Organics and Composting in Philadelphia

Visit the Philly Compost site for the most comprehensive information about composting in Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, the City currently does not collect compostable material curbside.

Leaf Collection

The City operates a leaf collection program in many areas throughout Philadelphia. For details on the City's leaf collection program, visit the Streets Department's website. The city no longer has mechanical leaf collection. Beginning in the fall of 2009, leaves must be placed out in biodegradable brown paper bags alongside regular rubbish collections. Bagged leaves will be separated and composted.

The Streets Department offers the following tips for residents:

• Never mix trash or other recyclable materials with bagged leaves. This contaminates leaves and makes them unfit for recycling purposes.
• Set out leaf bags on the same day as your regularly scheduled trash collection day.
• Citizens must use large brown paper trash bags. This helps to eliminate the extensive process of ripping open, dumping, and disposing of plastic bags. Leaves set out in other bags or containers may be collected as rubbish. Brown paper bags such as these can be purchased at most major home improvement stores.

Christmas Tree Collection

The City collects Christmas trees for recycling shortly following each holiday season. Visit the Streets Department's website for details on tree recycling in coming holiday season. Please note that these trees are not collected curbside, and residents must bring them to designated collection sites to ensure that they are recycled and not sent to the landfill. All trees collected curbside are treated as rubbish and sent to the landfill.