Pittsburgh Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Pittsburgh recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
Accepted items
- Cardboard materials: corrugated shipping boxes flattened and placed inside another box or bin
- Mixed paper: white office paper, newspaper, magazines, softcover books, catalogs, junk mail, paperboard, and paper grocery bags
- Glass bottles and jars: amber, blue, red, green, and clear bottles and jugs (3 gallons or less)
- Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs: beverage bottles, milk jugs, and yogurt, sour cream, and butter tubs
- Metal food and beverage cans: aluminum cans, steel cans, and bi-metal containers rinsed clean
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags and film tanglers (never place recyclables in plastic garbage bags)
- Greasy pizza boxes and food-soiled takeout containers
- Plastic packing materials: Styrofoam, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and packing peanuts
- Window panes, mirrors, Pyrex cookware, drinking glasses, and ceramic dinnerware
- Electronics, televisions, batteries, and light bulbs
- Garden hoses, ropes, and wire hangers
Can you recycle these items in Pittsburgh?
Can you recycle cardboard in Pittsburgh?
AcceptedFlatten all corrugated cardboard boxes; place inside another box or dedicated recycling bin.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Pittsburgh?
Not acceptedGreasy pizza boxes are strictly prohibited from recycling; dispose of in regular trash.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Pittsburgh?
AcceptedPET #1 bottles and jars rinsed clean; leave caps on or remove.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Pittsburgh?
AcceptedHDPE #2 jugs and bottles rinsed clean; place loose in blue bin.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Pittsburgh?
Not acceptedPlastics #3 are prohibited from Pittsburgh curbside collection.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Pittsburgh?
Not acceptedPlastic grocery bags and stretch wrap are not accepted curbside.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Pittsburgh?
AcceptedYogurt, cottage cheese, and butter tubs rinsed clean are accepted.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Pittsburgh?
Not acceptedStyrofoam cups, clamshells, and packaging are strictly prohibited.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Pittsburgh?
Not acceptedMiscellaneous plastics #7 are prohibited.
Can you recycle glass in Pittsburgh?
AcceptedAmber, blue, red, green, and clear food and beverage bottles and jugs (3 gallons or less) rinsed clean.
Can you recycle aluminum in Pittsburgh?
AcceptedAluminum beverage cans and metal food containers rinsed clean.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Pittsburgh?
Accepted with conditionsShredded paper must be securely placed inside a sealed paper bag before placing in bin.
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works Bureau of Environmental Services · municipal dpw
Phone: 412-255-2773
3001 Railroad StreetPittsburgh, PA 15201
These collection rules cover Zone Pittsburgh Citywide Curbside Routes.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Pittsburgh, PA?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place at curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the night before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Keep refuse containers accessible and clear of snow or parked vehicles.. These rules apply to Zone Pittsburgh Citywide Curbside Routes.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Pittsburgh?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone Pittsburgh Citywide Curbside Routes.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Pittsburgh?
Bulky or large waste items may be set out curbside with your regularly scheduled refuse pick-up. Limit two items per week. Place at curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the night before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection. No fee for the first two items for single-family homes; notice is not required. The listed limit is 2 items per pickup. Advance notice is not required under the listed rules. Contact sanitation at 412-255-2773 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Pittsburgh Citywide Curbside Routes.
What items are accepted for recycling in Pittsburgh?
The listed accepted materials are Cardboard materials: corrugated shipping boxes flattened and placed inside another box or bin, Mixed paper: white office paper, newspaper, magazines, softcover books, catalogs, junk mail, paperboard, and paper grocery bags, Glass bottles and jars: amber, blue, red, green, and clear bottles and jugs (3 gallons or less), Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs: beverage bottles, milk jugs, and yogurt, sour cream, and butter tubs, Metal food and beverage cans: aluminum cans, steel cans, and bi-metal containers rinsed clean. Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags and film tanglers (never place recyclables in plastic garbage bags), Greasy pizza boxes and food-soiled takeout containers, Plastic packing materials: Styrofoam, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and packing peanuts, Window panes, mirrors, Pyrex cookware, drinking glasses, and ceramic dinnerware, Electronics, televisions, batteries, and light bulbs, Garden hoses, ropes, and wire hangers. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Pittsburgh Citywide Curbside Routes.