Dual Stream Recycling

City of Wilkes-Barre Recycling

As a "mandated municipality" the City of Wilkes-Barre is mandated to recycle, according to Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulation, the Pennsylvania Municipal Waste, Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988 (ACT 101). Under the Act, items required to be recycled include: Aluminum, Steel & Bimetallic Cans, Newsprint, and Leaf Waste

Recycling various items reduces the amount of waste going into landfills, decreases disposal costs, saves natural resources, and lessens pollution risks.


On May 3, 2021, the City of Wilkes-Barre will begin Dual Stream Recycling. Dual Stream Recycling keeps paper and cardboard products separate from glass and plastic containers and metal cans. Some of the benefits of Dual Stream Recycling are less contamination, higher quality and more valuable recovered material, and lower costs to process the collected recyclables.

Paper and cardboard collection and plastic, bottles, and metal can collection will alternate each week. The dual stream collection program will start with  paper and cardboard collection the week of May 3rd, on your neighborhood’s collection day. Visit the City Calendar for the type of collection each week, or view the recycling schedule (Horario de recogida de doble flujo) below. 

Dual Stream Recycling ENG

Dual Stream ESP


Recycling Schedule

All recycling is to be placed at the curb on your scheduled day by 7:00 AM (Labor Day through Memorial Day) and by 6:00 AM (Memorial Day through Labor Day). The recycling schedule can also be downloaded here, (horario de recogida de doble flujo). If you are unsure of your collection day, please use the collection schedule map or call 570.821.1111, Option 1 to determine it.

DayNeighborhood
MondayDowntown, South Wilkes-Barre 1
TuesdayNorth End, Heights, Brookside
WednesdayMayflower, Rolling Mill Hill, Iron Triangle, Goose Island
ThursdaySouth Wilkes-Barre 2
FridayEast End, Parsons, Miners Mills
2023 Recycling Collection Schedule

January 30-February 3

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

August 7-11

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

February 6-10

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

August 14-18

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

February 13-17

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

August 21-25

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

February 20-24 (Holiday Feb. 20th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

August 28-September 1

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

February 27-March 3

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

September 4-8 (Holiday September 4th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

March 6-10

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

September 11-15

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

March 13-17

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

September 18-22

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

March 20-24

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

September 25-29

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

March 27-31

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

October 2-6

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

April 3-7 (Holiday April 7th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

October 9-13 (Holiday October 9th)

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

April 10-14

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

October 16-20

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

April 17-21

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

October 23-27

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

April 24-28

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

October 30-November 3

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

May 1-5

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

November 6-10 (Holiday Nov 10th)

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

May 8-12

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

November 13-17

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

May 15-19

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

November 20-24 (Holidays Nov 23rd & 24th)

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

May 22-26

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

November 27-December 1

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

May 29-June 2 (Holiday May 29th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

December 4-8

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

June 5-9

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

December 11-15

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

June 12-16 (Holiday June 14th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

December 18-22

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

June 19-23

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

December 25-29 (Holiday Dec 25th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

June 26-30

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

January 1-5 (Holiday Jan 1st), 2024

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

July 3-7 (Holiday July 4th)

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

January 8-12, 2024

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

July 10-14

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

January 15-19, 2024

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

July 17-21

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

January 22-26, 2024

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

July 24-28

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

January 29-February 2, 2024

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

July 30-August 4

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

February 5-9, 2024

Paper & Cardboard Recycling


Recycling Rules

Please follow the rules below to help eliminate garbage going into the recycling stream:

  • Recycling will not be collected if it is in plastic bags.
  • Recyclables must be clean of food and beverage debris and visible to DPW crews. 
  • Compact cardboard and dispose of cardboard and paper in the recycling bins as best as possible, especially when there is rain or snow.
  • Do not overload recycling bins.

Recyclables will be collected from:

  • City-Issued Recycling Bins (There are currently no additional bins available at this time)
  • Similarly Sized Recycling Bins Purchased by Residents (available at home improvement stores)

Recycling Drop Off Site 

In an effort to increase and promote more recycling in the City of Wilkes-Barre, recycling drop off dumpsters are located at:

Department of Public Works Garage
3 Conyngham Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. 
The drop off hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Labor Day through Memorial Day) and 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Memorial Day through Labor Day).