Recycling Drop-off Locations

As the City of Pittsburgh is working to reduce contamination at our drop-off centers, please follow some simple best practices and guidelines below:

• Place items loosely in the containers (dumpsters/roll-offs). This means no plastic bags! However, shredded paper must be contained in a paper bag and placed into a dumpster marked for "mixed paper" at one of the drop-off centers listed below.
• Flatten ALL cardboard before placing it into the recycling dumpster.
• Follow the clearly marked signs on each dumpster instructing what we accept.
• Do not place ANY loose plastic or metal lids or caps of any kind into our recycling dumpsters.

Accepted Items

In order to reduce contamination at our drop-off centers, only the following items are accepted:

• Cardboard 
• Glass bottles, jars, and jugs - please use the green dumpsters only at the Strip District and Conjunction Junction Drop-Off Centers
• Scrap metal - please use the red dumpsters located only in the East End, West End, and Hazelwood Drop-Off Centers
• Aluminum and steel cans
• Mixed paper (newspaper, junk mail, magazines, high-grade office paper, shredded paper and paper board)
  • The City of Pittsburgh no longer has dedicated drop-off bins for shredded paper. If you wish to recycle shredded paper, it will need to be placed in a paper bag and placed in a bin marked for "mixed paper".
• Empty bottles, jugs, and jars

Recycling Contamination, and Why It Matters?

One of the biggest challenges facing recycling right now is contamination by wishful recycling or “wish-cycling”. This happens when non-recyclable objects are placed in the recycling bin with the wish it will be recycled. Additionally, recycling contamination occurs when food residue, liquids, and unacceptable materials (such as batteries, sharps, extra plastic bags, food waste, and greasy pizza boxes), are placed into the recycling can. Contaminants not only degrade the materials, boosting costs, but they can potentially cause harm to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and city employees.

RECYCLING DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

These locations also accept yard debris and tires. Only two (2) tires are allowed per day, per resident, for drop off and must have rims removed beforehand.
For yard debris, there is a $22.00 fee for cars, SUVs, pick-ups and vans with trailer. A $54.00 fee for Dump Trucks or Large Box Vans and prior approval from DPW Director is required. *Payments must be made by check or money order only (no cash accepted). Checks are to be made out to Treasurer, City of Pittsburgh.* 
Drop-off centers are open Monday-Friday and may offer Saturday hours. Call each center for details and hours.

GLASS DROP-OFF OPTIONS

Pittsburgh residents are encouraged to bring their glass bottles, jugs, and jars of 3 gallons or less to these three drop-off locations listed below in addition to the items listed above.