Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Muhlenberg 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.
Resident provided Bin (Trash)
You may place up to eight plastic or metal containers (maximum 30 gallons each) or plastic trash bags at the curb. Do not use grocery bags or cardboard boxes as trash containers. Place bins out after 6:00 PM the night before collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small bundled tree limbs (max 4 feet)
Township-provided recycling bin Bin (Recycling)
Single-stream recycling is collected on your designated trash day. Ensure all recyclables are loose inside the bin and free of heavy food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Clear and colored glass
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Aseptic cartons
- ✓Cardboard and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
Leaves are collected curbside in the fall. All other brush must be dropped off at the Reading Crest Avenue facility. Grass clippings are strictly prohibited from the drop-off site and must be mulched or disposed of in regular trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubbery clippings
- ✓Tree trimmings (max 10 feet long, 18 inches diameter)
- ✓Tree stumps (dirt/rocks completely removed)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week
Placement
Set your bulk item at the street's edge after 6:00 PM the night before your scheduled collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and tables
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Tree limbs (larger than 3 inches in diameter, but max 36 inches long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Items requiring more than two people to lift
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (unless properly tagged/evacuated)
- ✕ Unwrapped mattresses
- ✕ Construction materials and pallets
Bulk collection is included in your semi-annual solid waste bill, provided you adhere to the one-item-per-week limit.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on or before your scheduled collection day, your pickup will be delayed by one day. For example, Thursday collections move to Friday, and Friday collections move to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
The brush drop-off site remains electronically accessible to Key Fob holders from 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week, regardless of most holidays.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your standard Thursday or Friday collection schedule will remain unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Use Grocery Bags for Trash or Recycling
Do not fill small plastic grocery bags or cardboard boxes with garbage to place at the curb. They easily tear, causing loose litter to blow across Muhlenberg Township streets and waterways.
Keep Dirt and Rocks Out of the Brush Pile
If you are bringing tree stumps to the Reading Crest Avenue drop-off site, you must completely remove all dirt, stones, and rocks from the root balls. Rocks severely damage the Township's commercial woodchippers.
Clear Your Leaves from Storm Basins
During the autumn leaf collection season, never rake your leaves directly over storm water basins. This causes immediate blockages, leading to localized street flooding during heavy fall rainstorms.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
April - NovemberThe Reading Crest Avenue brush drop-off is manned and open to non-fob residents on the first and third Saturday of each month from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Proof of Muhlenberg residency is strictly required.
Fall
Late October - Early DecemberThe Public Works Department conducts sequential curbside leaf vacuuming. Rake leaves to the edge of your property line. Crews aim to pass each home every 7 to 10 days depending on weather patterns.
Winter
December - MarchDuring snow events, keep all trash and recycling containers clear of the street so plows can navigate safely. Ensure bins are not buried in snowbanks where J.P. Mascaro & Sons crews cannot reach them.
About Muhlenberg Township Waste Management
Navigating Muhlenberg Township's Trash Zones
Muhlenberg Township contracts its residential solid waste and recycling collection to J.P. Mascaro & Sons. The community is split by Route 61 into two primary service zones: households located east of Rt. 61 are serviced on Thursdays, while those to the west receive Friday collections. Residents are billed semi-annually and are permitted a generous limit of up to eight 30-gallon containers or bags per week, plus one single bulk item.
Secure Your Key Fob for the Brush Drop-Off
Rather than relying on limited seasonal curbside yard waste pickups, the Township offers a highly accessible Brush, Tree & Shrub Drop-Off location on Reading Crest Avenue. While the site is manned on the first and third Saturday mornings from April to November, residents can gain 7-day-a-week access (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM) by applying for a municipal Key Fob. The fob requires a refundable $10 deposit and ensures commercial landscapers cannot exploit the taxpayer-funded facility.
Mandatory Mattress Wrapping and Appliance Rules
You can place one large bulk item alongside your eight trash bins every week. However, sanitation workers will strictly reject improperly prepared items. To prevent bedbug transmission, any mattress or box spring placed at the curb must be completely sealed in plastic. Furthermore, white goods like refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners require a certified technician's sticker proving all Freon has been legally evacuated prior to collection.
Free E-Waste Disposal for Muhlenberg Residents
Pennsylvania's Covered Device Recycling Act bans electronics from standard landfills. To accommodate this, Muhlenberg Township provides a phenomenal free electronic recycling program for its residents. Homeowners can safely drop off old laptops, keyboards, and fluorescent bulbs free of charge. You may also drop off older CRT televisions, though the Township enforces a strict limit of two televisions per resident, per vehicle, per day.
The Massive Fall Leaf Collection Initiative
Between late October and early December, the Muhlenberg Public Works Department orchestrates a massive leaf vacuuming program, collecting up to 1.4 million pounds of leaves annually. Homeowners are instructed to rake loose leaves strictly to the street's edge without blocking stormwater basins. Dog waste, twigs, and trash must never be mixed into these piles, as they can severely damage the specialized vacuum equipment and endanger the collection crew.
Drop-off Facilities
Reading Crest Avenue Brush Drop-Off
3105 Reading Crest Ave, Reading, PA 19605 (Right off Rt. 61)
Materials Accepted
Berks County Solid Waste Authority
1316 Hilltop Rd, Leesport, PA 19533
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How much trash am I allowed to put out each week in Muhlenberg Township?
You are permitted a generous limit of up to eight containers of trash per week. Each container or bag must not exceed 30 gallons in capacity. 55-gallon drums are strictly prohibited.
Can I throw away an old mattress with my regular garbage?
Yes, you can dispose of a mattress as your one weekly bulk item. However, the mattress and box spring MUST be completely wrapped in plastic before being placed at the curb, otherwise J.P. Mascaro & Sons will refuse to collect it.
How do I get access to the Brush Drop-Off facility?
Muhlenberg residents can access the Reading Crest Avenue brush drop-off site seven days a week (8 AM to 8 PM) by applying for a Key Fob at the Township Customer Service department. The fob requires proof of residency and a refundable $10 deposit.
Where can I recycle my old TV or computer in the Township?
Muhlenberg Township offers free electronic recycling for its residents. You can recycle computers, laptops, fluorescent bulbs, and up to two televisions per vehicle per day at the designated electronic recycling drop-off. Check the Township website for specific drop-off instructions.