A city controller report from 2024 showed that only 17% of Pittsburgh's garbage actually gets recycled. That’s why it’s important to know what’s accepted and how you can divert items from the landfill.
Mark Your Calendar for Pickup Days
Your collection day depends on where you live. Find yours here. When a holiday falls on or right before your collection day, pickup is often delayed one day. Remember: You can’t have more than two bulk items (like furniture or carpets) per week, per household. Otherwise, there’s a fee.
The city will collect yard waste like leaves, branches, and tree trimmings two days a year: April 25 and Nov. 7. Yard waste must be in a paper bag. Branches should be bundled and tied, no thicker than 4 inches and no longer than 5 feet. Miss the pickup day? Find year-round yard waste drop-off locations.
Don’t Get Fined for Trash Violations
You could get fined between $35 and $100 if you don’t follow Pittsburgh’s garbage rules. Trash must be in a tightly sealed container and out of public view. Trash cans can’t be on the curb before 6 p.m. the night before collection and must be put away before 10 p.m. on collection day.
Know Accepted Recyclables
- Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs, cleaned with lids removed
- Mixed paper like junk mail, newspapers, magazines, and soft and hardcover books
- Metal like aluminum, aerosol, and steel cans that are clean and dry. You can leave the labels on
- Cardboard boxes that are flattened, bundled, and placed in your blue bin or another box
Miss your pickup day? Drop your recycling at these locations.
Pass Off Your Glass
You can always put glass at the curb, but it often breaks before it gets to the recycling center, making it difficult to recycle the other items carried in the same heap. You can make sure your glass is recycled by using one of these permanent drop-off sites.
Properly Dispose of E-Waste & Chemicals
City residents can make an appointment to drop off electronics or hazardous chemicals through Noble Environmental. Also keep tabs on Pennsylvania Resources Council’s calendar for ongoing hard-to-recycle collection events. Find additional resources at Frick Environmental Center and the University of Pittsburgh.
Repurpose Textiles + Accessories
If your clothes are too worn to donate to a local thrift store or drop in those yellow Planet Aid bins, you can take them to H&M, Goodwill, or Pitt’s textile recycling bins.
Donate Furniture & Hardware
Have leftover supplies from a house project? Furniture you grew out of? Old doors and hardware? Construction Junction in Point Breeze is your one-stop shop — but be sure to check their website because they accept donations depending on what they have in stock. Most thrift stores will also resell old furniture, but you can help a family in need by donating to Off the Floor.
Recycle Miscellaneous Supplies
Construction Junction also takes things for recycling like alkaline batteries; electrical ballasts; light bulbs; scrap metal; and medical supplies like crutches, walkers, and shower chairs. Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, attached to Construction Junction, accepts a bunch of random household objects and craft supplies.
Get Rid of Refrigerant Appliances
- Pickup: Have an old (working) refrigerator, freezer, AC unit, or dehumidifier? If you're a Duquesne Light customer, they’ll pay you $50 to recycle it, and they’ll haul it away at no charge. Or, you can arrange to have it picked up from the Pittsburgh Junk Company.
- Dropoff: You can take old appliances to Appliance Warehouse (for free) or Construction Junction (for a $10-$20 processing fee per object).
