Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for York
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.
Plastic or Metal Trash Cans / Heavy Duty Bags Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed in securely tied bags or inside a plastic/metal can with a lid and handles. Oversized contractor bags and indoor kitchen/bathroom cans left at the curb are not permitted. Items must be out by 6:00 a.m. on collection days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Dried paint (mixed with cat litter)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Authorized Green Recycling Bin Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected on your second trash day of the week (Thursday or Friday). Place heavier items on top so paper does not blow away. Do not put items in plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clear, brown, and green glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Clean newspaper and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Mirrors and plate glass
- ✕Food-tainted items (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Curbside yard waste collections occur on your FIRST trash day each week (Monday or Tuesday). Materials must be kept separate from normal trash and placed in authorized yellow yard waste cans, paper bags, or bundled securely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush
- ✓Branches
- ✓Grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to 5 items per week, but requires scheduling 7-10 days in advance.
Placement
Only place items at the pickup point after receiving your confirmation callback and email. Set them out with normal trash no earlier than 5:00 PM the night before and by 6:00 AM on the scheduled day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, desks, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators and freezers MUST have doors removed)
- ✓ Carpet (must be cut into 4-foot long rolls)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions, laptops, and computer equipment
- ✕ Construction debris (bricks, concrete, dirt, shingles)
- ✕ Car parts (hoods, fenders, seats)
- ✕ Tires larger than passenger-size (must be ON rim to be accepted)
There is no extra fee for large item pickup, as it is included in your regular refuse bill. However, you must be a current curbside collections customer, and properties that have 'opted out' or use private haulers do not qualify.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major holiday falls on a weekday (Monday-Friday), all subsequent collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, the schedule is not affected.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste is collected on your first day of service, Monday and Tuesday holidays will cause yard waste pickup to shift back by one day.
The City hauler only observes these six specific holidays. Services continue as normal on holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Line the Recycling Bin
Do not line your green recycling container with a plastic garbage bag, and never place your recyclables inside a plastic bag before throwing them away. Keep all aluminum, glass, plastic, and paper completely loose in the bin.
Flatten and Bundle Your Cardboard
Cardboard boxes take up massive amounts of space in the collection trucks. The City requires residents to empty, completely flatten, and bundle all cardboard boxes with twine. Set them directly beside or underneath the recycling container to prevent them from blowing away.
Dry Out Liquid Paint
Liquid paint is considered hazardous and cannot be collected. However, you can dispose of leftover latex paint if you dry it out first. Add cat litter to the liquid paint to absorb the moisture, securely seal the lid, and place it inside a tied trash bag with your regular garbage.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to AugustDuring extreme heat conditions (temperatures exceeding 90 degrees), the City may grant ESC Waste Services an early start time of 5:00 a.m. to protect workers from heat exhaustion. Always set your items out after 5:00 p.m. the night before to avoid missed pickups.
Winter
JanuaryFollowing the holidays, York City public works staff (not the regular ESC hauler) perform special curbside collections for natural Christmas trees. This typically takes place during the first two full weeks of January. Trees must be free of all decorations and plastic bags.
Winter
December to FebruarySevere winter weather events and heavy snowfalls can also trigger an early 5:00 a.m. collection start time or cause route delays. Keep your bins accessible and out of the direct path of snow plows.
About York Waste Management
New ESC Waste Services Contract and Schedule Shifts
Starting in May 2025, the City of York transitioned its municipal waste and recycling collection contract to ESC Waste Services. With this new multi-year agreement came a significant change in the collection schedule. While general refuse is still collected twice a week, recycling pick-ups have been explicitly moved to the second collection day of your weekly schedule. For example, if your trash days are Monday and Thursday, your designated recycling day is now exclusively Thursday.
Single-Stream Recycling Without Plastic Bags
York City mandates recycling for all residential properties, but keeping the recycling stream clean is paramount. Residents must utilize a single-stream method, placing all approved glass, plastics, metals, and clean paper loosely into their designated green bins. The City strictly prohibits bagging recyclables in plastic grocery bags or lining the recycling bin with a plastic bag, as this contaminates the materials and jams the machinery at the York County processing plant.
The Advance Scheduling Rule for Large Items
While the City of York generously allows up to five large items per week at no extra charge, residents cannot simply drag a couch to the curb and expect it to be taken. All bulky items must be scheduled 7 to 10 days in advance by contacting the Large Item Attendant or submitting an online request form. Residents are strictly instructed not to place the item outside until they have received an official email or phone confirmation locking in their pickup date.
Purchasing Authorized Bins at City Hall
If a York resident needs an official green recycling bin or a yellow yard waste can, the City provides a heavily subsidized option. You can purchase these specific containers directly at York City Hall (101 South George Street) for just $3.00 each. However, residents should note that the treasury accepts cash only for these bins, and purchases are limited to one of each type per household.
Proper Disposal of E-Waste and Household Chemicals
Pennsylvania state law prohibits the curbside collection of electronic waste, meaning items like televisions, computer monitors, and laptops will be left at the curb. Furthermore, hazardous materials such as liquid paints and motor oils pose a severe safety threat to sanitation workers. Residents must manage these restricted items privately by dropping them off at the York County Solid Waste Authority (YCSWA) Resource Recovery Center on Black Bridge Road.
Drop-off Facilities
York County Solid Waste Authority (YCSWA)
2700 Black Bridge Rd, York, PA 17406
Materials Accepted
City of York Police Department (Med Return Box)
50 West King Street, York, PA 17401
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When is recycling collected in the City of York?
Under the current ESC Waste Services contract, recycling is collected on your second collection day of the week. If your standard trash days are Monday and Thursday, your recycling will be picked up on Thursday. If your trash days are Tuesday and Friday, recycling is on Friday.
How do I throw away a mattress or refrigerator?
You cannot simply leave bulk items at the curb. You must schedule a large item pickup 7 to 10 days in advance by filling out the online request form or calling the Large Item Attendant at 717-843-1240. Do not place the item outside until you receive a direct confirmation.
Can I put a television in my regular trash bin?
No. Pennsylvania state law bans electronic devices, including televisions, laptops, keyboards, and monitors, from municipal curbside disposal. You must take these items directly to the York County Solid Waste Authority's electronics drop-off site.
Where can I get an official City of York yard waste container?
Authorized yellow yard waste cans and green recycling bins can be purchased for $3.00 each at City Hall, located at 101 South George Street, Monday through Thursday between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM. Payment must be made in cash, and there is a limit of one per household.