Bethlehem trash & recycling schedule
At a glance
| Trash | Owners must hire a licensed private hauler (Art. 1162) — city doesn't provide residential trash collection or a citywide trash weekday. Verified 2026-10-15 · bethlehem-pa.gov |
|---|---|
| Curbside | Recycle after 6:00 p.m. night before scheduled day. Trash per hauler. Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · bethlehem-pa.gov |
| Recycling | City Recycling Department biweekly curbside for all residents (Art. 933 / Ord. #3821 — recycling required). Verified 2026-10-15 · bethlehem-pa.gov |
| Bulk | Via private trash hauler — not a city program. Bulk page Verified 2026-10-15 · bethlehem-pa.gov |
| Hauler | Private open market (trash); City Recycling / Republic. |
| Contacts | Recycling Bureau 610-865-7082 opt. 3; City Hall 10 E Church St, Bethlehem PA 18018; 610-865-7000. Verified 2026-10-15 · bethlehem-pa.gov |
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
Recycle after 6:00 p.m. night before scheduled day. Trash per hauler.
Where
Front curb; write address on recycle container.
Limits
Recyclables in containers/≤30-gal extras; cardboard bundles ≤2′×4′.
Not allowed
Curbside recycle bans listed above; books/pizza boxes not in curbside recycle; household hazardous waste/e-waste not in recycle.
Bags
Recyclables loose (no bags). Trash per hauler.
Verified 2026-10-15 · bethlehem-pa.gov
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your pickup day
Verified 2026-10-15 · bethlehem-pa.gov
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Shift |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day 2026 | 2026-01-01 | — |
| Memorial Day 2026 | 2026-05-25 | — |
| Independence Day 2026 | 2026-07-04 | — |
| Labor Day 2026 | 2026-09-07 | — |
| Thanksgiving 2026 | 2026-11-26 | — |
| Christmas 2026 | 2026-12-25 | — |
If pickup day falls on a holiday or after a holiday (Mon–Fri) → recyclables one day later for remainder of week.
Verified 2026-10-15 · bethlehem-pa.gov
Private junk pickup
Same-week haul for furniture or a cleanout in Bethlehem. Not affiliated with Town Rulebook or your city — you book directly.
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Full details for Bethlehem: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- Owners must hire a licensed private hauler (Art. 1162) — city doesn't provide residential trash collection or a citywide trash weekday. Exact trash day/set-out = your contracted hauler.
- Recycling
- City Recycling Department biweekly curbside for all residents (Art. 933 / Ord. #3821 — recycling required). Find A/B day via Recycling Bureau 610-865-7082 opt. 3 (day letter doesn't change year-to-year). Place at front curb after 6:00 p.m. night before pickup. Accept: Al/tin/steel/bimetal/aerosol cans & formed Al (no toxic/flammable/paint cans); clear/green/brown food/beverage glass (no drinkware/windows/bulbs/mirrors/ceramic); plastics #1–7 bottles/containers <5-gal (no Styrofoam/bags/film/toys; crush; recycle caps); food/beverage cartons; newspapers+inserts, magazines, catalogs, shiny paper bags, phone books, mixed office paper, corrugated (flatten; extras bundled ≤2′×4′ string-tied), flatboard. Loose in containers only — no bags/cardboard boxes as storage.
- Bulk pickup
- Via private trash hauler — not a city program. Pizza boxes → trash (grease contamination). Books → Theis/Cornfeld center (not curbside recycle).
- Curbside: when
- Recycle after 6:00 p.m. night before scheduled day. Trash per hauler.
- Curbside: where
- Front curb; write address on recycle container.
- Curbside: limits
- Recyclables in containers/≤30-gal extras; cardboard bundles ≤2′×4′.
- Curbside: brush
- Per private trash hauler.
- Curbside: not allowed
- Curbside recycle bans listed above; books/pizza boxes not in curbside recycle; household hazardous waste/e-waste not in recycle.
- Curbside: bags
- Recyclables loose (no bags). Trash per hauler.
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Per city recycling/solid-waste ordinances — check with city.
- Holidays
- New Year's Day 2026 (2026-01-01): shift not yet confirmed
- Memorial Day 2026 (2026-05-25): shift not yet confirmed
- Independence Day 2026 (2026-07-04): shift not yet confirmed
- Labor Day 2026 (2026-09-07): shift not yet confirmed
- Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-26): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas 2026 (2026-12-25): shift not yet confirmed
Recycle 2026 observed holidays: Thu 1/1, Mon 5/25, Sat 7/4, Mon 9/7, Thu 11/26, Fri 12/25. If pickup day falls on a holiday or after a holiday (Mon–Fri) → recyclables one day later for remainder of week. Trash holidays = follow private hauler.
- Hauler
- Private open market (trash); City Recycling / Republic (missed recycle)
- Contacts
- Recycling Bureau 610-865-7082 opt. 3; City Hall 10 E Church St, Bethlehem PA 18018; 610-865-7000
- Find your day
- Curbside recycling A/B + Art. 1162 private trash
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: bethlehem-pa.gov
Bulk: bethlehem-pa.gov
Holidays: bethlehem-pa.gov
Curbside: bethlehem-pa.gov - Verified
- 2026-10-15
Town Rulebook is independent and not affiliated with any city or hauler. Schedules change — always confirm with your city. About & disclaimer