A public resource guide
Every legitimate way to get rid of furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bulk waste in Pittsburgh, including 2 free bulk items per week with no scheduling, the strict 35-pound/35-gallon set-out limit, two annual citywide yard waste Saturdays, the 2026 lid-on/lid-off recycling rules, and what to do when paid hauling isn't an option.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Pittsburgh runs one of the simplest bulk pickup systems of any major U.S. city: 2 large items per household per week, on your regular trash day, no scheduling required. The trade-off is a strict 35-pound or 35-gallon limit per individual bag or bin, the official mailer compares it to the size of a medium pet food bag. Pittsburgh also runs the unusual two-Saturdays-per-year yard waste collection (April 25 and November 7, 2026 only). New for 2026: specific lid rules, remove lids from glass and plastic bottles, but leave them ON for metal cans. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
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Pittsburgh residents have free 2-bulk-items-per-week pickup with no scheduling, free weekly trash, free biweekly recycling, free electronics drop-off via Pennsylvania state programs, the Strip District and Point Breeze recycling drop-off centers, and donation pickup programs. The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works Bureau of Environmental Services collects from individual homes and small multi-unit buildings (5 units or fewer) within Pittsburgh city limits.
2 bulk items per week (no scheduling)
Free, every weekPittsburgh allows 2 bulk items per household on any regular weekly trash collection day, no appointment needed. Place items at the curb with your regular trash. The 2-per-week pace adds up: that's 8+ free large items per month, more flexible than monthly bulk programs in many cities. For more than 2 items, call 311 at 412-255-2626 (special pickups have minimum fees).
Eligibility: Properties served by City of Pittsburgh trash collection (homes and small multi-unit buildings 5 units or fewer).
Limit: 2 items per household per week. Place at curb at least 2 feet away from regular cart.
Set-out time: After 6:00 PM the night before; no later than 6:00 AM on collection day. Remove and store bins by 10:00 PM on pickup day.
Accepted items: Sofas, recliners, tables, box springs, mattresses, dressers, stoves, washers, dryers, toilets, hot water tanks, windows, cabinets.
Bundling rules: Fencing, carpet, and wood must be bundled and tied in sections no more than 5 feet long and 35 pounds each.
Infested items: Infested mattresses or upholstered furniture must be sealed in plastic.
NOT accepted: TVs, computers, peripherals, Freon appliances, household chemicals, demolition debris, construction waste, batteries, light bulbs, automobile parts.
Items too heavy: Items too heavy for two-person pickup will not be collected.
Citywide Yard Debris Saturdays (twice yearly)
Free, 2 days/yearPittsburgh's yard waste collection is unusual, only TWO Saturdays per year, citywide. In 2026 the dates are Saturday, April 25, 2026 (spring) and Saturday, November 7, 2026 (fall). Use paper bags only (NO plastic bags). Branches must be bundled and tied, no more than 4 inches in diameter and 5 feet in length.
2026 dates: Saturday, April 25, 2026 (spring) and Saturday, November 7, 2026 (fall). Mark your calendar, these are the only days.
Containers: Paper bags only. NO plastic bags.
Branches: Bundled and tied, max 4 inches diameter, max 5 feet length.
Off-season: No curbside yard waste collection between April and November dates. Use composting or private hauler if needed mid-year.
Recycling Drop-Off Centers
Free for residentsPittsburgh maintains two recycling drop-off centers for residents who can't use curbside collection or have additional materials beyond the cart. Strip District location is open 24/7. Useful for cardboard surges from move-ins and large recycling overflow.
Strip District: Environmental Services, 3001 Railroad Street, Pittsburgh PA 15201. Open 24/7.
Point Breeze: Construction Junction, 214 N. Lexington St, Pittsburgh PA 15208. Business hours.
What's accepted: Curbside recyclables (plastic bottles/jugs/jars/tubs, cans, mixed paper, cardboard) and glass bottles/jugs/jars (separate bin).
Freemoval (partner-community pickups)
FreeFreemoval is a social impact program that subsidizes free junk removal pickups in partner communities, typically affordable housing properties and select municipal partnerships. Pittsburgh partner expansion is in progress for 2026.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Pittsburgh: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Donation-pickup programs
FreePittsburgh-area nonprofits offer free pickup for items in usable condition.
