UPDATE (10/1/2014): Some readers asked for more information about the extended hours for trash pickup and what will happen if they set trash and recyclables out later (after 7 a.m. the day of collection) or earlier (before 5 p.m. the day before collection). Here’s what we learned:
“As the days are getting shorter, trash is permitted to be set out while it is still daylight at 5 p.m. [the] night before…,” the Streets Department tweeted today. The extended hour policy for trash collection is effective from October 1 through March 31. From April 1 through September 30 trash set-out times are from 7 p.m. the night before and 7 a.m. the day of collection.
“Residents will get fined by the city if they put their trash out too early (before 5 p.m. the night before collection day) or too late (after 7 a.m. collection day),” according to a Streets Department message we received today. For more information, visit their website.
9/29/2014: Philadelphia Streets Department announced on Monday that starting Wednesday, Oct. 1 residents can put their trash and recyclables outside after 5 p.m. on the night before collection day. This is two hours earlier than the current policy. The latest time you can set your trash out is 7 a.m. on the day of collection.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:01 am
I put out my recycling about an hour before the truck comes. I would never want to leave it out longer, especially overnight. Why? “Conscientious” people passing by will drop their trash into my recyclables. Used tissues, cigarette butts, coffee cups, and even dog feces. It’s to avoid such thoughtfulness that I put it out last minute.
But that’s just me. 😉
September 30th, 2014 at 11:32 am
Why does that bother you? It’s not like you have to personally handle their trash. Would you prefer that they litter…?
September 30th, 2014 at 1:51 pm
I’d like to be able to ticket the sanitation department for every time they fail to empty our trash cans. My landlord got a $50 ticket because there were trashcans left out in front of my apartment too long. They actually belonged to our neighboring building. Not that there was much recourse to argue that. My landlord just paid the ticket. That same week they coincidentally did not empty two of our trash cans.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:20 pm
Garrett, if the sanitation workers see the nonconforming trash, they may not take my recycling. It has happened before.
Dumping ordinary trash in recycling also hampers the recycling process. It shows ignorance and/or a complete lack of consideration. And yes, that bothers me.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:13 pm
The latest I can set it out is 7AM? What does that mean? I get that if they come to pick it up at 7:30AM and it’s not out there, then yeah I’ll miss my chance, but are they saying that if I put out my trash at 7:45AM (assuming that the truck hasn’t swung by) that someone can give me a ticket for this? i.e. I’m in violation of some ordinance?