Recycling in Philadelphia, PA

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation: Residential trash and recycling rules (opens in new tab) · City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation
  • A property is eligible for City trash and recycling collection if it is a separate tax parcel, stays within weekly set-out limits and has six units or fewer (qualified condos and co-ops excepted). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Compactible furniture such as sofas, mattresses and box springs is accepted as trash curbside, limited to two items per week; mattresses and box springs must be bagged and sealed in plastic mattress bags (not needed at a convenience center). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Non-rechargeable batteries are accepted as curbside trash with tape wrapped around both ends. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Electronics such as computers and televisions are not accepted curbside; take them to a sanitation convenience center. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Tires are not accepted curbside: take four or fewer automotive tires to a sanitation convenience center, or to a drop-off site for the annual Tire Round-Up Program. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Lithium, rechargeable and lead-acid batteries and fluorescent bulbs (universal waste) go in the bulb or battery containers at a sanitation convenience center, not curbside. Checked October 26, 2026.
• City of Philadelphia Recycling Program: What to recycle (opens in new tab) · City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation
  • Curbside recycling takes flattened corrugated cardboard shipping boxes free of grease and food, clean pizza boxes, egg cartons and dry food boxes. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Remove packing peanuts and foam blocks, collapse and fold empty boxes and place them inside the recycling bin; recycling must go out in a bin, not a bag or cardboard box. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Greasy or food-soiled paper and cardboard must be kept out of the recycling bin. Checked October 26, 2026.
• City of Philadelphia: Schedule trash collection for bulky household items (opens in new tab) · City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation
  • The Department of Sanitation picks up large appliances such as refrigerators (doors removed), air conditioners and hot water heaters, household furniture (not dismantled), large toys, flat-screen TVs and passenger car tires with rims removed. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bulk collection is by appointment for residential properties, including single-family homes and buildings with up to six units; larger apartment buildings, condominiums and commercial properties must use a private hauler. Checked October 26, 2026.
• City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation: New City of Philadelphia Bulk Collection Program (flyer, PDF) (opens in new tab) · City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation · effective September 17, 2024
  • Appointments are limited to four bulk items; four passenger car tires (rims removed) count as one bulk item. Schedule online or by calling 311. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Passenger car tires must have rims removed; four tires count as one bulk item. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The bulk program does not collect household trash, mattresses, hazardous materials, auto parts or construction debris. Checked October 26, 2026.
• City of Philadelphia: Residential Bulk Collection Program (press release, Sept. 23, 2024) (opens in new tab) · City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation · effective September 23, 2024
  • The Sanitation Commissioner described the bulk collection as a free service (press release, September 2024). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Items eligible for bulk collection include refrigerators (empty, doors removed), other major appliances such as air conditioners, water heaters and microwaves, household furniture, large toys, flat-screen TVs and passenger car tires. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Separately from the bulk program, Sanitation keeps collecting up to two large non-metal items per household on regular trash day, including plastic-wrapped mattresses and other compactable furniture. Checked October 26, 2026.
• City of Philadelphia: Find a sanitation convenience center to drop off trash or recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation
  • All six sanitation convenience centers are open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed on City holidays. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Users must show proof of Philadelphia residency; vehicles must weigh under 6,000 pounds; commercial contractors and commercial loads are not allowed. Checked October 26, 2026.
• City of Philadelphia Recycling and Donation Finder: location data (recycling_and_donations table) (opens in new tab) · City of Philadelphia
  • The City recycling and donation finder lists the Sanitation Convenience Center at Port Richmond at 3901 Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19137, phone (215) 685-1358. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The City recycling and donation finder lists the Sanitation Convenience Center at Northwest Philadelphia at 320 Domino Ln, Philadelphia, PA 19128, phone (215) 685-2502. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The City recycling and donation finder lists the Sanitation Convenience Center at Northeast Philadelphia at 8401 State Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19136, phone (215) 685-8072. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The City recycling and donation finder lists the Sanitation Convenience Center at Southwest Philadelphia at 3033 S 63rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19153, phone (215) 685-4290. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The City recycling and donation finder lists the Sanitation Convenience Center at Strawberry Mansion at 2601 W Glenwood Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121, phone (215) 685-3955. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The City recycling and donation finder lists the Sanitation Convenience Center at West Philadelphia at 5100 Grays Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143, phone (215) 685-2600. Checked October 26, 2026.
• City of Philadelphia: Drop off household hazardous waste (opens in new tab) · City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation
  • HHW collection events are open to residents of the five-county region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia); businesses must use a private service. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Accepted materials include auto and lead-acid batteries, lithium and NiCad batteries, fluorescent bulbs, motor oil, and oil, latex and water-based paint, among others. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Auto and lead-acid batteries are accepted at the events. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The 2026 events run 9 a.m.–3 p.m. without registration: April 11 and July 9 (8401 State Rd.), May 9 (4800 Parkside Ave.), June 13 (Domino Lane), Sept. 19 (2121 W. York St.), Oct. 10 (3033 S. 63rd St.) and Nov. 7 (3901 N. Delaware Ave.). Checked October 26, 2026.
• Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ and Philadelphia: Donation Center & Store Locator data (opens in new tab) · Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ and Philadelphia
  • Goodwill lists a donation location at 5050 Parkside Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19131 (Store & Donations). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Goodwill lists a donation location at 5400 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128 (Donation only). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Goodwill lists a donation location at 7061 Lincoln Dr., Mount Airy, PA 19119 (Donation only). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Goodwill lists a donation location at 330 West Oregon Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (Store & Donations). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Goodwill lists a donation location at 9920 Bustleton Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19115 (Store & Donations). Checked October 26, 2026.
• Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia: ReStore (opens in new tab) · Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia
  • Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia ReStore, 2318 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146; donations Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun noon–4 p.m. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia: Donate to the Philadelphia ReStore (opens in new tab) · Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia
  • Habitat Philadelphia's ReStore donation page invites gifts of décor, furniture, electronics and building materials, asks donors to confirm each item meets its guidelines, offers free pickup for eligible items, and lists 215-739-9300. Checked October 26, 2026.
• S.D. Richman Sons: Philadelphia, PA Scrap Iron and Metals (opens in new tab) · S.D. Richman Sons
  • S.D. Richman Sons, 2435 Wheatsheaf Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19137 ((215) 535-5100), describes itself as a scrap iron and metal buyer in Philadelphia. Checked October 26, 2026.
• eForce Recycling Philadelphia: Electronic Waste Solutions (opens in new tab) · eForce Recycling
  • eForce Recycling, 1229 South Napa Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 (215-964-6665), lists accepted items including laptops, computers, peripherals, keyboards, printers, telephones and cellphones. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PA DEP: Electronics Recycling (Covered Device Recycling Act) (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • The Covered Device Recycling Act (Act 108 of 2010) requires manufacturers to provide recycling programs for desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors, computer peripherals and televisions sold to consumers in Pennsylvania. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEP says CDRA collection sites may be used by small businesses employing fewer than 50 employees; businesses with 50+ employees and public entities (schools, local government offices, religious organizations) are not covered and must make their own arrangements. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Businesses with 50 or more employees and public entities are not covered under the CDRA and must make their own recycling arrangements. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Covered Device Recycling Act, Act 108 of 2010 (P.L. 1083) (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania General Assembly
  • Act 108 Section 504: no manufacturer or retailer may charge a consumer a fee or cost for collecting, transporting or recycling a covered device, unless a financial incentive of equal or greater value (such as a coupon or rebate) is provided. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Act 108 defines a consumer as an occupant of a dwelling unit who used the covered device mainly for personal or small business use; a small business is independently owned, employs 50 or fewer people and would otherwise lack access to electronics recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PA DEP: Covered Device Recycling Act Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, Sept. 30, 2011) (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • Manufacturers must run ongoing recycling programs offering no-cost covered device collection to consumers, including home-based businesses; "no cost" means no fee unless a coupon or rebate of equal or greater value is given. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Collection locations that are not retailers and are not affiliated with a manufacturer recycling program may charge fees for covered devices. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Any collection location, even a retailer or manufacturer-affiliated one, may charge to recycle devices that are not covered devices. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not covered: TVs with screens under four inches; telephones of any type including mobile phones; typewriters, workstations, servers, calculators, PDAs, GPS units, MP3 players and similar devices. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Devices contained in an appliance, and motor vehicle components, are excluded from the CDRA. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PA DEP: Covered Device Recycling Act (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • A covered computer device is a desktop or notebook computer, computer monitor or peripheral marketed and intended for consumer use. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Covered televisions include direct view or projection TVs with a viewable screen of four inches or larger (CRT, plasma, LCD, DLP, LED and similar), marketed for consumer personal use. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A peripheral is a keyboard, printer or other device sold exclusively for external use with a computer that provides input to or output from it. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PA DEP: Electronics (Recycling and Disposal) (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • DEP points residents to its CDRA collection sites list (PDF), its HHW Collection Programs page for one-day electronics events, its curbside collection programs page, and the toll-free Recycling Hotline 1-800-346-4242. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PA DEP: 2026 CDRA Collection Sites (PDF) (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • DEP's 2026 CDRA Collection Sites list (by county, with addresses) tells consumers to contact a location first to see which electronics it accepts. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PA DEP: Electronics Recycling Collection Programs (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • DEP's electronics collection programs list warns that not all locations accept all items such as TVs, most municipal programs have residency requirements, and some have registration requirements or nominal fees. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PA DEP: Recycling in Pennsylvania (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • DEP's Recycling in Pennsylvania page describes the CDRA as covering desktop and laptop computers, tablets, televisions and more. Checked October 25, 2026 (automated check) · sources disagree.
• 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 1510(c): anyone selling lead acid batteries at retail must accept used lead acid batteries from customers at the point of transfer, at least equal in number to those purchased, in exchange for new batteries purchased. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retailers must post a notice stating that state law requires them to accept used motor vehicle or other lead acid batteries for recycling in exchange for new batteries purchased. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PA DEP: Household Hazardous Waste brochure 2520-PA-DEP2315 (PDF, rev. 2022) (opens in new tab) · Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • DEP: take spent lead acid batteries back to where you bought them; state law requires dealers to accept old batteries when you buy new ones. Checked October 26, 2026.

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