Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Northampton 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.
Township Toter (Provided by Whitetail Disposal) Bin (Trash)
Place your trash cart curbside the night before your scheduled collection day. The cart must have at least 3 feet of clearance from mailboxes, cars, and other carts, with the wheels facing your house. All trash must be bagged inside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household trash
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
Green Toter (Provided by Township) Bin (Recycling)
Place items loosely in the green toter. Do not use plastic bags. All containers must be rinsed clean and dry. Break down and flatten all cardboard boxes. Extra cardboard can be neatly stacked and secured with twine outside the toter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (1 & 2 preferred)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clear, brown, and green glass bottles and jars
- ✓Printed paper and junk mail
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and wrap
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Flexible packaging
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Food or yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
From April 1st through December 15th, unlimited yard waste is collected the day following your trash pickup. It must be in biodegradable bags or bundled. From December 16th to March 31st, minor yard waste must go inside your regular trash toter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree branches (under 3 inches in diameter)
- ✓Shrubbery (max 36 inches long)
- ✓Grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
As needed, collected on your regular service day or via a specialty truck.
Placement
Place bulk items next to your carts at the curb or street line. Ensure they do not block the automated truck's access to your standard toters.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses and toilets
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (doors must be removed)
- ✓ Air conditioners and dehumidifiers
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions and computers (E-waste)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and toxic chemicals
- ✕ Concrete, roofing, and home remodeling debris
- ✕ Radioactive or acidic items
Standard bulk items are included in your service. However, certain non-standard or excessively heavy bulk items may require a specialty truck and operate on a different schedule, which could incur a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection for that day and the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day (e.g., Tuesday service moves to Wednesday).
Yard Waste Exception
Because seasonal yard waste is collected the day after your regular trash day, it will also shift back one day during holiday delay weeks.
If a major holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is typically no change to the standard Monday-Friday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Green Toter
Never place your recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag or grocery bag. Flexible plastic film wraps around the sorting gears at the recycling facility, causing machinery breakdowns and threatening worker safety. Always toss items in loosely.
Empty and Rinse Your Containers
Before recycling aluminum cans, tin cans, or glass jars, ensure they are completely empty and rinsed out. Leftover food residue or liquids can easily spill onto clean paper and cardboard in the truck, ruining a whole batch of recyclables.
No Greasy Pizza Boxes
While clean, dry corrugated cardboard is highly valued, pizza boxes saturated with grease or cheese cannot be processed into new paper products. Throw the greasy bottom half in the trash, and only recycle the clean cardboard lid.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Fall
April - DecemberDuring the active growing season (April 1st to December 15th), Northampton Township provides unlimited yard waste collection. Remember that the yard waste truck comes the day AFTER your standard trash and recycling collection day.
Winter
December - MarchFrom December 16th through March 31st, separate yard waste trucks do not run. Any incidental yard waste you generate during this time must be bagged and placed directly into your regular trash toter.
Winter
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected during a designated three-day window in mid-January. Place your bare tree at the curb on your regular trash day (it will be picked up the following day). Trees over 6 feet tall must be cut in half, and all decorations must be removed.
About Northampton Township Waste Management
Automated Waste Collection in Northampton Township
Northampton Township modernized its waste management system by partnering with Whitetail Disposal to implement automated curbside collection. Most residents are provided with heavy-duty wheeled toters that are lifted by mechanical arms on the trucks, improving efficiency and worker safety. However, certain high-density townhome communities, such as Tapestry and Village Shires, continue to utilize traditional manual collection methods.
Mastering the Single-Stream Recycling Toter
The Township utilizes a single-stream recycling system, allowing residents to mix plastics, glass, metal, and paper in one green toter. To ensure these materials are successfully processed, it is critical to keep the stream clean. Never place your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags or grocery sacks, as flexible plastic film tangles the sorting machinery and creates severe safety hazards for facility workers.
Navigating Bulk Waste and Freon Appliances
Disposing of an old sofa or mattress is convenient, but requires a bit of planning. While not strictly mandatory for standard furniture, residents are highly encouraged to contact Whitetail Disposal by noon the day before their scheduled service to alert them of bulk items. For appliances containing Freon—such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners—advance notice is required, and all doors must be completely removed prior to placing the appliance at the curb.
Managing Electronic and Hazardous Waste in Bucks County
Under Pennsylvania state law, electronic waste (like televisions and computers) and household hazardous waste (like oil-based paint and pesticides) are strictly prohibited from entering the curbside trash stream. Northampton Township residents must hold onto these toxic materials for designated Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste collection events, or utilize certified local e-waste drop-off centers to ensure they do not contaminate the local environment.
Drop-off Facilities
Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Various rotating locations (e.g., Central Bucks High School South, Bucks County Community College)
Materials Accepted
eCycling Bucks County - 611 Metals
6776 Easton Road, Pipersville, PA 18947
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or air conditioner in Northampton Township?
You can dispose of appliances containing Freon, but you must contact Whitetail Disposal by noon the day before your service day to schedule it. For safety reasons, you must completely remove the doors from refrigerators and freezers before placing them at the curb.
What should I do with excess cardboard that won't fit in my bin?
If you have more cardboard than your green recycling toter can hold, you must break down and flatten all the boxes, stack them neatly, secure the stack with tape or twine, and place it next to your recycling toter on collection day.
Are there any volume limits on yard waste during the fall?
No. From April 1st through December 15th, you can place an unlimited amount of yard waste out for collection. It must be in biodegradable bags or bundled with twine, and it will be picked up the day after your regular trash day.
Why wasn't my trash cart emptied completely?
Northampton Township utilizes automated trucks with mechanical arms. If your cart is too close to a mailbox, a parked car, or another bin, the arm cannot grab it. Ensure your toter has at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides and that the wheels are facing your house.