Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Middletown
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.
Resident's Choice Bin (Trash)
Limit of four (4) 32-gallon bags or cans per week. Each container must weigh no more than 50 pounds. Place curbside prior to 6:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Resident's Choice or Hauler-Provided Bin Bin (Recycling)
Unlimited recycling is allowed. All containers must be rinsed out, and caps/lids should be removed. Do not bag your recyclables; leave them loose in the container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (with a neck)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Window glass
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
NO curbside pickup. Must be brought to the Middletown Borough Woody Waste Facility using a purchased annual access card. Grass clippings and construction lumber are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and brush
- ✓Branches (up to 12 inches in diameter)
- ✓Vines and shrubbery
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One (1) bulk item per week on your regular collection day.
Placement
Place your single allowed bulk item at the curb by 6:00 AM on your regularly scheduled collection day. It must be reasonably manageable for a two-person crew.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Sofas and couches
- ✓ Large wooden furniture
- ✓ Standard household appliances (non-Freon)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Items too heavy for two people to lift
- ✕ Automobile parts and tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste
One bulk item is included in the base utility rate. However, exceeding this limit or disposing of extra standard garbage requires purchasing a tag from Borough Hall.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your collection day falls on or after an observed Penn Waste holiday during the workweek, your pickup will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Not applicable, as yard waste is drop-off only at the municipal facility.
If an observed holiday falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), the collection schedule for the surrounding week remains unchanged.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep the Grass Out of the Wood Pile
The Woody Waste Facility is exclusively for woody materials and leaves. Do not dump grass clippings or sod at the facility. Grass clippings must be bagged and thrown out with your regular trash, counting toward your four-bag limit.
Ban the Bag in Recycling
Never collect your recyclables in plastic grocery bags or black trash bags. Plastic bags are the number one cause of machinery jams at Penn Waste sorting facilities. Always drop your plastics, metals, and glass directly into the bin.
Freon Requires a Phone Call
While you can place most bulky items out for standard collection, never try to hide small appliances containing refrigerants (like a dehumidifier or mini-fridge). You must call Penn Waste to schedule these items so the Freon can be safely extracted.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayStarting in early March, when the Woody Waste Facility reopens, the Borough offers free mulch and leaf compost at Susquehanna Street Park while supplies last. Be sure to bring your own shovel and containers.
Winter
January - FebruaryPlan your yard maintenance carefully, as the Woody Waste Facility undergoes an annual winter closure from mid-January to early March. Access cards are deactivated during this block.
Fall
October - NovemberDuring peak leaf-drop season, residents are responsible for transporting their own raked leaves to the Woody Waste facility. Do not sweep piles of leaves into the streets or gutters, as this clogs the borough's storm drains.
About Middletown Waste Management
Municipal Trash Service with Penn Waste
Middletown Borough handles residential waste removal through an exclusive municipal contract with Penn Waste. Trash services are conveniently billed as part of your monthly Borough utility bill. Under this agreement, households are strictly allotted four 32-gallon trash bags or cans per week to ensure safe and efficient pickup for the sanitation crews.
Managing Excess Household Garbage
Occasionally, you might generate more waste than the standard four-container limit—especially after holidays or spring cleaning. In Middletown, you cannot simply leave unauthorized extra bags at the curb. Residents must visit Borough Hall on West Emaus Street during normal business hours to purchase official extra bag tags to affix to the overflow garbage.
The Woody Waste Drop-Off Facility
Due to municipal budget adjustments, Middletown no longer provides curbside yard waste or brush pickup. Instead, the Borough operates a dedicated Woody Waste Facility. Residents can drop off leaves, twigs, and branches (up to 12 inches in diameter) after purchasing an annual access card for $10 at Borough Hall. Keep in mind that access is limited to 20 uses per year for borough residents.
Unlimited Curbside Recycling Focus
While trash volume is capped, Penn Waste encourages sustainability by offering unlimited curbside recycling to all residents. The program focuses strictly on the "Big 4" recyclables: corrugated cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs with a neck, glass jars and bottles, and metal cans. Keeping recycling streams clean and free of plastic bags helps keep local utility costs down.
Drop-off Facilities
Dauphin County Recycling Center
1625 S Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17104
Materials Accepted
Middletown Borough Hall
60 West Emaus St, Middletown, PA 17057
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of trash can I throw away each week in Middletown?
Middletown Borough residents are permitted to throw away up to four 32-gallon bags or cans of trash per week, with each container weighing no more than 50 pounds. If you have extra garbage, you must purchase an extra bag tag at Borough Hall.
Does Middletown pick up branches and yard waste at the curb?
No. Due to municipal budget adjustments, Middletown Borough no longer provides curbside pickup for yard waste. Residents must purchase a $10 annual access card at Borough Hall to take their leaves and brush to the Woody Waste Facility.
How do I get rid of an old sofa or mattress?
You are allowed to place one large bulk item at the curb every week along with your regular trash at no additional cost. Just ensure the item is placed curbside prior to 6:00 AM on your collection day.
What do I do with an old television or computer?
Pennsylvania law prohibits electronic waste from being thrown away in the regular trash. You must take your old televisions, computers, and computer peripherals to the Dauphin County Recycling Center on S Cameron Street in Harrisburg.