Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for McCandless
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.
Cart with Black Lid Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged before placing it in the cart. The cart lid must be securely closed. Extra bags placed outside the cart cost $6 each and must be prepaid online.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Styrofoam and plastic wrap
- ✓Broken glass or sharp metal (must be secured in a hard container)
Cart with Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the blue-lidded cart. Do not use plastic bags. Rinse all food residue from containers and flatten cardboard.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, cups, and tubs (e.g., yogurt or margarine tubs)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and bimetal food/beverage cans
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paperboard boxes
- ✓Office paper, magazines, catalogs, and junk mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and bubble wrap
- ✕Styrofoam products
- ✕Waxed paper and takeout food containers
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Electronic waste or batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Collected weekly on the same day as trash from early March through late November. Must be placed in the green-top cart or up to three compostable paper bags. No plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Small twigs and branches
- ✓Garden residue
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (One item free)
Placement
Place the scheduled bulk item at the curb alongside your regular carts on your designated collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ White goods and large appliances (non-freon)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions and computers (use At Your Door service)
- ✕ Hazardous waste or chemicals
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
The first bulk item each week is free as of 2025. Additional bulk items, as well as extra bags of trash outside the cart, incur a fee ($6 per extra bag) and require online prepayment.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a regularly scheduled weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard trash and recycling.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, the collection schedule will operate as it normally does with no delays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose Recyclables Only
Never bag your recyclables in McCandless. Plastic grocery bags tangle the sorting machines at the Greenstar Recycling Center on Neville Island. Keep all paper, plastics, and glass loose in your blue-lidded cart.
Secure Sharp Objects
If you are disposing of broken glass or sharp metals in your black-lidded trash cart, you must place them inside a rigid, puncture-proof container before bagging them to protect sanitation workers.
No Electronics in the Carts
Electronic waste, including old laptops and televisions, is strictly prohibited in both your trash and recycling carts. Utilize the 'At Your Door' program to dispose of these items properly.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - FebruaryResidents must clear snow and ice around their carts to ensure hauler access. Keep cart lids closed to prevent snow buildup, as drivers will not reach into carts to dislodge frozen trash.
Fall
October - DecemberThe Town's Fall Leaf Pick-Up Program utilizes vacuum trucks. Rake leaves within two feet of the curb line, avoiding the street and storm drains, or use biodegradable bags.
Spring/Summer
March - NovemberWeekly yard waste collection runs from the first full week of March through the second Friday after Thanksgiving. Place grass clippings and small branches in your green-lidded cart.
About McCandless Waste Management
Navigating the New 2025 McCandless Waste Management Guidelines
In early 2025, the Town of McCandless rolled out several crucial updates to its residential refuse program through Waste Management (WM). The primary shift involves strict adherence to a dedicated cart system and digitized service requests. To streamline communication, WM launched a customized online service hub specifically for McCandless residents to track delays, schedule extra bags, and manage heavy items.
The Three-Cart System: Black, Blue, and Green Lids
McCandless employs a straightforward color-coded lid system for curbside sorting. Black-lidded carts are exclusively for bagged household garbage, blue-lidded carts handle loose single-stream recyclables, and green-top carts are reserved for seasonal yard waste. Lids on all containers must close completely to prevent litter and water accumulation; overflowing carts may be bypassed by drivers.
Updated Bulk Item Pickup Policy
A major benefit introduced in the recent contract update is the allowance of one free bulk item per week, replacing the previous $10 to $15 per-item fees. However, there is a catch: residents must pre-schedule this free collection via the WM online portal so route drivers are notified. Any additional large items beyond the single free allowance require prepayment and advanced scheduling.
At Your Door Special Collection for Hazardous Materials
Discarding household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronics like old televisions or motor oil is uniquely convenient in McCandless. The town participates in WM's 'At Your Door Special Collection' program. Instead of waiting for an annual county drop-off event, residents can directly schedule a specialized home pickup for hazardous chemicals, paint, and e-waste.
McCandless Fall Leaf Pick-Up and Yard Waste Schedules
Yard waste is managed weekly from March through late November using green-top carts. However, during autumn, the McCandless Department of Public Works deploys leaf vacuum trucks. Residents can rake loose leaves strictly to the curb line (within two feet) for vacuuming, or place them in approved biodegradable paper bags—the first 25 of which are provided free to residents at the DPW office.
Drop-off Facilities
McCandless Department of Public Works Office
9957 Grubbs Road, Wexford, PA 15090
Materials Accepted
Greenstar Recycling Center
Neville Island, PA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bulk trash pickup free in McCandless?
Yes, as of January 2025, McCandless residents get one free bulk item per week. However, you must schedule the pickup in advance through the WM online portal. Any additional items require prepayment.
What should I do if I have more trash than fits in my black cart?
If you have extra trash, you cannot just leave loose bags on the curb. You must pre-pay $6 per extra bag through the WM online portal and schedule the overflow collection.
How do I dispose of old TVs and paint in McCandless?
McCandless participates in Waste Management's 'At Your Door Special Collection' program. You can contact WM to schedule a specific home pickup for household hazardous waste and electronics.
How does the town's leaf collection work in the fall?
During the fall, you can rake loose leaves to within two feet of the curb for the town's leaf vacuum trucks to collect. Alternatively, you can use biodegradable paper bags. The town provides up to 25 free bags per household at the DPW office on Grubbs Road.