FAQs

Municipalities & privatization

Account & Billing Questions

Learn how to manage your account, pay bills online, and set up automatic payments with Penn Waste.

Can I pay my bill online?

Yes, residents receiving bills directly from Penn Waste can pay online using Visa or MasterCard. Click here to access the online payment system.

Can I pay my bill over the phone?

Yes, you can pay over the phone using Visa or MasterCard by calling us.

Does Penn Waste offer an auto-payment plan?

Yes, automatic payments can be set up from a checking account.

Any Additional Questions? Contact one of our professionals to get more information.

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Waste & Collection Questions

Find out everything you need to know about Penn Waste’s waste collection schedules, policies, and procedures.

What is my collection schedule?

Each community has a unique collection schedule. To find your specific township or borough’s schedule, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and select your area from the menu or map.

What happens if there is a holiday on my collection day?

If your collection falls on or after a holiday, generally, all collections are moved back by one day. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change to your collection schedule. Refer to your municipality page for specific details. Penn Waste observes six major holidays: New Year’s, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

How many bags may I put out on collection days?

Collection policies, including the number of bags allowed, vary by township or borough. Visit the Resources For Your Municipality page to find specific information for your community.

What services are offered in my township or borough?

Standard residential waste collection and recycling services vary by township or borough. Visit the Resources For Your Municipality page for details specific to your area. Penn Waste also offers additional services, such as special event collection and dumpster services for large home projects. Visit the Supplemental Residential Services page or contact a customer service representative for more information.

How do I dispose of paint?

Paint products pose environmental hazards and must be handled with care. Paint should be dried, hardened (paint hardeners are available at hardware stores), or mixed with an absorbent material like shredded paper or kitty litter. Secure lids tightly and place the containers in a sealed garbage bag. Remember, the total weight of all trash should not exceed 60 lbs for safety reasons.

What should I do with hot ashes?

It is crucial that no hot ashes are placed in your trash, as they pose a potential fire hazard and must be handled carefully. Ensure that ashes are fully cooled before placing them in your trash. A good test is to place them in a cardboard box or paper bag before throwing them away. Never leave these ashes unattended until you’ve confirmed they are cool enough for proper disposal. If the ashes are too hot, they will start to burn through the box or bag, alerting you that they are not safe to dispose of yet.

How do I dispose of chemicals and other hazardous materials?

Household hazardous waste includes corrosive, flammable, reactive, or toxic materials like drain cleaners, gasoline, and pesticides. Penn Waste is not authorized to pick up these materials. Contact your local municipality or solid waste authority to learn more about hazardous waste policies and pickup days in your area.

York County
Lancaster County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County

What are acceptable large items that can be placed out for collection?

The basic rule is that for large items to be acceptable, they must be able to be lifted into a truck by two people. This applies to items such as furniture, appliances, and similar bulky items. Any windows should be taped to ensure the safety of our employees. The guidelines for bulk material collection vary based on your township or borough. To find information specific to your community, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and select your area from the dropdown menu. It is important to note that several categories of items are NOT acceptable for bulk item collection. These include loose piles, hazardous materials, batteries, commercial or industrial waste, and construction materials.

What should I do with yard waste?

Yard waste disposal policies vary by township or borough. Visit the Resources For Your Municipality page to find out how to properly dispose of yard waste in your area.

How do I dispose of old electronics?

Electronic equipment contains large amounts of heavy metals that can negatively impact the environment and should not be placed in your residential waste removal or recycling containers. Contact your local municipality or solid waste authority for information on proper disposal and recycling of electronic equipment in your area.

York County
Lancaster County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County

How do I get a new waste removal container or recycling bin?

Mobile carts (96-gallon carts on wheels) can be obtained through Penn Waste. Contact Penn Waste Customer Service for more information. For a new recycling container, contact your local municipality.

‍Residents in Springfield Township (York County) should contact Penn Waste for recycling container details.

What materials can be recycled?

In-depth information about Penn Waste’s recycling policies and procedures can be found in the recycling section of the website. Click here to view a list of frequently asked questions related to recycling, including acceptable materials, proper preparation, and more.

Recycling Questions

Get answers to frequently asked questions about Penn Waste’s recycling services, including what materials can be recycled and how to prepare them.

What is my recycling collection schedule?

Each community has its own collection schedule. To find the schedule specific to your township or borough, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and select your area from the drop-down menu.

What happens if there is a holiday on my collection day?

If your collection day falls on or after a holiday, collections are generally moved one day back. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no change to your schedule. Please refer to your municipality page for details. Penn Waste observes six major holidays: New Year’s, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Do I need to separate my recyclables?

No. Penn Waste’s innovative single-stream processing facility allows you to place all your recyclable materials into one container for pickup. For more information about Penn Waste’s recycling facility, check out the Recycling Facility Tour.

What materials are acceptable for recycling?

In general, plastic containers, food and beverage glass, metal cans, paper, and cardboard are accepted through Penn Waste’s recycling facility. For a more detailed list of acceptable items, click here.

Is Styrofoam recyclable?

Not in your curbside program. Please throw all Styrofoam in your household trash or consider taking it to a drop-off recycling location that accepts Styrofoam.

Can I recycle paperboard containers?

This is no longer recyclable through our program. Consider finding other uses for your paperboard by searching Earth911.

Can I recycle cardboard pizza boxes?

Pizza boxes, while made of corrugated cardboard, are not recyclable due to the food residue left on the cardboard. Areas of the box heavily soaked in grease or cheese should be removed and disposed of, and the remaining part of the box recycled.

Can I recycle printed cardboard? If so, are staples or tape on the packages a problem?

Printed or glossy cardboard can be recycled alongside regular cardboard. Staples and tape are not a problem and can be left on the packaging. These materials will be removed during the sorting process. If large wads of tape are present, removing them will improve the overall recycling process.

What is waxy cardboard?

Wax coating is used on cardboard to prevent contamination and infestation. An example is large produce boxes used by grocery stores. You can tell the difference between waxy and shiny cardboard with a simple test. If you run your fingernail up the side of the box and a layer of wax peels off, you have waxy cardboard that must be thrown away or composted. Shiny cardboard can be recycled with regular cardboard.

What happens to the materials I recycle?

After pickup, the items you recycle are taken to Penn Waste’s Single Stream Recycling Facility, where they are sorted and prepared for their final recycling destination. After being properly sorted and prepared, the items you recycle are shipped all over the country and the world to be recycled and reused in a variety of ways. This includes being used in carpet fibers, piping, more cans and containers, paper, and much more. In less than two days, a piece of cardboard that you’ve placed out for recycling can be picked up, processed, and on a ship at the port of Baltimore, heading to its final destination. Containers that hold cat litter are recycled for use in Mondo Blocks, which are used in guard rails to protect drivers on highways across the United States. For additional information on the Penn Waste recycling process, visit the Recycling Facility Tour page.

FAQs

Popular Questions and Answers From Penn Waste

Account & Billing Questions

Waste & Collection Questions

Recycling Questions