Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Swatara Township
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your street/neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Curbside brush and yard debris collection is held twice a year (Spring and late Summer/Fall) by Township Public Works, followed by seasonal fall leaf pickup; residents can also use the compost facility on Kelker Street from April through October.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste collection is contracted through Penn Waste and billed on a quarterly cycle. Low-volume generators may also purchase township trash bags at the Municipal Building.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
A reduced-rate Low-Volume service option is available for residents who generate minimal waste.
Mobile cart provided by Penn Waste Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the mobile cart. Excess refuse requires a $4.50 official Swatara Township overflow bag. Place curbside by 6:00 AM on your collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Penn Waste recycling bin Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables; keep them loose in the bin. Cardboard must be flattened. Rinse all food and beverage containers before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1-#7 (bottles and jugs)
- ✓Clean corrugated cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Medical needles
- ✕Ceramics and drinking glasses
- ✕Greasy pizza box bottoms
Yard Waste Bin
Collected curbside only during specialized Spring/Fall sweeps by Public Works. Must be in brown paper bags. No grass clippings or plastic bags permitted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Garden debris
- ✓Hedge clippings
- ✓Tree branches (under 8 inches diameter, less than 6 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One large bulk item per week
Placement
Place your bulk item at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household items
- ✓ Non-Freon appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Items too heavy for two people to safely lift
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Tires
One bulk item is included in the service. However, appliances containing Freon (like AC units and refrigerators) require a specialized truck, and you MUST call Penn Waste at 717-767-4456 in advance to schedule and pay any applicable fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday on or before your scheduled collection day, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The Kelker Street Composting Facility is fully closed on all observed Township holidays and Sundays.
If an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change or delay to the standard weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
Mid-October - NovemberThe Swatara Township Public Works Department operates a vacuum leaf collection program. Rake leaves to the curb line, but ensure no sticks, branches, or trash are mixed in, as they will damage the vacuum machinery.
Winter
JanuaryPenn Waste provides a post-holiday Christmas Tree collection as part of your bulk item allowance. Trees must be completely bare—remove all ornaments, lights, stands, and tree bags before placing them at the curb.
Spring & Summer
April - OctoberThe Kelker Street Composting Facility is open for drop-offs from April 1st through October 31st (closed Sundays and holidays). Remember to purchase your permit from the Municipal Building before visiting.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turning Your Old Cans into Cash Near Swatara Township?
While Swatara Township doesn't have its own dedicated bottle return center, Pennsylvania has a state-wide bottle deposit program. That means you can get a small refund for many beverage containers. Keep an eye out for places like grocery stores or convenience shops in the greater Harrisburg area that accept these returns. For metals and other recyclables that don't fall under the state redemption, checking out local scrap yards in Dauphin County might be your best bet to get a few bucks for your efforts. Just give them a call to see what they're currently buying!
Give Your Gently Used Stuff a New Life in Swatara!
Instead of tossing items that are still perfectly good, think about donating them! In the Swatara Township vicinity, there are always options. The Salvation Army and Goodwill often have donation centers nearby that accept clothes, household goods, and more. You might also want to look into Habitat for Humanity ReStores in the surrounding towns; they're great for furniture, appliances, and building materials. It's a fantastic way to help out others and keep useful things out of the landfill.
Keeping Swatara Township Looking Its Best: Tackling Dumping
Most of us want our neighborhoods to stay clean and beautiful. If you ever spot anything that looks like illegal dumping – like old furniture left by the roadside or bags of trash in unusual spots – the best thing to do is report it. For Swatara Township, you'll want to contact the Township Public Works Department directly. They're the ones who can investigate and arrange for cleanup. It’s a team effort to keep our community tidy, and your eyes on the ground are super helpful!
Drop-off Facilities
Kelker Street Composting Facility
780 Kelker Street, Harrisburg, PA 17113
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put extra garbage bags outside my mobile cart?
No, Penn Waste will not collect loose bags left outside the mobile cart for free. If you have extra garbage, you must purchase official Swatara Township overflow bags for $4.50 each from the Municipal Building.
How do I throw away a refrigerator or air conditioner?
Appliances containing Freon require special handling and cannot just be left at the curb. You must call Penn Waste customer service at 717-767-4456 in advance to schedule a dedicated pickup for these items.
Does Swatara Township collect yard waste every week?
No. Penn Waste does not provide weekly yard waste pickup. Instead, the Township Public Works Department runs specialized curbside branch and leaf collections in the Spring and Fall. Year-round, residents can use the Kelker Street Composting Facility.
Can I recycle my pizza boxes?
It depends. Penn Waste allows clean corrugated cardboard, so the clean top lid of a pizza box is perfectly recyclable. However, the greasy, cheese-stained bottom half must be thrown into your regular trash cart.