trash, you can purchase official 15-pound small blue bags for $1.25 each, which do not require an additional sticker. Stickers are sold at most local grocery stores and mini-marts.
What time do I need to put my trash out?
During the cooler months (Labor Day through Memorial Day), your trash and recycling must be at the curb by 7:00 AM on your collection day. During the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day), the deadline is moved up to 6:00 AM.
How do I throw away an old mattress or couch?
The City of Wilkes-Barre DPW does not collect furniture, mattresses, or construction debris during weekly routes. You cannot attach a $2.00 sticker to a couch. You must either wait for a sporadically announced 'Special Collection' event or hire a private junk removal company.
How does the Dual Stream recycling schedule work?
To reduce contamination, the city alternates what recyclables it picks up each week. One week is strictly for paper and flattened cardboard. The following week is strictly for plastic bottles, metal cans, and glass jars. You must check the official DPW calendar to know which stream is being collected on your day.