Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lower Makefield Township
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.
Varies by Private Hauler Bin (Trash)
Because Lower Makefield utilizes an open market, your specific bin size and placement rules are dictated entirely by the private hauler you select. Most haulers provide a 95-gallon cart and require all trash to be securely bagged.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles
Varies by Private Hauler Bin (Recycling)
The township mandates that all haulers must collect recycling. Recyclables should always be placed loosely in your bin without plastic bags, as bags jam sorting facility machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2
- ✓Flattened cardboard and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
For the municipal fall leaf collection, leaves must be raked into long, narrow rows within 3 feet of the curb. Do not place leaves directly in the street where they block storm drains.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves (during Township fall collection)
- ✓Brush and branches (at Public Works drop-off)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Dictated by your private hauler contract.
Placement
You must contact your specific hauler to schedule a bulk pickup. Follow their exact placement guidelines, which typically involve placing the item at the curb the night before your scheduled day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (non-Freon)
Not Accepted
- ✕ E-waste (TVs, laptops)
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Liquid paints
- ✕ Construction debris
Review your private contract closely. If a hauler does not include bulk items in their standard tier, they will charge a per-item fee based on weight and size.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holiday delays depend entirely upon your independently contracted hauler. Generally, if a major holiday falls on a weekday, service is pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The municipal fall leaf vacuuming runs continuously in November and December but will temporarily halt during severe inclement weather or winter plowing operations.
Always check directly with your specific provider (McCullough, WM, Whitetail, or RMJ) for their exact holiday route adjustments.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Twigs Out of Leaf Piles
During the Township's Fall Leaf Collection, never mix sticks, twigs, branches, or ornamental grasses into your leaf piles. These rigid materials severely damage the expensive municipal vacuum equipment, and crews will completely bypass contaminated piles.
Never Tarp Your Curbside Leaves
If you are anticipating rain, do not place a tarp over your curbside leaf pile. Township crews operate strictly on efficiency; they will not stop to uncover your leaves and will simply drive past your property.
Adhere to the Universal Plastic Bag Ban
Regardless of which private trash company you hire in Lower Makefield, absolutely no one accepts plastic grocery bags in their recycling stream. Take plastic bags back to local grocery stores like Wegmans or ShopRite for specialized recycling.
Seasonal Information
Fall
November to DecemberRound One of the Township's vacuum leaf collection typically begins the first week of November and runs through late November, followed immediately by Round Two in December. Check the township zoning map to know exactly which week crews will hit your neighborhood.
Winter
December to FebruaryIf an early snowstorm hits during the final weeks of leaf collection, Public Works must pivot to plowing. Be advised that any leaves left extending into the roadway will be plowed back onto your property to clear the streets for emergency vehicles.
Spring
April to JuneAs spring landscaping begins, take advantage of the Lower Makefield Public Works facility on Edgewood Road. They offer yard waste drop-off during standard weekday hours, and frequently provide free leaf mulch back to residents.
About Lower Makefield Township Waste Management
Navigating Lower Makefield's Open Market System
Unlike many neighboring Bucks County municipalities that contract a single waste management company for the entire town, Lower Makefield Township utilizes an open market system. This means the local government does not provide residential trash pickup. Instead, homeowners are fully responsible for independently contacting and subscribing to an approved private waste hauler. Currently, the most common private haulers operating in the township include McCullough Rubbish Removal, Waste Management, Whitetail Disposal, and RMJ Disposal Services.
The Mandatory Curbside Recycling Rule
To maintain environmental standards and comply with state mandates, Lower Makefield Township strictly enforces a recycling inclusion rule for all private haulers. Regardless of which company you hire, your private hauler is legally required by the township to provide curbside recycling collection as a built-in part of their normal service fee. Homeowners should never be charged an extra add-on fee for basic curbside recycling.
Annual Fall Leaf Vacuuming Program
While standard household trash is handled privately, the Lower Makefield Township Public Works Department steps in during the autumn months to provide a comprehensive, two-round Fall Leaf Collection service. Beginning the first week of November, massive municipal vacuum trucks sweep through designated zones. Residents simply need to rake their loose leaves to within 3 feet of the curb—without bagging them—for free public removal.
Edgewood Road Yard Waste Drop-Off Facility
If you miss the township's fall leaf sweeps or generate an abundance of brush and branches during spring landscaping, the township offers an alternative. Lower Makefield residents can utilize the municipal yard waste drop-off site situated at the Public Works complex on Edgewood Road. This facility provides a vital service for massive yard cleanups that exceed the standard limits of private hauler contracts.
Diverting E-Waste and Household Hazardous Materials
No private hauler in Lower Makefield is permitted to collect televisions, computer monitors, or household hazardous waste (like oil-based paint, pesticides, or antifreeze) at the curb. For these toxic items, residents must rely on the Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program, which organizes several specialized drop-off events throughout the year to safely dispose of restricted materials.
Drop-off Facilities
Lower Makefield Public Works Yard Waste Drop-off
1100 Edgewood Road, Yardley, PA 19067
Materials Accepted
Tullytown Resource Recovery Facility (TRFF)
200 Bordentown Road, Tullytown, PA 19007
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the official trash collector for Lower Makefield Township?
Lower Makefield Township does not have a single municipal trash collector. The township operates on an open market system, meaning homeowners must independently hire a private hauler. Approved companies include McCullough Rubbish Removal, Waste Management, Whitetail Disposal, and RMJ Disposal Services.
Do I have to pay an extra fee to get recycling service?
No. Lower Makefield Township mandates that every private waste hauler operating within its borders must include curbside recycling collection as part of their standard residential fee. You will not be charged extra for basic recycling.
When does the township collect leaves?
The Township Public Works Department conducts a massive Fall Leaf Collection utilizing vacuum trucks. Round One begins the first week of November, followed by Round Two in December. Leaves must be raked to within 3 feet of the curb and must not contain any sticks or debris.
How do I throw away a television or computer in Lower Makefield?
Under Pennsylvania state law, electronic waste cannot be placed in your curbside trash or recycling carts. Residents must take electronics to designated eCycling drop-off locations or wait for a Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Collection event.