Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lower Macungie
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your street address and neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Curbside pickup runs from April through September (weekly for grass and bi-weekly for yard waste), with year-round drop-off available at the Township Yard Waste Center.
Set Out Time
After 6:00 PM the night before or by 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and sewer fees are billed together quarterly by Lower Macungie Township, whereas public water service is billed separately by the Lehigh County Authority.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
96-gallon Trash Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be bagged and fit entirely inside the Township-provided 96-gallon cart. Place your cart curbside the night before your collection day, leaving ample space around it for the automated mechanical lifting arm.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles
Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loose inside the recycling cart—do not bag them in plastic. Large cardboard boxes must be broken down or cut to fit completely inside the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clear and colored glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Newspapers and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Unflattened large cardboard boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Curbside yard waste is collected seasonally. Grass must be in Kraft paper bags (never plastic), and branches must be tied in bundles. Alternatively, yard waste can be taken to the Indian Creek Road Compost Center.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings (in Kraft bags)
- ✓Bundled branches and twigs
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week
Placement
Place your single bulk item at the curb the night before collection. While not required, filling out the Township's online Trash Form ensures a separate bulk truck is dispatched.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (loveseats, armchairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be plastic-wrapped)
- ✓ Large household appliances (non-freon)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, laptops)
- ✕ Freon appliances (unless certified removed)
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Extra trash bags
- ✕ Large unbroken cardboard
Included in standard service limits. Disposing of appliances that contain Freon (like refrigerators or dehumidifiers) requires proper certification that the chemical has been safely extracted.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on or before your normal collection day, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. If a holiday is not listed, service occurs on your normal day.
Yard Waste Exception
Curbside grass and yard waste pickups will follow the same one-day delay as trash routes. The Yard Waste / Compost Center is closed on all major Township holidays.
For weather-related route cancellations, do not call the Township; watch WFMZ Channel 69 for 'WM-Kutztown' delay notifications.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryThe Lower Macungie Yard Waste Center on Indian Creek Road stays open year-round, but operates on heavily restricted winter hours—typically only on weekends from noon to 5:00 p.m. In the event of severe snowstorms, WM will announce trash delays on WFMZ Channel 69 under 'WM-Kutztown.'
Spring
March to MayAs spring cleaning gets underway, remember that household hazardous waste cannot go into your bins. Utilize the 'WM At Your Door' service to dispose of old paint, pool chemicals, and fertilizers safely from your home.
Fall
October to NovemberAutumn leaves and seasonal yard trimmings can overwhelm your curbside limits. Take advantage of the extended fall hours at the Yard Waste / Compost Center to drop off excess leaves and branches for processing.
Local Tips & Community Info
Township-Wide Sanitation with Waste Connections
Residential solid waste and recycling collection in Lower Macungie Township is managed through a single municipal contract, currently operated by Waste Connections. Consolidating services with one primary hauler reduces heavy truck traffic on neighborhood streets and keeps quarterly utility costs standardized. Collection takes place once a week, with both your garbage and recyclables picked up on the very same day. To guarantee service, all property owners must place their bins at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on the morning of their assigned route, or after 6:00 p.m. the night before.
Automated Cart Guidelines and Clearances
The township utilizes a highly efficient automated collection system. Every household is provided with large, rolling 96-gallon toters—one for refuse and one for mixed recycling. Because the collection trucks use mechanical arms to lift and empty the containers, you must leave a minimum of three feet of clearance between your bins, mailboxes, parked vehicles, and utility poles. Furthermore, the lids on your carts must be able to close completely flat. Any loose bags left sitting on the pavement next to the cart will be ignored by the drivers.
Yard Waste Drop-Off Center Access
Unlike municipalities that offer weekly curbside lawn debris pickup, Lower Macungie utilizes a centralized drop-off model to manage organic materials. Residents are required to take their grass clippings, fallen leaves, and tree branches to the Township Yard Waste Recycling Center, conveniently located on Bogie's Lane just off Hilltop Road. To gain entry to the facility, you must acquire a specialized access card from the municipal building. Remember to empty all organic debris out of plastic bags before tossing it into the designated compost piles.
Single-Stream Recycling Best Practices
Your designated recycling cart is meant for single-stream materials, meaning paper, plastics, and metals can all be mixed together without manual sorting. Acceptable items include flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum beverage cans, glass jars, and plastic jugs. However, Lower Macungie strictly prohibits 'tanglers' such as garden hoses, electrical cords, and thin plastic grocery bags, as these easily wrap around the gears at the regional sorting plant and halt the entire facility.
Coordinating Heavy Bulk Removals
Disposing of oversized household goods like sofas, wooden dressers, or wrapped mattresses is covered under the township contract, but it requires prior coordination. Residents are permitted to dispose of one bulk item per week, but you must contact Waste Connections directly at least 48 hours in advance to schedule the pickup. If you need to dispose of 'white goods'—appliances containing Freon, such as refrigerators or window air conditioning units—a separate processing fee will apply to safely extract the refrigerant chemicals.
Drop-off Facilities
Lower Macungie Yard Waste / Compost Center
5536 Indian Creek Road, Macungie, PA 18062
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave extra garbage bags next to my township-issued cart?
No, the automated trucks are not equipped to pick up loose bags from the ground. All refuse must fit entirely inside your 96-gallon cart with the lid closed securely.
How do I dispose of tree branches and leaves?
Residents must take their organic yard waste to the Township Yard Waste Recycling Center on Bogie's Lane. You will need an active resident access card to enter the facility.
Are mattresses accepted in the weekly bulk pickup?
Yes, you can put a mattress out as your one weekly bulk item, but you must call Waste Connections in advance to schedule it, and it must be tightly sealed in a protective plastic bag.