Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Where can I get a residential blue recycling bin?
A: The City distributes containers free of charge at 5 locations:
Google Map of Locations
Citizen Drop-off Centers: Northwest
Domino Lane & Umbria Street
Monday - Saturday 8am to 6pm
Citizen Drop-off Centers: Northeast
State Road & Ashburner Street
Monday - Saturday 8am to 6pm
Citizen Drop-off Centers: North, Fishtown
Delaware Avenue between Castor and Lewis Street
Monday - Saturday 8am to 6pm
Citizen Drop-off Centers: West
51st & Grays Avenue
Monday - Saturday 8am to 6pm
Citizen Drop-off Centers: South, Southwest
3033 South 63rd Street (near Passyunk Avenue)
Monday - Saturday 8am to 6pm
How to Recycle in Philadelphia
Philadelphia does have many options for recycling available for residents and local businesses.
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Residents
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Materials
At the curbside, residents in all areas of Philadelphia can recycle:
Mixed paper, including:
- Newspapers including inserts
- Junk mail
- Envelopes (with or without windows)
- Telephone books
- Magazines and catalogs
- Cereal type boxes - no liners please!
- Home office paper
- Stationery and other clean paper
Place mixed paper beside your recycling bin in a paper bag or tied with a string.
Commingled materials, including:
- Metal cans
- Aluminum cans
- Empty aerosol cans (no caps please!)
- Empty paint cans (air dried)
- Paint can lids (separated from the paint cans)
- Glass bottles and jars
Place commingled materials in recycling
buckets or bins, or in any container obviously marked
for recycling to be picked up by the city on your designated
recycling day.
Residential
Recycling Days
The City of Philadelphia collects recycling on the same day as trash day citywide. However, some neighborhoods have weekly pick-up and others have bi-weekly pick-up. To see a map and schedule of exact residential recycling days, visit the Philadelphia Recycling Office website at www.recyclingpays.phila.gov.
Plastics
and Cardboard
The City of Philadelphia only picks up plastic or cardboard curbside in some neighborhoods of the City.
For More
Information
For more information on residential recycling
in Philadelphia, contact:
- Recycling Alliance of Philadelphia
via Katie Edwards, Clean Air Council, (215) 567-4004 ext.
102,
- The City of Philadelphia Recycling Hotline at 215-685-RECYCLE (7329), or
- Visit our links page.
Businesses
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Commercial Recycling is the Law
In 1994, Philadelphia adopted Commercial Recycling Regulations for commercial businesses in Philadelphia. These regulations apply to:
- Apartment units of 6 or more (the building manager is responsible for the recycling program)
- Businesses and office complexes
- Entertainment and sports venues
- Restaurants
If your building is not recycling, talk to the building manager.
If there is no improvement, try talking to other employees or residents to push for starting a recycling program and to show that there is support for participating. Be positive and don't threaten.
As a last resort, call (215) 685-RECYCLE (7329) and ask for information on Commercial Recycling Enforcement. Streets and Walkways Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) officers can issues tickets for residential or business recycling violations.
The Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Guidelines require businesses to:
- Develop a Recycling Plan
- Submit the plan to the city
- Distribute to all employees and/or tenants, and
- Publicly post plan on site
Your commercial recycling plan must:
- Use a hauler or recycling company that is licensed by the City of Philadelphia
- Provide recycling containers
- Separate recyclables before putting them in the trash (or file an exemption if your licensed private hauler intends to recover recyclables from mixed trash)
- Create an education program to communicate expectations, changes, impacts, etc. to employees
- Set trash & recyclables out at the proper time to ensure proper sanitation
What must your business recycle?
The City mandates that businesses in Philadelphia collect from the following materials:
Commercial/Industrial/Government:
- High-grade office paper
- Aluminum, including cans
- Corrugated paper
- Ferrous and nonferrous metals (except bimetal and steel cans)
- Garbage (food waste and other organics)
- Yard waste
- Motor Oil
- Elective Materials include:
- All grades of paper not recycled in mandatory list
- Glass food and beverage containers
- Plastics
- Steel and bimetal cans
- Textiles
- Tires and other rubber
Apartments/Residential:
- Glass food and beverage containers
- Aluminum cans
- Steel and bimetal cans
- Newsprint
- Motor oil
- Yard waste
- Elective Materials include:
- Corrugated paper and paperboard
- All other grades of paper
- Plastics
- Garbage and Food waste
- Textiles
- Tires and other rubber
Construction/Demolition:
- Ferrous and nonferrous metals
- Elective Materials include:
- Concrete, sand, and glass
- Lumber and other wood
- Plaster, drywall, and other gypsum products
- Roofing material
Need help getting started?
Don't know where to get started? Don't think you have the money? There is a strong network of support for commercial recycling beginners in Philadelphia and across the state.
Try:
- The City of Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Handbook. This booklet is made for businesses just starting out in recycling, or those wanting to broaden their horizons. For your free copy of the Commercial Recycling Handbook, contact 215-686-5586.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. You can access their webpage and contact information on our links page.
- The Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council at www.gpcrc.com or 215-247-3090.
