Recycling Centers in Pennsylvania
Find local recycling drop-off locations across Pennsylvania. Browse by city to see nearby facilities with hours and contact information.
Recycling in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lists 206 recycling centers across 142 cities — the widest geographic spread of any state in this directory — including county drop-off sites, scrap processors, electronics recyclers, and hazardous-waste facilities. The state environmental agency is the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Two statutes anchor Pennsylvania's recycling framework: Act 101 of 1988, the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, which requires larger municipalities to operate recycling programs and funds them through a $2-per-ton fee on waste disposed at landfills and waste-to-energy facilities; and Act 108 of 2010, the Covered Device Recycling Act (CDRA), which established a manufacturer-funded recycling program for covered electronics. Pennsylvania does not have a bottle-deposit law.
Centers are distributed throughout the commonwealth, with higher densities around the state capital and the two largest cities. Harrisburg lists 7 centers, Lebanon and Pittsburgh each have 6, and Allentown also lists 6. Williamsport, York, Philadelphia, and Scranton each list 5. The wide spread across 142 cities — more than any other state in this directory — reflects Pennsylvania's large rural population and county-based recycling infrastructure. Neighboring New Jersey has a bottle-deposit law; Pennsylvania does not.
Under Act 101, municipalities with populations of 5,000 or more (and those in counties of 300,000 or more) must provide curbside recycling for at least three materials: newsprint, aluminum cans, and glass containers at minimum. The DEP administers grants to help local governments fund collection programs, processing equipment, and public education. Under the CDRA (Act 108), manufacturers of covered devices — desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and televisions — must register with the DEP, meet annual collection-weight targets, and provide free recycling opportunities to Pennsylvania households. Retailers may not knowingly sell covered devices made by non-registered manufacturers. DEP maintains a list of registered manufacturers and approved collectors on its website.
Top Cities by Number of Centers
All Cities in Pennsylvania
Recycling in Pennsylvania — FAQ
Does Pennsylvania have a bottle deposit?
No. Pennsylvania does not have a bottle bill or container-deposit law. Beverage containers are recycled through municipal curbside programs (required for larger municipalities under Act 101) or at drop-off centers. This directory lists 206 centers across 142 Pennsylvania cities.
What does Pennsylvania's Act 101 require?
The Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101, 1988) requires municipalities with populations of 5,000 or more, and municipalities in counties of 300,000 or more, to operate curbside recycling programs for at least newsprint, aluminum cans, and glass. A $2-per-ton fee on landfill and waste-to-energy disposal funds DEP grants to help local governments build and maintain these programs.
How do I recycle electronics in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's Covered Device Recycling Act (Act 108, 2010) requires manufacturers of computers, tablets, and televisions to offer free recycling to Pennsylvania households and meet annual weight-recovery targets. The PA DEP maintains a list of registered manufacturers and approved collectors. Many drop-off sites in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Allentown accept covered devices at no charge.
Where are the biggest recycling hubs in Pennsylvania?
Harrisburg leads with 7 centers, followed by Lebanon, Pittsburgh, and Allentown at 6 each. Williamsport, York, Philadelphia, and Scranton each list 5. The directory covers 206 centers in 142 cities statewide.