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Cardboard Recycling in Erie, PA

Flatten cardboard and put it out with your City of Erie recycling in a clear bag or blue bin. Break down boxes over 4 feet.

See all 2 options
Stacked brown cardboard boxes
Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash (opens in new tab)

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

2 ways to get rid of a cardboard in Erie

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

  1. CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · ErieNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
    How it works

    Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.

    Book a pickup →

  2. City of Erie curbside recyclingCity service · ErieErie residentsCost not listed
    How it works

    City of Erie refuse customers put recyclables in clear plastic bags or blue bins (no blue bags) on regular collection nights: paper, #1–#2 bottles and jugs, metal cans and flattened cardboard.

    Cost & rules
    • Before you go: Flatten boxes and remove tape and plastic. Break down boxes over 4 ft and set them next to your other recyclables.

    Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

  1. Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
  2. Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
  3. Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.
More about cardboard

Pennsylvania rules

More Pennsylvania rules (19)
Where this information comes from (24)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

  • Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, Act 101 of 1988 (P.L. 556) (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania General Assembly
    • Act 101 Section 1501(a): a municipality (other than a county) with 10,000 or more people must run a source-separation and collection program for recyclables. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Act 101 Section 1501(b): municipalities of more than 5,000 but under 10,000 people with density over 300 per square mile must also run a recycling program. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Mandated municipalities must require residents to separate at least three materials chosen from clear glass, colored glass, aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans, high-grade office paper, newsprint, corrugated paper and plastics. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Commercial, municipal and institutional establishments in mandated municipalities must separate high grade office paper, aluminum, corrugated paper and leaf waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Residents of mandated municipalities must separate leaf waste unless they compost it; less dense municipalities that ban leaf burning may be exempt from leaf collection. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Mandated programs must have a scheduled curbside (or similar) collection day for separated materials at least once a month. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Every municipal waste landfill, resource recovery facility or transfer station must have at least one drop-off center for at least three recyclables chosen from the same list, which includes corrugated paper. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PA DEP: Recycling and Disposal (Residents) (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
    • Statewide recycling began in 1988 with Act 101, which requires larger municipalities to recycle. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • DEP says more than 11.6 million residents (at least 94 percent) have access to recycling, through about 1,050 curbside programs and 870 drop-off programs. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • For curbside recycling details, DEP tells residents to contact their local hauler or municipality. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • For bulky items, DEP tells residents to contact their refuse hauler, or their county recycling coordinator if they have no hauler. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • If no HHW services are available in your area, DEP says to contact your county recycling coordinator. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PA DEP: Recycling in Pennsylvania (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
    • Act 101 set a $2-per-ton fee on waste disposed at municipal waste landfills and waste-to-energy facilities, funding local recycling grants. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PA DEP: Special Waste Materials Curbside Collection Programs (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
    • Some haulers and municipalities run curbside collection for special wastes restricted from regular trash (electronics, HHW, tires); each has its own requirements and costs. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PA DEP: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
    • DEP: household hazardous waste is unused household products that may explode, catch fire or harm the environment, e.g. paint, pesticides, pool chemicals, drain cleaners, batteries and motor oil. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • If no collection program is available, HHW may legally go in regular trash if label directions are followed, liquids are evaporated or absorbed, residue is packaged against leaks, and it is set out in small quantities over several collections. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PA DEP: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
    • DEP lists ongoing HHW programs and one-time events by county; most municipal programs have residency requirements and some charge nominal fees or require registration. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Contact the program before dropping off HHW to learn what it accepts and when it operates. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PA DEP: Apply to Establish a Municipal Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
    • Under Act 101 as amended by Act 190 of 1996, HHW programs may operate if registered with DEP; most collect annually at drop-off sites, others year-round. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Act 190 allows 50% funding for HHW collection programs run by municipalities and non-profits. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Very small quantity generators (businesses making under 100 kg of hazardous waste a month) can use registered HHW programs like households. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • City of Erie: Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Erie Department of Public Works
    • Flatten all corrugated cardboard and paperboard; remove tape, plastic wrap and styrofoam; break down boxes larger than 4 ft and place next to other recyclables. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Boxes larger than 4 ft should be broken down and placed next to other recyclables. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Use clear plastic bags or blue bins for curbside recycling; blue bags are no longer accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

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