ATTENTION COMMERCIAL BUILDING OWNERS: File your Commercial Waste Report today!

The City of Philadelphia is home to more than 50,000 businesses. These businesses—large and small, family-owned or part of a national corporation, even owners of apartment buildings—all fall under the City of Philadelphia’s Commercial Recycling Law. Just like businesses pay a waste hauler to take away trash, each and every business has to recycle. Complying with the City’s recycling law is not only easy, but it can also be cost neutral or even save money.

Most Philadelphians already recycle at home and have come to expect recycling everywhere they go. By recycling, businesses have the potential to save money and make a favorable impression on their customers.

Introducing the Commercial Waste Report

5 Steps to Compliance

Ready to submit the Commercial Waste Report? Here’s what you need to know:

Fill out the official Commercial Waste Report form online with the City of Philadelphia. The form must be submitted annually by December 31. Please have your Office of Property Assessment (OPA) number on hand.

Publicly Post Form. Print and publicly post your Waste Report in a prominent location (next to your other City of Philadelphia licenses for example). Print the PDF of your form from the submission page after submitting your form.

Distribute Copies of Form to Employees. Distribute copies of your building's completed form to employees so that they are aware of the building's recycling and waste management practices and requirements.

Make Sure Recycling is Easy and Bins are Abundant. Providing adequate recycling containers for employees and patrons is a crucial component of a successful recycling program. A recycling container should be paired with each trash can.

Install Signage. Proper signage, including pictures of permitted recyclables, is necessary for educating employees and patrons on where and how to recycle.                                                                                                                              

Go to Commercial Waste Report Form

Commercial Waste Report Guide

To help you complete the Commercial Waste Report and identify opportunities to minimize your property's waste, we have created the Commercial Waste Report Guide. Use the guide to find:​​

• Philadelphia’s recycling and waste management requirements
• How to fill out the Commercial Waste Report Form
• Tools for understanding your waste
• How to become a Zero Waste Partner
• Ways to implement successful recycling and waste diversion programs

Go to Commercial Waste Report Guide

Did you submit your Commercial Waste Report? Interested in doing more to achieve Zero Waste? Become a Zero Waste Partner.

The Zero Waste Partnership Program is a new way for the City to collaborate with local businesses and organizations on achieving Zero Waste in Philadelphia. Partners take the extra step to report on their Zero Waste practices, including several Zero Waste Action Items and monthly waste diversion rates. Not only does this program encourage Zero Waste practices throughout the city, but it encourages knowledge sharing between the City and Zero Waste Partners: the Partnership will give the City access to additional waste diversion data and give Partners the opportunity to share their best practices with the City and influence future goals. Plus, Partners will earn special incentives for implementing Zero Waste practices, such as eligibility for the Sustainable Business Tax Credit, and exclusive marketing tools from the City.

Learn More About the Zero Waste Partnership Program

Resources

Commercial Waste Report Guide

Commercial Waste Report Guide (2-pager)

Commercial Business Recycling Dumpster Sticker

Commercial Business Recycling Bin Sticker

Zero Waste & Litter Cabinet Action Plan

Become a Zero Waste Partner

Composting in Philadelphia

Dumpster Laws

Solid Resources Fee

Philadelphia Disposal, Recycling, and Donation Options