Can you recycle plastic bags in Philadelphia, PA?

Not in your recycling bin. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility City of Philadelphia Streets Dept uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your trash.

What do I do with batteries in Philadelphia, PA?

Batteries never go in any of your Philadelphia, PA carts — not the recycling bin, not the trash. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Recycling rules in Philadelphia, PA

📍 City of Philadelphia Streets Dept · 2-cart program

Who collects your recycling in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, PA collects its own residential waste: City of Philadelphia Streets Dept operates the carts directly rather than contracting the route to a private hauler. Households get two carts — a recycling bin for recyclables and a trash for everything else. There is no curbside compost cart, so food scraps and food-soiled paper go in the trash.

That two-cart setup is the norm for most of the country — curbside food-scrap collection remains rare outside California and a handful of West Coast and Northeast cities.

The quick answer for Philadelphia, PA

Plastic bottles & jugs	♻️ Recycling bin	Empty; keep the cap on.
Aluminum & steel cans	♻️ Recycling bin	Give them a rinse.
Flattened cardboard	♻️ Recycling bin	Clean, dry sections only.
Glass bottles & jars	♻️ Recycling bin	Lids off.
Food scraps	🗑️ Trash	No curbside compost cart here.
Greasy pizza box	🗑️ Trash	No curbside compost cart here.
Plastic bags & film	🗑️ Trash	Store drop-off is better.
Batteries	⚠️ Hazardous	Never curbside — tape the terminals.

This is the short list. The full A–Z of what is and isn't recyclable is on what can I recycle? — or scan the item and get the answer for Philadelphia, PA directly.

📷 Scan an item

Philadelphia, PA recycling FAQ

Can you recycle plastic bags in Philadelphia, PA?: Not in your recycling bin. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility City of Philadelphia Streets Dept uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your trash.
What do I do with batteries in Philadelphia, PA?: Batteries never go in any of your Philadelphia, PA carts — not the recycling bin, not the trash. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

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Still not sure?

Rules vary by material and by hauler, and the sorting line is strict — one wrong item can contaminate a whole load. When in doubt, point your camera at the item for a verdict, or check the official City of Philadelphia Streets Dept guide.