Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn. Rittenhouse Square is a Center City park with high-rise residences in the area, Manayunk's hilly row-home streets sit on the banks of the Schuylkill River, and Fishtown takes its name from fishermen who controlled fishing rights on the Delaware River. When Zelbi opens in Philadelphia, one photo is all it takes to offer something to a neighbor.
Skip the donation drop-off in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's Residential Bulk Collection Program began on Monday, September 16, 2024, and picks up large items that regular trash collection skips. It covers single-family homes and buildings of up to six units, and books up to four items per appointment.
When Zelbi opens in Philadelphia, you photograph the piece and Zelbi writes the listing. The person who claims it collects at a day and time you pick, and giving costs nothing.
Free furniture pickup in Philadelphia
WHYY reported on October 7, 2024 that the city's bulk pickup was free for residents with inoperable items, and that refrigerators, large furniture, hot water heaters and tires were eligible. By then more than 700 residents had signed up, and the earliest available appointment was in late October.
Once a sofa is claimed, the giver picks the day and time it goes outside, and the claimer confirms it in the app. Philadelphia's climate table lists 120.8 days a year with at least 0.01 inch of precipitation.
Free stuff near you in Philadelphia
People in the Philadelphia metro search for "donation centers near me" and "pickup furniture donation", each 1K-10K times a month. Zelbi's map shows each listing as a neighborhood area rather than an address, so a dresser listed near Rittenhouse Square would show only that area.
When Zelbi opens in Philadelphia, a listing could come from Northern Liberties, which runs along the Delaware River, or from University City, across the Schuylkill River from Center City.
Items on Zelbi are free. The only charge is a $2 platform fee, paid by the person who claims an item; giving something away costs nothing.
A simpler alternative to Craigslist free, Freecycle, Buy Nothing and Trash Nothing
Philadelphia already has ways to pass things along. A free-stuff Facebook group for the city counts thousands of members, Craigslist has a Philadelphia area, and the city's bulk program takes bookings for appointments. On Zelbi, a claimer can cancel for free until two hours before pickup.
One photo, no drive
Zelbi writes the listing from your photo, so an old dresser needs no typing.
Accounts behind claims
Each claim is tied to a Zelbi account and an authorized payment, so nobody arrives anonymously.
A time you choose
You pick the day and time, and your exact address goes only to the claimer, once payment is authorized.
Zelbi is an independent app. It is not affiliated with Craigslist, The Freecycle Network, the Buy Nothing Project or Trash Nothing. Their names belong to their owners.
Moving or decluttering in Philadelphia?
Last spring, University of Pennsylvania students were scheduled to move out on Tuesday, May 12, and Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and Spruce Street was closed to vehicles and bicycles between 34th and 40th Streets on both days.
Temple University's residence halls closed at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and residents without an approved extension had to vacate. Once Zelbi opens in Philadelphia, one photo of each piece lets a neighbor claim it before a move, and you pick the day.
Bring Zelbi to Philadelphia
From Rittenhouse Square to Manayunk and Fishtown, what you no longer need can stay in Philadelphia once Zelbi opens here.
Join the waitlist