You can pick up a bin, free of charge, from one of the city's Recycling Drop-off Centers. However, you don't need an official City recycling container to get in on the action. Just mark a sturdy plastic or metal container that holds 20 gallons or less with the word "RECYCLING" or put a city-issued "RECYCLING" sticker on it, and the city will collect it at the curb.
Check out our handy map of bin pick-up locations.
With all sorts of terms flying around,—Recycling Alliance, Streets Department, RecycleBank, Five Point Plan— it's no wonder there's confusion.
Explore our glossary of Philly recycling terms and get it all straight.
Looking for educational resources or materials for your school, community event or party? Check out our ever-expanding stockpile of recycling knowledge here.
Recycling is easy, but let's face it...
...navigating the City of Brotherly Love's recycling program can be downright confusing at times. Use the menu below to find information about what to recycle, when to recycle and how to make sure it gets collected at your curb.
Timely information about recycling in Philadelphia.
City to Start Recycling Rewards Program in February 2010
Sign up now and receive 100 bonus points: www.phillyrecyclingpays.com or (888) 769-7960.
Five years after the launch of the RecycleBank pilot in Philadelphia, the city has now announced a full launch of the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards program in partnership with RecycleBank. This victory is due in large part to the efforts of the 13,000 residents that signed the RecycleNOW petition during the Mayor’s race urging for recycling improvements. Give yourself a pat on the back!
Based on the total amount of recycling collected in their neighborhood, residents will earn points that can be redeemed to use at local and national retailers, or donated to non-profits. This encourages residents to urge their neighbors to recycle as well. Residents can also earn points for trash reduction.
The program will begin in February of 2010 in North Philadelphia, and will roll out in an additional section of the city each month, making the program citywide by July. Encourage all your friends and neighbors to sign up too!
Start a Recycling Program in Your Apartment, Condominium or Office
RecycleNOW Philadelphia is calling on YOU to help start a recycling program in your office, apartment building, or condominium. The City of Philadelphia’s commercial recycling regulations require that all commercial buildings– including businesses, apartment buildings of more than six units, and schools – provide recycling for their employees and/or tenants.
RecycleNOW will work with you to bring a recycling program to your building by helping you gather tenant support and to work with building management. If you’d like to work with RecycleNOW to implement a recycling program please contact Katie Edwards at kedwards@cleanair.org or visit our Commercial Recycling Advocacy page here.
Bottle caps cannot be recycled.
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Last update: 3/1/10