Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for East Hempfield
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.
Any standard container or 64/96-gallon Casella Toter Bin (Trash)
Strict limit of three (3) 32-gallon bags/cans per week (or one large toter). Any bags beyond the 3-bag limit must have a $3.00 yellow extra service tag attached.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Green bin Bin (Recycling)
Commingled recycling. Place clean, loose recyclables in your bin without plastic bags. Ensure cardboard boxes are completely free of grease or food remnants.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (with necks only)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clear, green, and brown glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Ceramics and dishes
- ✕Window glass and light bulbs
- ✕Toys and plastic buckets
- ✕Paperboard (cereal boxes) and junk mail
Yard Waste Bin
Soft waste must be in recyclable bags (max 30 lbs, unlimited bags per week). Limbs and branches must be tied with biodegradable twine (max 4 feet long, max 30 lbs).
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden residue
- ✓Tree limbs (under 6 inches in diameter)
- ✓Bush clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to two oversized items per week
Placement
Every oversized item MUST have a visible $10 red tag attached, which can be purchased in advance at the Township office.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Bicycles
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpets (rolled and tied, 6ft max length)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Propane tanks
A $10 red tag is strictly required for each bulk/oversized item. Un-tagged items will not be collected by Casella.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a Casella-observed holiday falls on or before your regular trash pickup day, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same one-day delay rule during holiday weeks within the active April through October season.
If Independence Day or another major holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is usually no delay in the weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Focus Only on the Neck
Ignore the numbered recycling triangles on your plastic containers. In East Hempfield Township, only plastic bottles, jars, and jugs that feature a neck are accepted in the recycling bin. Yogurt tubs, plastic trays, and berry containers must go in the trash.
Keep Pizza Boxes Clean or Trash Them
While corrugated cardboard is highly recyclable, the greasy bottom half of a pizza box ruins the paper recycling process. If the cardboard has grease or cheese on it, tear it off and throw it in your standard trash.
No Paperboard or Junk Mail
Unlike many municipalities, East Hempfield specifically instructs residents NOT to include paperboard (like cereal and shoe boxes), newsprint, or junk mail in the commingled recycling bin. These materials should be treated as regular household refuse.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
April - OctoberThe dedicated yard waste collection season begins in early April and runs through late October. During this period, Casella collects properly bagged soft yard waste and tied bundles of limbs on your normal collection day.
Autumn
Mid-October - Mid-DecemberCurbside leaf collection routes run heavily throughout the township. Check the East Hempfield Township zone map to find your specific leaf route dates, and keep leaf piles free of sticks and debris to prevent damage to the vacuum trucks.
Winter
First Week of JanuaryCasella operates a special Christmas tree pickup typically during the first week of January. Ensure all tinsel, ornaments, and plastic tree bags are completely removed before placing your tree at the curb.
About East Hempfield Waste Management
Navigating the 3-Container Weekly Limit
In East Hempfield Township, residential trash pickup is tightly managed through a municipal contract with Casella Waste Systems. The baseline rule is strict: each household is limited to three 32-gallon trash bags or cans per week. If you have extra garbage, it will be left at the curb unless you plan ahead and attach a $3.00 yellow service tag, available at the Township office, to every container over the limit. Alternatively, residents can exchange their traditional cans for a single 64-gallon or 96-gallon toter to streamline collection.
The "Big Four" Commingled Recycling Strategy
Following the guidelines of the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA), East Hempfield uses a commingled, mandatory recycling program focused purely on the "Big Four." This means your green recycling bin should exclusively contain corrugated cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs with necks, metal food/beverage cans, and glass jars. The township emphasizes the mantra "When in doubt, throw it out," urging residents to avoid tossing wishful items like plastic bags, toys, or window glass into the recycling stream.
Seasonal Yard Waste and Biodegradable Bags
From early April through late October, maintaining your yard in Lancaster County is made easier with specialized yard waste collections. Soft organic debris like grass clippings and garden residue must be placed in recyclable kraft bags, available for $1.00 at the Township office. Unlike the strict trash limits, there is no maximum on how many 30-pound yard waste bags you can leave at the curb. For woody waste like tree limbs and bush clippings, residents must tie them securely with biodegradable twine into manageable bundles under four feet long.
Handling Oversized Items and Hazardous Materials
Need to discard a mattress or an old toilet? You are allowed two oversized items per week alongside your regular trash, provided you purchase and affix a $10 red tag to each item. However, electronic waste, such as televisions and computers, and household hazardous materials are banned from curbside pickup. East Hempfield residents must legally transport these specific covered devices to the LCSWMA Hazardous Waste Disposal facility on Harrisburg Pike.
Drop-off Facilities
LCSWMA Hazardous Waste Disposal (Harrisburg Pike Transfer Station)
1299 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17603
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of trash can I put out each week in East Hempfield?
Residents are allowed a strict limit of three (3) 32-gallon trash bags or cans per week. If you have more than three bags, you must purchase a $3.00 yellow service tag from the Township office and attach it to each extra bag or container.
Can I recycle cereal boxes and junk mail?
No. The East Hempfield commingled recycling program specifically asks residents to keep paperboard (like cereal and shoe boxes), newsprint, and junk mail out of the recycling bin. Only corrugated cardboard is accepted.
How do I throw away an old couch or mattress?
You can place up to two oversized items at the curb on your normal trash day. However, each item must have a $10 red tag attached, which you must purchase beforehand at the Township office. Items without the red tag will be left behind.
Where can I safely dispose of old televisions and computers?
By Pennsylvania state law, covered electronic devices cannot be thrown in the trash. East Hempfield residents can drop off electronics, completely free of charge, at the Harrisburg Pike Transfer Station located at 1299 Harrisburg Pike in Lancaster.