The Salvation Army: Free pickup of clothing, furniture, household items. Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Pittsburgh: Multiple locations. Free pickup for furniture, appliances, building materials.
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania: Donation pickup for larger items in the Pittsburgh metro area.
Construction Junction: Pittsburgh-based building materials reuse store (point Breeze location). Accepts donated building materials, cabinets, fixtures, doors, windows.
Weekly trash, biweekly recycling. The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works Bureau of Environmental Services collects trash and recycling from individual homes and small multi-unit buildings (5 units or fewer) within Pittsburgh city limits. Trash is collected weekly. Recycling is collected every other week.
The official 2026 Refuse and Recycling Mailer. Mailed to all eligible households in late December 2025, this is the definitive guide for the year, printed by the city, with all rules updated. Pittsburgh divides recycling service into Northern, Southern, Central, and East zones. Each zone follows an official 2026 calendar.
The 35-pound, 35-gallon rule. Trash bags and bins cannot exceed 35 pounds OR 35 gallons each. The mailer compares this to the size of a medium pet food bag. The limit applies to each individual bag or bin, not the total set-out. Bag all trash before placing in containers (prevents litter and deters pests).
Set-out window. Set materials out after 6:00 PM the night before your collection day. All materials must be at the curb no later than 6:00 AM on collection day. Remove and store bins by 10:00 PM on collection day, leaving bins curbside overnight is a City ordinance violation.
2026 lid rules (NEW). The 2026 Pittsburgh Recycling Mailer introduced specific lid rules: (1) Glass jars and bottles, remove lids and caps. (2) Metal cans (aluminum, steel, aerosol), leave lids on. (3) Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs, remove lids and caps. All other recycling rules remain the same: items must be loose, clean, dry, and empty.
No bags in recycling. Recycling must be loose, clean, dry, and empty. Plastic bags are NOT accepted in curbside recycling. Bags placed in recycling will result in contamination and may cause your cart to not be collected.
Holiday delays. Pittsburgh observes 7 holidays with a 1-day delay rule: New Year's Day (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Labor Day (Sep 7), Thanksgiving (Nov 26), and Christmas (Dec 25). The rule: when a holiday falls on or before your collection day, your pickup will be 1 day later. Friday routes move to Saturday. Pittsburgh does NOT observe Presidents' Day, Columbus Day, or Veterans' Day for sanitation purposes.
Sharp objects rule. Secure in a puncture-proof container labeled "CAUTION", then dispose with regular trash. Wrap broken glass with heavy paper and tape. Place needles in a sturdy container (like a detergent bottle).
Find your day. Use PGH.ST at pgh.st, the official civic address lookup for Pittsburgh trash and recycling schedules. Or call Pittsburgh 311 at 412-255-2626. The lookup confirms your refuse day, recycling week, yard waste dates, bulk rules, and 2026 holiday impact.
City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works. Office: 412-255-2586. Environmental Services Recycling: 412-255-2631. Solid Waste: 412-255-2773. 311 (general): 412-255-2626.
Pittsburgh's donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don't work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call before scheduling if you're unsure, pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.
For households who exceed 2 bulk items per week regularly, need same-day service, want items the city won't take (TVs, electronics, Freon appliances, construction debris), need yard waste pickup outside the two annual Saturdays, or live in 6+ unit buildings (city only serves 5 or fewer), paid options are available. Note: special pickups for excess bulk items have a $100 minimum for the first half-hour through the city, comparison-shop carefully.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For households who need same-day service, exceed 2-per-week bulk limits during cleanouts, have items the city won't take, or live in larger apartment buildings, LoadUp offers professional removal in Pittsburgh with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What's included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes, crew handles in-home pickup.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
When this beats waiting: Move-outs, real estate timelines, multi-item cleanouts, items the city won't accept (TVs, electronics, Freon appliances, construction debris).
Other paid services in Pittsburgh: 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Junk King, comparison-shop for larger jobs.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book a Pittsburgh pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Different items have different rules in Pittsburgh. Here's a quick reference for the most common things people need to dispose of.
