Understanding the trash pickup schedule for your neighborhood is essential for maintaining a clean house and property.
But it’s also important for making sure you don’t get fined!
And in Pittsburgh, failing to comply with trash pickup guidelines could lead to hefty penalties. In fact, the City can issue fines ranging from $50-$100 for first-time citations, and up to $500 for repeat violations!
With that in mind, here’s everything you should know about Pittsburgh trash pickup in 2023:
2023 Pittsburgh Trash Pickup Schedules
The City splits its trash pickup into two geographic regions:
Northern & Southern (essentially, everything North of the Allegheny River and west of the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers)
Central & Eastern (essentially, everything south of the Allegheny River and north of the Monongahela River, plus Hays, New Homestead, and Lincoln Place)
Click the links above to download the schedule specific to your neighborhood!
Acceptable Trash Items In Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, the Bureau of Environmental Services will pick up:
Furniture like chairs, end tables, and shelving
Bicycles
Larger household items like garden tools and ironing boards
Roasters and grills
Small appliances (excluding “e-waste” or freon-based equipment, like computers and refrigerators)
Bulk waste
When placing these items with the rest of your trash, be sure to follow the rest of the guidelines listed in this guide and the links above!
Unacceptable Trash Items In Pittsburgh
These are items the city will not pick up for you:
Tires
Electronic devices or “e-waste” devices like computers and televisions
Hazardous, infectious, explosive, or flammable material
Carpeting installed by a professional
Bricks, cement, glass blocks, countertops, or other construction materials
Car and automobile parts
Freon appliances such as refrigerators or air conditioners
Batteries, light bulbs, and wet or oil-based paints
Many of the above items can be dropped off during the bi-monthly Electric and Household Hazardous Waste Drop Offs. In 2023, these are held:
March 11
May 13
July 15
September 16
November 11
You need to register ahead for these events, so call 412-489-9299 or visit https://prc.org/recyclepgh/ to reserve your spot!
Guidelines for Putting Out Trash In Pittsburgh
When placing your trash, be sure to follow the city’s guidelines! Here’s what you should do:
Timing: Place your trash on the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM on the night before collection and no later than 6:00 AM on the day of collection.
Containers: You should place your trash in a container with a tight-fitting lid or in sealed plastic bags or bundles less than three feet in length. If you use a container, it should not exceed 35 gallons.
Dangerous Objects: To maintain safety, place any medical needles, syringes, or lancets in a hard plastic container with a tight-fitting lid and label the container as medical waste. When throwing away broken glass or sharp metal, wrap the pieces in heavy paper and place in a box sealed with tape or string.
After your neighborhood’s trash day, be sure to remove your trash cans far from the sidewalk and road. The city specifies that you should not collect your trash on any abutting sidewalk, street, or vacant space.
Pittsburgh Yard Debris Pickup Schedule for 2023
The Bureau of Environmental Services only picks up yard waste at the end of Spring and Fall:
May 6
November 4
You may put out:
Leaves
Grass
Tree Trimmings
Shrubs
Branches (Note: The City specifically states that branches should be wrapped into bundles no more than four inches in diameter and five feet in length).
Take note: All yard waste should be in brown paper bags. If you have large amounts of refuse ready for collection, consider placing it into large paper contractor bags, which will hold up better than store bags. Avoid getting the bags wet before pickup, as this will cause them to break down faster.
Recycling Pickup Schedule And Rules in Pittsburgh
Recycling is picked up every other week in Pittsburgh.
And if you live within the city’s borders, you should have received a blue bin for your recyclables. This blue bin should be your primary means of storing your recyclables ahead of pickup day.
You may use large, blue storage bags for excess recyclables (meaning recyclables that don’t fit in your bin), but the city has specifically banned small blue grocery bags.
Acceptable Recyclables In Pittsburgh
Here’s what the city will pick up after you clean it:
Plastic Containers - This includes bottles, jugs, and jars. Be sure to remove any lids or caps!
Cardboard - Always flatten and bundle your cardboard, then place it into a bin or another box.
Glass - As with plastic containers, you may recycle acceptable bottles, jugs, and jars—but remove any lids or caps first.
Metal Containers - You may recycle aluminum, aerosol, and steel cans.
Mixed Paper - This includes office paper, newspapers, junk mail, magazines, softback books, hardback books, and paperboard.
Even More Homeowner Tips
Properly following the rules surrounding trash and recycling pickups will make your life much easier as a homeowner.
For even more guidance, check out our blogs about home maintenance! We have dozens of articles about how to maintain a sturdier, healthier, and safer home!
Cheers,
Julie & Ted