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Code Update: New Standards for Trash and Recycling in Effect

Posted on: June 26, 2026 - 9:00am

Dear Bridgeport Residents,

On April 28th, 2026, Borough Council adopted an update to Chapter 470, Solid Waste, of the Borough Code. The update included a number of changes to the regulations around the storage and collection of trash and recycling by borough residents and businesses. By making these changes, the Borough is aiming to address a number of long-standing concerns from residents, including large amounts of litter, waste containers left out on borough sidewalks and streets, and missing or broken containers.

Key Changes
For your convenience, below are a few of the key changes that may require action from you as a property owner/tenant:

  • Residents must place trash in durable, reusable containers of up to 96 gallons and recycling in durable, reusable containers of up to 65 gallons.
  • Trash must be bagged and placed in containers, not placed loose into them. NO PLASTIC BAGS SHOULD BE PLACED OUT FOR COLLECTION OUTSIDE OF A CONTAINER, unless necessary.
  • Container lids must be fully closed in order to prevent litter.
  • Residents are allowed to set out up to two (2) trash containers and one (1) recycling container for each collection.
  • Containers should be marked as either trash or recycling as well as with the property address and unit number, if applicable.
  • Containers must be set out for collection by 6 AM on collection day and taken in no later than 11:59 PM that day.
  • If its not possible to store them in the rear or side yards, all containers stored at the front of the property MUST BE SCREENED FROM VIEW from the street. The updated code contains a full set of standards for screenings as well as examples, which can be found on the Trash and Recycling program page here.

Enforcement
Property owners and tenants will start receiving notices about bringing their properties into compliance this summer. All initial notices will be for educational purposes as the Borough’s aim is compliance, not to hit residents’ wallets. After the initial round of public education and notification, enforcement will commence with potential fines of up to $100.

For a full overview of the changes as well as more information on the Borough’s Trash and Recycling Program, please visit www.bridgeportborough.org/trash-and-recycling.

If you have any questions or concerns about bringing your property into compliance, please reach out to Borough staff at 610-272-1811.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.