Changes to Curbside Trash & Recycling Collection for 2024

The City of Pittsburgh Department Public Works (DPW) Bureau of Environmental Services is alerting residents to some changes to their curbside trash and recycling collection starting in 2024.

City residents will be receiving the annual newsletter in the mail and are encouraged to review the 2024 recycling & refuse calendar for their designated recycling weeks. Residents can also type ‘PGH.St’ into any internet browser and search by property address for that information.

In the past, if residents placed cardboard boxes out on non-recycling weeks, the city would collect them in order to keep the streets clean. However, in 2024 this will no longer take place. Since clean cardboard boxes is recyclable, it will be treated no differently than recycling bins full of bottles and cans. Cardboard boxes must be flattened and bundled into manageable size for crews to collect on the designated weeks.

Also starting in the new year, the City will no longer accept recycling in plastic bags. Residents are directed to place recyclables loosely in their recycle bin at the curb. Residents should consider designating a recycling bin, basket or bag within their home to collect recyclables, so they can easily be dumped loosely into their curbside recycling bin. Recycling placed on the curb in plastic bags will not be picked up and may be tagged for violation. Plastic bags cause excessive waste, slow recycling operations, and clog sorting machinery – leading to equipment damage, higher maintenance costs, and potential injuries. To properly dispose of plastic bags and films, place them in your trash or take them to a plastic bag recycling drop-off bin, available at some local retailers.

Businesses can help support residents in this initiative by complying with Pittsburgh’s Plastic Bag Ban and eliminating plastic bags at the source. As the City begins stricter enforcement of the bag ban, businesses are reminded that they must stop distributing plastic bags, begin charging a minimum of $0.10 for each paper bag distributed, and post signage informing customers of the ban.

It is the resident’s responsibility to follow the recycling and disposal guidelines required by the city.

Additional information about all things trash and recycling with the Bureau of Environmental Services can be found at https://pittsburghpa.gov/dpw/environmental-services.