Pittsburgh residents can dispose of household hazardous waste through Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) Hard-to-Recycle events held throughout the region. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications. Pennsylvania's Covered Device Recycling Act (CDRA) provides free statewide electronics recycling. The Allegheny County Health Department also runs occasional HHW collection events.
To report illegal dumping in Pittsburgh, call 311 at 412-255-2626 or use the city's online reporting form. Reports can also be filed via the MyBurgh app. Include the location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. Pittsburgh actively investigates dumping reports through Environmental Services. If you're considering dumping because you've hit the 2-per-week limit during a cleanout, please use a paid hauler, LoadUp pickups starting around $80 are dramatically cheaper than illegal dumping fines under Pennsylvania law, which routinely exceed $1,000.
Is there really free junk removal in Pittsburgh?
Yes, Pittsburgh allows 2 bulk items per household on any regular weekly trash collection day, with no scheduling required. The 2-per-week pace is one of the most flexible in the country, that's 8+ free large items per month. Plus free weekly trash, free biweekly recycling, two free citywide yard debris Saturdays per year (April 25 and November 7, 2026), and free recycling drop-offs at the Strip District (24/7) and Point Breeze locations. Donation pickup through Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, Construction Junction, and Goodwill is also free for usable items. Note: TVs, electronics, Freon appliances, batteries, and construction debris are NOT accepted in bulk pickup, use Pennsylvania CDRA programs, Home Depot, or paid haulers for those.
What is the 35-pound, 35-gallon rule?
Trash bags and bins in Pittsburgh cannot exceed 35 pounds OR 35 gallons each. The official 2026 mailer compares this to the size of a medium pet food bag. The limit applies to each individual bag or bin, not the total set-out. Overweight or oversized bags will not be collected. Use multiple smaller bags rather than one large one for heavy items like wet leaves or kitty litter.
Why is yard waste collection only twice a year?
Pittsburgh's curbside yard waste collection is structured around two citywide Saturday collections per year, spring and fall. In 2026 the dates are Saturday, April 25, 2026 (spring) and Saturday, November 7, 2026 (fall). The two-day model concentrates collection effort during peak yard waste seasons (post-winter cleanup and fall leaf drop). Off-season disposal options include composting at home, using a private hauler, or holding yard waste until the next citywide Saturday. Use paper bags only, plastic bags will not be collected. Branches must be bundled and tied, no more than 4 inches diameter, no more than 5 feet length.
How do I qualify for Freemoval in Pittsburgh?
Freemoval works through partner communities, typically affordable housing operators, public housing authorities, and select municipal partnerships. We’re actively expanding partnerships in Pittsburgh through 2026. If your property is part of the program, your property manager will provide a booking code. If you operate housing or work in a city department in Pittsburgh, contact us to discuss adding your community.
What changed about recycling lids in 2026?
The 2026 Pittsburgh Recycling Mailer introduced specific new lid rules. (1) Glass jars and bottles, remove lids and caps. (2) Metal cans (aluminum, steel, aerosol), leave lids ON. (3) Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs, remove lids and caps. The reason for the difference: glass and plastic lids are typically a different material than the container body and need separate sorting, while metal lids on metal cans go to the same recycling stream and are easier to capture if attached. All other recycling rules remain the same: items must be loose, clean, dry, and empty, no plastic bags.
I have a Freon appliance (refrigerator, freezer, AC). Now what?
Pittsburgh does NOT accept Freon appliances in regular bulk pickup. Federal EPA rules require Freon (refrigerant) to be removed by certified technicians before disposal. Three options: (1) Many appliance retailers offer free haul-away with delivery of a replacement, ask before purchase. (2) Special city pickup at $100 minimum for first half-hour (call 412-255-2773). (3) Paid hauler like LoadUp who handles certified Freon removal as part of pickup. Some scrap metal recyclers also accept Freon appliances if you can self-haul.
How do I report illegal dumping in Pittsburgh?
Call 311 at 412-255-2626 or use the city's online reporting form. Reports can also be filed via the MyBurgh app. Include location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
Freemoval is actively onboarding Pittsburgh partner properties through 2026. Reach out to prioritize your community.
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