Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Carlisle
Pennsylvania waste collection runs weekly, with exact days varying by local township, borough, or city routing schedules.
State Mandate
Follow Act 101 guidelines for mandatory community recycling.
Resident provided (up to 35-gallons) Bin (Trash)
Use a durable plastic, metal, or fiberglass container with strong handles and a tight-fitting lid, or a heavy-duty trash bag. The container or bag must not exceed 40 pounds. Only one is allowed per week unless official tags are attached to additional bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics (#3, #4, #6, #7)
Borough-provided recycling toter/bin Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected weekly on your normal trash day. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the official Borough-provided bin. The recycling toter cannot be repurposed for excess garbage.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Colored and clear glass bottles
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and bi-metal cans
- ✓Corrugated cardboard
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and office paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3, #4, #6, and #7
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household hazardous waste
- ✕Yard debris
Yard Waste Bin
Curbside brush and leaf collections occur only during specific, brief seasonal windows. Outside of these times, residents must transport yard debris directly to the Compost Facility off Post Road.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves (during designated fall weeks)
- ✓Brush (during designated spring/fall runs)
- ✓Christmas trees (in January)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week
Placement
Set your single bulk item out no more than 24 hours in advance of your normal collection day, ensuring it is positioned clear of parked cars and utility poles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and large chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Household appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Carpeting (must be rolled, taped/tied, and max 6 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Items too heavy for two people to easily lift
- ✕ Hazardous materials and chemicals
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
There is no extra charge or tag required for the standard single bulk item per week, as the service is completely factored into your quarterly municipal utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a designated holiday falls on or before your standard collection day, trash and recycling services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
The Post Road Compost Facility hours may be adjusted around federal holidays; always verify operational status online before loading your vehicle with brush.
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekend, your standard residential collection schedule typically remains unchanged.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Check the Plastic Numbers Closely
Waste Connections only accepts plastic bottles and containers numbered 1, 2, and 5. Toss any plastics outside of this narrow range directly into the trash, as they will contaminate the entire recycling stream.
Respect the Weight Limits
Whether you are using a personal garbage can or a heavy-duty contractor bag for your single weekly trash allowance, ensure it does not exceed the strict 40-pound weight limit to protect sanitation workers from lifting injuries.
Keep Film Plastics Out
Never place plastic shopping bags, bread bags, or dry cleaning film in your recycling toter. These materials tangle around the automated sorting screens at the plant. Return them to local supermarket drop-off kiosks instead.
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayA specialized curbside brush collection occurs once each spring. Branches must be properly sized, and exact collection dates are announced annually on the Carlisle Borough website and social media.
Fall
October - NovemberThe Borough coordinates a localized leaf collection program for approximately six weeks in the fall, alongside a single dedicated autumn brush pickup run.
Winter
JanuaryReal Christmas trees are collected curbside for two weeks following the holidays. Ensure all tinsel, ornaments, plastic bags, and metal stands are fully removed before dragging the tree to the curb.
About Carlisle Waste Management
Navigating Carlisle's Utility-Billed Waste Contract
The Borough of Carlisle operates under a municipal contract with Waste Connections, funded through a flat quarterly fee applied directly to residents' utility bills. This base rate covers the curbside collection of exactly one 35-gallon reusable container or one durable garbage bag each week, not exceeding 40 pounds in weight. Single-family homes, two-family dwellings, and apartments with three units or fewer are legally required by Borough code to participate in this structured system.
Purchasing Tags for Extra Garbage
Because the base utility fee covers only a single 40-pound container or bag per week, any excess refuse requires the purchase of official Borough trash tags. For 2026, these supplemental tags cost $9.92 each. Residents can conveniently purchase them in person at Borough Hall or the Stuart Community Center, or by ordering them online or over the phone. Without a visible tag, Waste Connections drivers will strictly ignore any secondary bags left at the curb.
Targeted Plastic Recycling Requirements
Carlisle maintains stringent guidelines for what belongs in the municipal recycling toter. Notably, only rigid plastic containers displaying the recycling numbers #1, #2, or #5 are permitted. All other mixed plastics—including yogurt cups stamped with #4, takeout containers marked #6, or flexible plastic grocery bags—must be diverted to your regular garbage allowance to prevent severe sorting contamination at the processing facility.
Year-Round Organics at the Post Road Compost Facility
While the Borough does offer highly concentrated curbside yard waste pickups—such as a brief six-week leaf collection in the fall and localized brush runs in the spring—residents are encouraged to utilize the Carlisle Borough Compost Facility for year-round needs. Located off Post Road, the site accepts residential brush and leaves, naturally breaking the material down into rich mulch that is subsequently provided back to the community for gardening and landscaping enhancement.
Drop-off Facilities
Carlisle Borough Compost Facility
Post Road, Carlisle, PA 17013
Materials Accepted
Carlisle Borough Hall
53 West South Street, Carlisle, PA 17013
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How much trash can I put out each week in Carlisle Borough?
Your quarterly utility fee covers the collection of exactly one 40-pound bag or one 35-gallon reusable container each week. If you have extra garbage, you must purchase official Borough tags for $9.92 each and attach them to any additional bags.
Where can I buy extra trash tags?
Tags for extra garbage bags can be purchased in person at Borough Hall or the Stuart Community Center. You can also order them online or over the phone by calling 717-249-4422.
What plastics can I put in my recycling toter?
The recycling program in Carlisle only accepts rigid plastic containers stamped with a number 1, 2, or 5. All other plastics, including styrofoam, #4 yogurt cups, and plastic shopping bags, must be thrown in the regular trash.
Does the Borough collect yard waste at the curb?
Curbside brush is only collected once in the spring and once in the fall, while leaves get a six-week collection window in autumn. At all other times, residents should drop off their brush and leaves at the Borough Compost Facility off Post Road.