Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Chambersburg
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your assigned neighborhood route.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day and at the same location as regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Seasonal drop-off is available Tuesday through Saturday (April to November) at the Green Yard Waste Center, with curbside loose leaf collection in the late fall.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
The Borough of Chambersburg provides full municipal services, consolidating residential trash and recycling charges onto one monthly bill alongside electric, gas, water, and sewer.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (PETE Program), Mail, Phone, In-Person / Drop Box
Resident-provided Bin (Trash)
Place your organized trash at the designated curbside spot adjacent to your home on your scheduled day. Be aware that leaving a disorganized mess of trash in the right-of-way can result in a steep $190 per hour municipal cleanup fee.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Borough-provided Green Container Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed completely loose in the provided green container—never bag them. Ensure all food and beverage containers are completely rinsed and free of food particles. Place the bin out on the same day as your trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel/bi-metal cans
- ✓Clear, green, and brown glass bottles
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Office paper and newspaper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic supermarket bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Medical needles or syringes
- ✕Lithium batteries
- ✕Window or mirror glass
Yard Waste Bin
Do not put yard waste in your green recycling bin. Use the Green Yard Waste Recycling Center for year-round brush. The Borough will conduct specialized curbside leaf collections in late fall and Christmas tree pickups in January.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubbery
- ✓Tree trimmings
- ✓Garden residue
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice per year (Drop-off only)
Placement
You cannot leave bulky items at the curb. You must physically transport them to the municipal drop-off location during the designated event hours in April and September.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Standard bulky household junk
- ✓ E-waste (Accepted ONLY during a specific 3-day window in September)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Lithium batteries
- ✕ Regular household garbage
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Contractor or commercial waste
The bulky item drop-off events are a free service provided exclusively to Borough of Chambersburg utility residents.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday falls on your scheduled collection day, trash and recycling services are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The Green Yard Waste Recycling Center operates on a set schedule and officially shuts down for the winter season on the third Saturday in November.
Because Chambersburg operates its own municipal utility, residents should always refer directly to the Borough's calendar or call 717-261-3213 to confirm exact holiday route shifts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilThe Green Yard Waste Recycling Center on West Commerce Street officially opens for the season on the first Tuesday in April. Additionally, the Borough's first week-long Bulky Item drop-off event takes place in mid-to-late April.
Fall
September - NovemberSeptember is a busy month, featuring a specialized 3-day E-Waste drop-off window followed by the fall Bulky Item drop-off week. By late fall, the Borough transitions to its specialized curbside leaf collection program.
Winter
JanuaryDo not throw your real Christmas tree in the regular trash. The Borough schedules a dedicated curbside Christmas tree pickup for residents every January. Ensure all lights and ornaments are fully removed.
Local Tips & Community Info
Chambersburg's Exclusive Municipal Sanitation Program
Unlike many neighboring communities that rely on private subscription haulers, the Borough of Chambersburg operates an exclusive, municipally owned sanitation department. This means that all residential and commercial properties within the borough limits receive standardized solid waste collection directly from the local government. This centralized system is designed to keep neighborhoods sanitary while controlling disposal costs for residents. If you have recently purchased a home or signed a lease in the borough, establishing your weekly garbage collection is mandatory. New occupants must contact the Borough Customer Service department at (717) 264-5151 to set up an account and receive their designated pickup schedule.
Navigating the Green Container Recycling Rules
The borough utilizes a single-stream curbside recycling approach, requiring all participating households to use the official, Borough-provided green recycling container. Collections occur once a week. While single-stream means you do not have to separate your glass, paper, and plastics, there are strict contamination rules. The most critical regulation is that items must be placed completely loose inside the green bin. Do not use plastic grocery bags or municipal garbage bags to corral your recyclables. Additionally, Styrofoam and food-soiled containers are strictly banned. Adhering to these unbagged, clean-material rules prevents your container from being tagged and left unemptied.
Bi-Annual Bulky Item and E-Waste Events
Disposing of a mattress, old sofa, or large broken appliance requires residents to utilize the borough's specialized drop-off programs rather than leaving items at the curb. Chambersburg hosts bi-annual bulky item drop-off events, typically scheduled in the Spring (April) and Fall (September). During these specific weeks, residents can transport their oversized household junk to the designated municipal facility. Additionally, a focused electronic waste week occurs in early September, allowing households to safely drop off up to two e-waste items. Please be aware that lithium batteries are strictly prohibited from all standard and electronic waste collections.
The Green Yard Waste Recycling Center
Managing seasonal landscaping debris in Chambersburg is handled through a dedicated municipal drop-off site rather than year-round curbside collection. The Green Yard Waste center opens for the season on the first Tuesday of April and closes on the third Saturday of November. Operating hours run from Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Residents can bring branches, grass clippings, and hedge trimmings to this facility. To complement this, the Borough Public Works team conducts specialized curbside leaf vacuuming in the late fall and dedicated Christmas tree collections throughout the month of January.
Curbside Placement and Missed Collections
To guarantee your refuse is collected without delay, all approved bins must be positioned at the edge of the street by the early morning hours of your assigned day. When placing your carts, ensure that the lid is completely shut to discourage pests and prevent windblown litter. It is also important to keep containers at least a few feet away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and low-hanging branches. If you followed all placement guidelines and your trash was still skipped, you can directly report a missed pickup or register a container complaint by calling the Sanitation Department hotline at (717) 261-3213.
Drop-off Facilities
Borough of Chambersburg Green Yard Waste Recycling Center
491 West Commerce Street, Chambersburg, PA
Materials Accepted
Harry Rotz Landscaping/Composting Facility
5948 Rice Road, Chambersburg, PA 17201
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection services in the borough?
The Borough of Chambersburg Sanitation Department is the exclusive provider of solid waste and recycling collection for all properties within the municipal limits.
Can I put plastic bags in my green recycling bin?
No. All recyclables must be placed completely loose in the Borough-provided green container. Plastic bags, Styrofoam, and food waste are strictly prohibited.
How do I get rid of large furniture or an old television?
Instead of weekly curbside pickup, the Borough hosts bi-annual bulk item drop-off events in April and September, as well as designated dates for household e-waste.