University City Recycling Center

Name: University City Recycling Center
Address: 975 Pennsylvania Ave, University City, University City, MO, US
Telephone: +1 314-505-8560

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About This Location

Tucked into the north rear parking lot of the Heman Park Community Center at 975 Pennsylvania Ave, the University City Recycling Center is a free, unstaffed, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week drop-off point operated by the City of University City. The site accepts standard single-stream recyclables—paper, cardboard, cartons, glass containers, metal cans, and household plastics—along with textiles such as clothes, shoes, towels, linens, rags, curtains, tablecloths, and small rugs. Plastic film (grocery bags, bubble wrap, bread bags, etc.) is no longer accepted at the drop-off; residents are directed to Schnucks at 6920 Olive Blvd instead. The City's official hard-to-recycle guide also lists this location as a drop point for books and bicycles. There are no usage fees and no residency requirement documented for this unmanned outdoor facility.

What University City Recycling Center Accepts

✓ Paper (newspaper, magazines, office paper, junk mail, envelopes, phone books) (Must be clean and dry; part of the single-stream accepted materials)

✓ Cardboard (Clean and dry; accepted at the drop-off)

✓ Cartons (milk, juice, broth) (Accepted as part of single-stream recyclables)

✓ Glass containers (jars and bottles) (Household glass containers accepted)

✓ Metal cans (aluminum, tin, steel) (Household metal containers accepted)

✓ Plastics #1–5 and #7 (Check for recycling symbol; #6 (Styrofoam) is not accepted)

✓ Textiles (clothes, shoes, towels, linens, rags, curtains, tablecloths, small rugs) (Explicitly accepted at the drop-off center in addition to standard recyclables; condition not specified)

✓ Books (Listed as accepted at this drop-off location in the City's hard-to-recycle guide)

✓ Bicycles (Listed as accepted at the University City Recycling Drop-Off Area (975 Pennsylvania) in the City's hard-to-recycle guide)

Related recycling guides: Glass · Plastic · Cardboard & Paper · Textiles & Clothing

What they do not accept

✕ Plastic film (grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, newspaper bags)

✕ Plastic #6 / Styrofoam

✕ Soiled or dirty containers

✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, bricks, drywall, roofing shingles)

✕ Yard waste, tree stumps, limbs

✕ Fluorescent tubes

✕ Hazardous materials / household hazardous waste

✕ Aluminum foil and aluminum pans

✕ Food waste

✕ Window glass / ceramic dishes

✕ Tires

✕ Motor oil and car parts

This is an unmanned outdoor drop-off; cameras monitor the area. Electronics (TVs, computers) are handled at separate biannual events hosted by the City, not at this drop-off. Light bulbs (non-fluorescent/CFL) can be dropped at City Hall, 6801 Delmar Blvd, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm.

Fees

General recyclables and textiles drop-off — Free

Access & restrictions

Public drop-off, open to all; no gate, no staff, unstaffed outdoor bins available 24/7 · Walk-in (no appointment) · No residency restriction is stated on the official website for this drop-off center. The site is located in the north rear parking lot of Heman Park Community Center.

Programs & events

Biannual Electronics Recycling Events — University City hosts electronics recycling events (spring and fall) at Centennial Commons, 7210 Olive Blvd. Free for St. Louis County residents only; not open to businesses. Up to two monitors/TVs free per vehicle; fees apply beyond that limit. Separate from the 24-hour drop-off.
Light Bulb Recycling at City Hall — CFL and other bulbs (excluding fluorescent tubes) can be dropped at City Hall, 6801 Delmar Blvd, 3rd floor, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm. Broken CFLs accepted if sealed in a Ziploc-style bag.
Curbside Single-Stream Recycling — City-operated curbside recycling serves all households and subscribing businesses; blue cart provided. Contact Public Works at 314-505-8560 to request a cart. Separate service from the drop-off center.
Holiday Light Recycling — Annual holiday light recycling program operated by University City.

Materials, fees and hours can change — call ahead to confirm before your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the University City Recycling Center really open 24 hours a day?

Yes. The City's official website confirms it is a 24-hour drop-off center available every day of the week. It is an unmanned outdoor facility in the north rear parking lot of Heman Park Community Center, so there are no staff hours to worry about.

Can I drop off plastic bags and plastic film at this location?

No. The City's recycling page explicitly states that the drop-off center NO LONGER accepts plastic film, including grocery bags, dry-cleaning bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, and newspaper bags. You can bring plastic film to Schnucks at 6920 Olive Blvd, or find alternate locations at plasticfilmrecycling.org.

Is there a fee to use the recycling drop-off?

No fee is listed on the City's website for dropping off standard recyclables or textiles at this location. The drop-off is provided as a free public service by the City of University City.

Can I drop off old TVs, computers, or other electronics here?

Not at the 24-hour drop-off bins. The City of University City holds separate biannual electronics recycling events (spring and fall) at Centennial Commons, 7210 Olive Blvd. Those events are free for St. Louis County residents (not businesses), with up to two monitors/TVs accepted per vehicle at no charge.

Does this drop-off accept textiles, clothing, and shoes?

Yes. In addition to standard recyclables, the drop-off center explicitly accepts textiles including clothes, shoes, towels, linens, rags, curtains, tablecloths, and small rugs, even if items are worn or damaged beyond donation.

Last verified: November 2026. Sources: source · source · source · source. Spotted something wrong? Suggest a correction.