Understanding Trash and Recycling Pickup Schedules in Pittsburgh

Knowing when trash and recycling are collected in your neighborhood is key to keeping Pittsburgh clean. The city provides trash and recycling pickup for residents, but pickup days vary widely depending on your location. This article explains how trash and recycling collection works in Pittsburgh, how to look up your pickup schedule, and what to do if collection is missed.

Trash and Recycling Collection Overview

The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works provides trash, recycling, and yard waste collection for residents. Here’s an overview:

• Trash is collected 1-2 times per week depending on your location. Most residences have a single trash day, but some neighborhoods receive twice-weekly pickup.

• Recycling is collected every other week on your neighborhood’s designated recycling day. Check your pickup schedule to see if you have recycling collection this week.

• Yard Waste like branches and leaves is seasonally collected from March through December. Yard waste pickup occurs on designated days depending on where you live.

Collection varies widely because the city is divided into 10 refuse collection zones and numerous recycling collection zones. Your home’s pickup schedule depends on what zone you live in.

Some key things to note:

• Trash must be placed at the curb in city-approved containers by 6AM on your pickup day.

• Recyclables should be placed in blue city bags or your own container labeled as recycling.

• Yard waste must be bundled or bagged and placed at the curb on your pickup day.

• Holidays often delay collection by 1 day. Check pickup schedules for holiday delays.

Finding Your Pickup Schedule

You can lookup your neighborhood’s trash, recycling, and yard waste collection schedule using either of these options:

Lookup by Address on PGH.ST

The easiest way to find your schedule is using the website PGH.ST. This site allows you to enter your Pittsburgh address and view a customized calendar showing your pickup days.

To lookup your address:

1. Go to PGH.ST and click “Get Reminders”

2. Enter your street address and ZIP code if you have it

3. Click “Search”

4. Review the calendar showing your trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup days

PGH.ST also offers text and email reminders you can sign up for to get alerts about your pickup schedule.

Lookup by Zone Maps

You can also lookup your zone assignments directly using the city’s zone maps:

• Refuse collection zone map – Shows the 10 refuse collection zones and associated pickup days. Find your home on the map to see your trash day(s).

• Recycling collection zone map – Shows recycling pickup days by zone. Match your home to the appropriate zone.

• Yard waste collection zone map – Designates zones A-E for yard waste pickup.

If you’re still unsure about your pickup schedule after checking the maps, call 311 for assistance.

What to Do if Collection is Missed

If your trash, recycling, or yard waste wasn’t collected when expected, here are some steps to take:

• Double check your pickup day – Common holidays like Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving often delay pickup by 1 day. Your collection day may have changed that week.

• Review pickup requirements – If items weren’t properly prepared like trash not being in approved containers, yard waste not bundled, etc then they may have been left behind.

• Contact the city – If you confirmed your pickup day and followed requirements, then call 311 to report the issue and request re-collection.

• Avoid fines – If uncollected waste will cause a nuisance, you can bring items to a drop-off site yourself to avoid citation.

• Request accommodation – If you need assistance with waste collection due to disability or impairment, call 311 to make arrangements.

Proper trash disposal is important for keeping Pittsburgh clean and safe. By knowing your pickup schedule and following requirements, you can ensure your waste is collected on time. Reach out to the city via 311 if you experience any collection issues.