ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Blue Bin Program Aims to Make Recycling Easier

The City of Pittsburgh has launched a program to distribute 100,000+ blue recycling bins to residents and become bag free by 2023. The goal is to make recycling easier for residents and reduce recycling contamination. Each residence serviced by the Bureau of Environmental Services will receive a 32-gallon blue recycling bin with a tight-fitting lid attached and an information packet. All recycling bins will be manufactured in Pennsylvania by The Rehrig-Pacific Company.

 

Blue Bin Distribution Schedule

The program started in the fall of 2020 and will run through spring 2023. Residents will receive a mailer two weeks before receiving a blue bin. All single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments with five units or less are automatically eligible for a new recycling container through this program. Find out approximately when you will receive a blue bin:

 

Neighborhood Season Year
GarfieldFall2020
East LibertyFall2020
HaysSpring2021
Lincoln PlaceSpring2021
New HomesteadSpring2021
West OaklandSpring2021
Upper LawrencevilleSpring2021
Upper HillSpring2021
Terrace VillageSpring2021
Swisshelm ParkSummer2021
Strip DistrictSpring2021
Stanton HeightsSpring2021
Squirrel Hill SouthSummer2021
Squirrel Hill NorthSummer2021
South OaklandSpring2021
ShadysideSpring2021
Regent SquareSummer2021
Polish HillSpring2021
Point BreezeSummer2021
North OaklandSpring2021
MorningsideSpring2021
Middle HillSpring2021
Lower LawrencevilleSpring2021
Lincoln-Lemington-BelmarSummer2021
LarimerSummer2021
Homewood WestSummer2021
Homewood SouthSummer2021
Homewood NorthSummer2021
HazelwoodSummer2021
GreenfieldSummer2021
Glen HazelSummer2021
FriendshipSpring2021
East HillsSummer2021
Crawford-RobertsSpring2021
Central OaklandSpring2021
Central LawrencevilleSpring2021
BluffSpring2021
BloomfieldSpring2021
Bedford DwellingsSpring2021
WindgapSpring2023
WestwoodSpring2023
West EndSpring2023
Troy HillSpring2023
Summer HillSpring2023
Spring Hill-City ViewSpring2023
Spring GardenSpring2023
Southside SlopesFall2022
Southside FlatsFall2022
South ShoreFall2022
SheradenSpring2023
RidgemontSpring2023
Perry SouthSpring2023
Perry NorthSpring2023
OverbrookFall2022
OakwoodSpring2023
Northview HeightsSpring2023
North ShoreSpring2023
Mount WashingtonFall2022
Mount OliverFall2022
Marshall-ShadelandSpring2023
ManchesterSpring2023
KnoxvilleFall2022
FineviewSpring2023
FairywoodSpring2023
EsplenSpring2023
ElliotSpring2023
East CarnegieSpring2023
East AlleghenySpring2023
Duquesne HeightsFall2022
Crafton HeightsSpring2023
ChateauSpring2023
Chartiers CitySpring2023
Central NorthsideSpring2023
CarrickFall2022
California-KirkbrideSpring2023
BrooklineFall2022
Brighton HeightsSpring2023
Bon AirSpring2022
BeltzhooverFall2022
BeechviewFall2022
BanksvilleSpring2023
Arlington HeightsFall2022
ArlingtonFall2022
AllentownFall2022
Allegheny WestSpring2023
Allegheny CenterSpring2023
Saint ClaireFall2022

 

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.

 

 

Bag Free in 2023

The City of Pittsburgh is making a significant shift away from a bag-based collection program. While the blue plastic bag has long been a part of the Pittsburgh recycling collection system, the city must stop packaging recyclables in plastic bags. Plastic bags can degrade recyclables making the materials tough to sort when delivered to the MRF.