Department of Public Works’ Annual Newsletter and Calendar for 2025 Released

The annual mailer features recycling guidelines, information on how to recycle electronic waste and household hazardous waste, and safety tips. It also includes important dates for the bi-annual yard waste pickup Saturdays, recycling weeks, household hazardous waste events, and delayed service due to holidays.  

The front-page features important tips on how and what can be set out on the curb to avoid a missed service. Common reasons why something is not picked up include: bagged recyclables (all recycling must be placed loose in a blue bin), bags exceeding the weight limitation of 35-pounds, or unaccepted items such as TVs or tires. 

Residents will also learn how to protect crews from getting injured on the job.  Refuse and recycling workers each service more than a thousand houses a day, it is important that trash bags/bins and recycling bins do not weigh more than 35-pounds which is the equivalent to a medium size dog food bag. Having bags and bins weighing 35- pounds or less helps prevent shoulder and back injuries. Bulk items are the exception to the weight limits. Each household can put up two bulk items on the curb a week. 

The city also has recycling service at drop-off locations where residents can dispose of items such as tires, scrap metal (any metal that isn’t a food container), and yard waste in addition to single stream recycling. The Construction Junction site and 3001 Railroad Street location also offer glass dedicated bins for recycling. A listing of what materials can be accepted at the various sites can be found in the newsletter or on the website. 

In 2024, we are projected to collect 13,000 tons of single stream recycling, that is the equivalent of two Eiffel Towers.  

“When people ask me, does recycling really get recycled,” says Recycling Supervisor, Vanessa Reaves, “I’m happy to tell them yes, and give them information on what items turn into after they are collected from the curb.”  

Items the City recycled in 2024 from material collected at the curb, drop-off locations, electronic waste and household hazardous collection events are: 

Starting in 2025, the city will also add tubs such as butter tubs, sour cream and yogurt tubs to the accepted plastics lists, which currently includes bottles, jugs and jars. Residents should refer to the recycling guidelines within the annual newsletter for a full list of what is and is not accepted for recycling. They can also visit our website for recycling guidelines, to download a copy of the newsletter or get more resources about recycling and trash services in the City of Pittsburgh at:  https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/Resident-Services/Trash-Recycling.