FAQS

Popular Questions and Answers from Penn Waste

Below is a list of frequently asked questions related to the residential services offered by Penn Waste. For your convenience, the questions are broken down into popular categories. If you have additional questions not found on these pages or would like to speak with a Penn Waste team member, please contact Customer Service or call (717) 767-4456.


Account & Billing Questions

Can I pay my bill online?
Residents who receive bills directly from Penn Waste for residential waste removal services are able to pay their bills online using Visa or MasterCard.Click here to access the online bill payment system.
Can I pay my bill over the phone?
Yes, bills can be paid over the phone using Visa or MasterCard by calling (717) 767-4456.
Does Penn Waste offer an auto payment plan?
Yes, payments can be set up to be automatically deducted from a checking account.
Any Additional Questions?
Please contact the Penn Waste customer service department at (717) 767-4456 or via email at info@pennwaste.com

Requests may also be addressed to:

Penn Waste P.O. Box 3066 York, PA 17402

Waste & Collection Questions

What is my collection schedule?
Each community has a unique collection schedule. To locate the information specific to your township or borough, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and choose your area from the menu or map.
What happens if there is a holiday on my collection day?
If collection falls on or after a holiday, generally all collections are moved one day back. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no change to your collection schedule, please refer to your municipality page. Penn Waste observes six major holidays, including: New Year’s, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas
How many bags may I put out on collection days?
Collection policies, including the number of bags allowed, vary based on your township or borough policies. To locate information specific to your community, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and choose your area from the drop down menu.
What services are offered in my township or borough?
Standard residential waste collection and recycling services vary based on your township or borough. To locate information specific to your community, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and choose your area from the drop down menu. Penn Waste also offers a variety of additional residential services such as special event collection and dumpster services for your large home projects. Visit the “Supplemental Residential Services” page to learn more about these services or contact a Penn Waste customer service representative at (717) 767-4456.
How do I dispose of paint?
Paint products pose a potential threat to the environment and should be handled carefully. Paint and paint products should be dried, hardened (paint hardeners can be purchased at hardware/home improvement stores) or mixed with an absorbent material such as shredded paper or kitty litter to minimize potential impacts. Be sure to secure lids tightly and place in a closed garbage bag. Remember, there are weight limits in place to help keep our employees safe. The total weight of all of your trash should never exceed 60 lbs.
What should I do with hot ashes?
It is important that no hot ashes are placed in your trash. These ashes present a potential fire hazard and must be handled carefully. It is important that ashes are adequately cooled before being placed in your trash. A good test to ensure ashes are cool is to place them in a cardboard box or paper bag before throwing them in your garbage. Never leave these ashes unattended until you have determined they are cool enough for proper disposal. If the ashes are too hot they will begin to burn through the box or bag alerting you that they are too hot to place in the trash.
How do I dispose of chemicals and other hazardous materials?
Household hazardous waste consists of products in the home which are corrosive (drain cleaners or bleach), flammable (gasoline or kerosene), reactive (chemistry kits and photographic chemicals) or toxic (pesticides and insecticides). Penn Waste is NOT authorized to pickup these materials. These materials may NOT be placed in your waste receptacle. Contact your local municipality or solid waste authority to find out about hazardous waste policies and designated hazardous waste pick up days in your area.

What are acceptable large items that can be placed out for collection?
The basic rule is that for large items to be acceptable, they must be able to be lifted into a truck by two people. This would apply to items such as pieces of furniture, appliances, etc. Any windows should be taped to ensure the safety of our employees. The guidelines for bulk material collection vary based on your township or borough. To locate information specific to your community, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and choose your area from the drop down menu. It is important to note that several categories of items are NOT acceptable for bulk item collection. These include: loose piles, hazardous materials, batteries, commercial or industrial waste and construction materials.
What should I do with yard waste?
Policies related to disposal of yard waste vary based on your township or borough policies. To locate information specific to your community, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and choose your area from the drop down menu.
How do I dispose of old electronics?
Electronic equipment contains large amounts of heavy metals that have the potential to negatively impact the environment and cannot not be placed in your residential waste removal or recycling containers. Contact your local municipality or solid waste authority for information on proper disposal and recycling of electronic equipment in your area.

How do I get a new waste removal container or recycling bin?
Mobile carts (96 gallon cart on wheels) can be obtained through Penn Waste. Contact Penn Waste Customer Service at (717) 767-4456 for more details. For information on obtaining a new recycling container, contact your local municipality.* *Residents in Springfield Township (York County) should contact Penn Waste for details on obtaining a recycling container.
What materials can be recycled?
In-depth information related to Penn Waste’s recycling policies and procedures may be found within the recycling section of the website. Click here to view a list of frequently asked questions focused on recycling, including acceptable materials, proper preparation, etc.

Recycling FAQs

What is my recycling collection schedule?
Each community has a unique collection schedule. To locate the information specific to your township or borough, visit the Resources For Your Municipality page and choose your area from the drop down menu.
What happens if there is a holiday on my collection day?
If collection falls on or after a holiday, generally all collections are moved one day back. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no change to your collection schedule, please refer to your municipality page. Penn Waste observes six major holidays, including: New Year’s, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas
Do I need to separate my recyclables?
No. Penn Waste’s innovative single stream processing facility allows you to place all of your recyclable materials into one container for pickup. For more information about Penn Waste’s recycling facility, check out the Recycling Facility Tour.
What materials are acceptable for recycling?
In general, plastic containers, food and beverage glass, metal cans, paper and cardboard are accepted through Penn Waste’s recycling facility. For a more detailed list of acceptable items, click here.
Is Styrofoam recyclable?
Not in your curbside program. Please throw all Styrofoam in your household trash or consider taking it to a drop off recycling location that accepts Styrofoam. To learn more, click here.
Can I recycle paperboard containers?
This is no longer recyclable through our program. Consider finding other uses for your paperboard by searching earth911.com.
Can I recycle cardboard pizza boxes?
Pizza boxes, while they are made out of corrugated cardboard, are not recyclable due to the food residue left on the cardboard. Areas of the box heavily soaked in grease and/or cheese should be removed and disposed of in another way and the remaining part of the box recycled.
Can I recycle printed cardboard? If so, are staples or tape on the packages a problem?
Printed or glossy cardboard can be recycled alongside regular cardboard. Staples and tape are not a problem and can be left on the packaging. These materials will be removed throughout the sorting process. If large wads of tape are present and can be removed, this will improve the overall recycling process.
What is waxy cardboard?
Wax coating is used on cardboard to prevent contamination and infestation. An example is large produce boxes used by grocery stores. You can tell the difference between waxy and shiny cardboard with a simple test. If you run your fingernail up the side of the box and a layer of wax peels off, you have waxy cardboard that must be thrown away or composted. Shiny cardboard can be recycled with regular cardboard.
What happens to the materials I recycle?
After pickup, the items you recycle are taken to Penn Waste’s Single Stream Recycling Facility where they are sorted and prepared for their final recycling destination. After being properly sorted and prepared, the items that you recycle are shipped all over the country and the world to be recycled and reused in a variety of ways. This includes being used in carpet fibers, piping, more cans and containers, paper and much more. In less than two days, a piece of cardboard that you’ve placed out for recycling can be picked up, processed and on a ship at the port of Baltimore, heading to its final destination. Containers that hold cat litter are recycled for use in Mondo Blocks, which are used in guard rails to protect drivers on highways across the United States. For additional information on the Penn Waste recycling process, visit the Recycling Facility Tour Page.