Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lower Paxton
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone. You can check the township's interactive collection map to find your specific collection day.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular trash collection day from April through December.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling charges are managed directly by Lower Paxton Township and billed quarterly in arrears on the same combined statement as sewer and stormwater utilities.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Debit (ACH), Mail, In-Person
Mobile Cart provided by Penn Waste Bin (Trash)
Place your cart curbside by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. All trash bags must fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Ensure the lid handle and wheels point toward your residence.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household trash
- ✓Bagged solid waste
Mobile Cart provided by Penn Waste Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loose inside the recycling cart. Do not place any recyclables, including flattened cardboard boxes, outside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (broken down)
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Electronic devices
- ✕Household hazardous waste
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Plastic bags
Yard Waste Bin
Collected weekly (April 1 to mid-December) on your regular trash day. Must be in Kraft paper bags or tied in bundles (under 12 inches in diameter for branches). Plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Grass clippings are NOT considered yard waste and must go in the regular trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bundled tree prunings
- ✓Garden waste
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrub trimmings
- ✓Weeds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One (1) bulk item per week
Placement
Place your scheduled item curbside by 6:00 AM on your collection day. Items that are too heavy to be safely lifted into a truck by two people will not be accepted. Extra trash bags do not count as a bulk item.
Accepted
- ✓ Appliances (including Freon units)
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Plumbing fixtures (toilets, sinks)
- ✓ Lawn mowers (fluids and batteries removed)
- ✓ Two (2) car tires without rims
- ✓ Three (3) 4-ft rolls of tied carpet
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic devices
- ✕ Chemicals and hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires on rims
- ✕ Construction materials (drywall, brick, lumber, concrete)
- ✕ Automobile parts
One bulk item per week is included in your standard service, but it is strictly by appointment only. You must call the Township at 717-657-5617 to schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection days that fall on or after a Penn Waste observed holiday will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular solid waste and recycling.
If an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change in service prior to or after the holiday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - NovemberThe Lower Paxton Public Works Department conducts curbside vacuum leaf collection along township roads. Rake your loose leaves to the curb according to the seasonal schedule posted by the municipal center.
Spring/Summer
April - DecemberWeekly yard waste collection at the curb runs from April 1st through the second week of December on your standard trash day. You can also drop off leaf waste at the Conway Road Compost Facility if you have a permit.
Winter
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected on specific designated days shortly after the New Year. Ensure all ornaments, tinsel, and plastic tree bags are removed before placing the tree at the curb by 6:00 AM.
Local Tips & Community Info
Lower Paxton Township Waste Management Standards
Residential refuse and recycling logistics in Lower Paxton Township are officially contracted through Waste Management (WM). Every household is equipped with standardized carts: a large 96-gallon container for general garbage and a 65-gallon cart dedicated to recyclables. To guarantee seamless service, residents must roll their carts to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled service day, or simply the night before. Bins must be positioned with the lid opening facing the street and kept at least three feet away from utility poles, mailboxes, and parked cars so the automated mechanical arms on the WM trucks can operate without obstruction.
Navigating Bulk Trash and Large Furniture
Upgrading your living room or getting rid of an old mattress does not have to be a hassle. The township's contract permits households to place exactly one large bulk item at the curb each week alongside their standard 96-gallon refuse cart. This convenient allowance covers items like sofas, box springs, and rolled carpets. However, it is vital to remember that appliances containing Freon, such as refrigerators or air conditioners, require professional handling. These items must have the refrigerant safely extracted and tagged by a certified technician before Waste Management will legally collect them from your property.
Seasonal Yard Waste and Leaf Collection
Keeping your lawn pristine is supported by Lower Paxton's robust seasonal yard waste program, which generally runs from early April through mid-December. Homeowners are required to place grass clippings, leaves, and soft brush in biodegradable kraft paper bags or clearly marked open rigid containers. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited for green waste and will be left behind by the haulers. If you are clearing out small trees, any branches must be securely bundled with twine, restricted to a maximum length of four feet, and must not exceed an overall weight of 40 pounds per bundle.
Electronic Waste Diversion Mandates
Under Pennsylvania state regulations, it is completely illegal to discard electronic devices into your residential curbside bins. Items like televisions, desktop computers, laptops, and peripheral monitors contain hazardous heavy metals that threaten local ecosystems. Lower Paxton residents are required to divert these materials by transporting their e-waste to the Dauphin County Recycling Center. By properly utilizing this county facility, homeowners ensure that toxic components are safely processed rather than ending up in a regional landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
Lower Paxton Township Compost Facility
6613 Conway Road, Harrisburg, PA
Materials Accepted
Dauphin County Recycling Center
1625 S Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17104
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash bins out in Lower Paxton?
All garbage and recycling carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection morning. Because route times can fluctuate based on weather and driver shifts, setting them out the evening before is highly recommended.
Can I throw a broken television in my 96-gallon trash cart?
No. Pennsylvania's Covered Device Recycling Act strictly prohibits electronics like TVs and computers from entering the standard waste stream. You must take these items directly to the Dauphin County Solid Waste Management and Recycling Center.
Who should I contact if my Waste Management cart gets damaged?
If your township-issued refuse or recycling cart suffers a cracked lid or broken wheel, you should contact the Lower Paxton Township municipal office or reach out to Waste Management customer support to request a free repair or replacement.