Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Millcreek
Trash Day
Trash collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone. You can verify your specific collection day through Waste Management's address lookup tool.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Curbside collection is provided seasonally with designated leaf pickup weeks in spring and fall, plus two weeks of brush collection. Residents can also drop off yard waste free of charge at the Millfair Compost & Recycling Center.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (or placed curbside the night before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash and recycling fees are billed quarterly through Erie Water Works as a line item on your utility statement. Low-waste households can switch to the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) program by purchasing official bags directly at the Millcreek Township Building.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) participants qualify for a 10% discount on the trash and recycling portion of their bill by presenting their PACE card to the Millcreek Township Receptionist.
96-Gallon Cart provided by WM Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged before placing it in the 96-gallon WM cart. Do not overfill the cart; the lid must close fully. Individual trash bags placed outside the cart cannot weigh more than 40 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Used paper towels
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
65-Gallon Cart provided by WM Bin (Recycling)
Items must be clean, dry, and placed loosely in the recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables. Clean plastic and paper to-go cups are now an officially accepted item in the single-stream system.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Newspaper and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs
- ✓Plastic and paper to-go cups
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic bags and film
- ✕Bagged recyclables
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Millcreek provides 2 weeks of curbside brush collection and 5 weeks of curbside leaf collection. Check the township calendar for specific neighborhood pickup zones.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush
- ✓Christmas trees (seasonal)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One (1) bulk item permitted per week on your normal collection day.
Placement
The scheduled item must be placed at the curb the night before your scheduled collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Tables (under 50 lbs or broken down)
- ✓ Appliances without Freon
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances with Freon (refrigerators, AC units)
- ✕ Concrete, cement, or gravel
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Gas and oil
The first standard bulk item without Freon is collected at no extra cost. Extra bulk items or unapproved oversized items may result in a specialized pickup charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week are pushed back by one day (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday, Friday to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Special seasonal collections (like the 5-week fall leaf pickup) adjust along with the standard holiday schedule.
If a major holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to your weekly collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Unbag Your Recyclables
Never place your clean recyclables into a black trash bag or a plastic grocery bag. Bagged recyclables are sent straight to the landfill because the automated MRF sorting machinery cannot process plastic film.
Welcome the To-Go Cups
In a recent program update, Waste Management now accepts clean plastic and paper to-go cups in Millcreek's curbside bins. Just be absolutely certain that all ice, liquid, and straws have been entirely emptied into the sink or trash.
Dodge the Food Soiled Paper
While cardboard and paperboard are excellent recyclable materials, any pizza box coated in grease or cheese, and any take-out container contaminated by food scraps, must go in the regular trash to prevent spoiling a whole batch of clean paper.
Seasonal Information
Spring
MayMillcreek Township hosts an Annual Spring Clean initiative throughout May [1.1.3], helping residents properly dispose of heavy household waste, leaves, and navigate hazardous materials options responsibly.
Fall
October - NovemberThe township provides a structured 5-week Fall Leaf Pickup program. WM crews make multiple passes through different neighborhoods, with the first sweep typically beginning in late October.
Winter
JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Millcreek offers a curbside Christmas tree recycling program. Real trees are collected, chipped, and turned into usable mulch for community projects.
About Millcreek Waste Management
Mandatory Curbside Trash & Recycling in Millcreek
Under Millcreek Township Solid Waste and Recycling Codes (Chapter 110) [1.1.3], residential trash and recycling pickup is not a choice, but a legal requirement. All 17,000+ single-family homes must utilize the official hauler, Waste Management (WM), ensuring that single-stream recyclables are properly directed to a Material Recovery Facility in Neville Island.
Managing Your 96-Gallon and 65-Gallon Carts
WM provides a standardized 96-gallon green toter for regular household trash and a 65-gallon cart equipped with a specialized lid for single-stream recycling. To facilitate the automated trucks, always place your carts out the night before, ensuring the wheels rest directly against the curb and are at least three feet from mailboxes or parked cars.
Weekly Appointments for Bulky Waste
Millcreek households benefit from the ability to dispose of one standard bulky item—such as a piece of furniture or a non-Freon appliance—each week at no additional charge. However, you must schedule the collection with WM at least 48 hours prior to your normal service day. Additionally, all large items must weigh less than 50 pounds or be disassembled into lighter sections to protect the drivers.
At-Your-Door Hazardous and E-Waste Convenience
Because Pennsylvania’s Covered Device Recycling Act bans electronics from curbside trash, Millcreek provides an At-Your-Door collection service for household hazardous waste and covered electronics. This makes responsibly disposing of old televisions, computers, pool chemicals, and used motor oil incredibly simple without the need to travel to a specialized drop-off location.
Drop-off Facilities
Millfair Compost & Recycling Center
2301 Millfair Road, Erie, PA
Materials Accepted
Lincoln Recycling
1602 Selinger Avenue, Erie, PA 16505
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is setting up trash and recycling service mandatory if I just moved to Millcreek?
Yes. Per Millcreek Township Code (Chapter 110), it is the law to participate in both trash and recycling services. Residents cannot opt out of using the contracted curbside hauler.
How do I schedule a bulk item pickup for an old sofa?
You can dispose of one non-Freon bulk item per week, but you must call Waste Management (WM) at 1-800-866-4460 to schedule the pickup at least 48 hours prior to your standard collection day. Make sure the item weighs less than 50 pounds or is broken down into smaller pieces.
What number do I call if my trash or recycling was skipped?
If your bin was out before the driver passed by but was still missed, you should call WM's automated support line at 1-800-866-4460 to report a missed pickup and get an ETA on recovery service.
Are paper coffee cups or fast-food drink cups recyclable now?
Yes! A recent update to the single-stream recycling guidelines means that clean plastic and paper to-go cups are now accepted in your 65-gallon recycling toter. Be sure they are completely empty of liquid and ice before tossing them in.