Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Shaler 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.
Standard 32-gallon containers (Resident-provided) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged inside the can. Limit of 15 (33-gallon) or 10 (50-gallon) bags per week. Max 50 lbs per bag or can.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household waste
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Dried latex paint (lid off)
- ✓Sealed needles in rigid containers
Single-sort recycling cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loose in the cart. Cardboard must be broken down. Oversized cardboard can go to the Township recycling dumpster.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (clean and dry)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Clean pizza box lids only
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza box bottoms (greasy)
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
Must schedule pickup with County Hauling by Wed 3 PM. Use biodegradable paper bags only. Branches must be bundled (max 4ft length, max 4-8 inches diameter). No grass clippings.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden residue
- ✓Twigs and tree trimmings
- ✓Shrubbery without dirt
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week
Placement
Place the single bulk item at the curb the night before your collection day along with your properly bagged household trash.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Bundled carpet (cut in 4-ft lengths)
- ✓ Appliances (Freon removed and stickered)
- ✓ Mattresses
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials (requires roll-off rental)
- ✕ Freon appliances without plumber certification
- ✕ Loose, unbundled carpet
One standard bulk item is included in the weekly service. Large-scale remodeling debris requires a separate dumpster rental directly from County Hauling.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a weekday on or before your scheduled collection day, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste pickups must be scheduled by Wednesday at 3:00 PM prior to the collection date, and holiday weeks may alter the available scheduling dates.
County Hauling operations run on a standard five-day schedule. If a holiday falls on a weekend, standard weekday service typically remains unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Rip the Pizza Box in Half
Shaler Township explicitly asks residents to separate their pizza boxes. The clean top lid can go into your single-sort recycling cart, but the grease-stained bottom half must be thrown into your standard bagged trash.
Leave Recyclables Loose
Never use plastic grocery bags to hold your recyclables. The items must be completely loose in the bin. Plastic bags wrap around the gears at the sorting facility and will cause your entire cart to be rejected.
Safely Seal Used Needles
If you need to dispose of medical needles, you can place them in your weekly trash, but they must be secured in a heavy plastic milk jug or empty coffee can with the lid taped shut so they cannot fall out and injure workers.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
March - AugustYard waste collections ramp up during the spring. Remember that grass clippings are banned from the yard waste bags because they decompose slower than leaves and may contain chemical fertilizers. Consider grasscycling instead.
Autumn
September - DecemberFall leaf collection requires preparation. You must use biodegradable paper bags—available for purchase at cost at the Township Office—and schedule your pickup in advance with County Hauling.
Winter
JanuaryShaler Township offers a specialized Christmas Tree Recycling program during the month of January. Bare trees (no ornaments, tinsel, stands, or plastic bags) can be placed at the curb on your scheduled pick up day.
About Shaler Township Waste Management
Bagging Requirements and Trash Limits in Shaler
Shaler Township residents receive comprehensive waste collection through a municipal contract with County Hauling. Uniquely, the township enforces high quantity limits: households can set out up to fifteen 33-gallon bags or ten 50-gallon bags each week. However, a strict bagging mandate is in place—all household refuse must be securely tied in plastic bags before being placed inside standard 32-gallon garbage cans. Loose trash will not be collected, and each container or bag is strictly capped at a 50-pound weight limit.
Scheduling E-Waste and Household Hazardous Waste
Unlike many Allegheny County communities that require residents to seek out third-party drop-off events, Shaler's contract with County Hauling actually includes Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronic Waste pick-ups at no extra cost. This means you can dispose of old televisions, computers, and certain chemicals right from your home. To utilize this premium service, you must contact County Hauling directly to schedule a specialized collection rather than simply leaving these items at the curb.
The Single-Sort Recycling System and Pizza Box Rules
Recycling in Shaler is a single-sort system, meaning all acceptable materials go loosely into one bin without separation. The township only accepts plastics marked #1 and #2, alongside aluminum cans, glass bottles, and mixed paper. One highly specific rule involves pizza boxes: residents are only permitted to recycle the clean top lid of the box. Any cardboard tainted by grease or cheese, typically the bottom half, must be torn off and thrown in the regular garbage to avoid contaminating the recycling load.
Properly Managing Yard Waste and Branch Bundles
Managing organic debris in Shaler requires careful attention to the township's procedures. Curbside yard waste collection is not automatic; residents must schedule their pickup with County Hauling by 3:00 PM on the Wednesday prior to the collection date. All soft yard debris, such as leaves and garden residue, must be placed exclusively in biodegradable paper bags, which can be purchased directly at the Township Office. Notably, grass clippings are strictly prohibited from these bags because they decompose differently and often contain lawn chemicals.
Drop-off Facilities
Shaler Township Municipal Building
300 Wetzel Road, Glenshaw, PA 15116
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of trash can I put out each week in Shaler?
Shaler Township has high volume limits: you can place up to fifteen 33-gallon bags or ten 50-gallon bags per week. However, all trash must be securely bagged before being placed in standard 32-gallon cans, and no single bag or can may exceed 50 pounds.
How do I schedule a yard waste pickup?
Yard waste is not collected automatically. You must call County Hauling at 724-929-7694 or email them by 3:00 PM on the Wednesday before the scheduled pickup date. All leaves and garden residue must be placed in biodegradable paper bags.
Does Shaler Township collect old televisions or hazardous chemicals?
Yes, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronic Waste pick-ups are uniquely included in your Shaler garbage service contract. However, you cannot put them at the curb with normal trash; you must contact County Hauling directly to schedule a specialized pick-up.
How do I throw away wet paint?
Wet paint is strictly prohibited from curbside collection. To dispose of latex paint, you must remove the lid and mix the paint with shredded newspaper, kitty litter, or old mulch until completely dry. Once solidified, leave the lid off and put the can in your weekly trash.