Do NOT Place Pool Chemicals in Your Trash & Recycling Bins!

Penn Waste would like to issue a reminder to residents in south central Pennsylvania that pool chemicals should NOT be disposed of in your curbside trash and recycling bins. Pool chemicals are considered hazardous waste and need to be disposed of properly. Scroll down to learn more.

The Problem

As noted by the EPA, pool chemicals are hazardous because when they mix with a small quantity of water or are improperly mixed, such as with other chemicals or reactive materials, they can ignite causing fires. They can also cause skin irritation and release toxic vapors.

Many pool chemicals are highly reactive and capable of generating high temperatures which will start fires. Reactivity may be triggered by water wetting the chemical or by the inadvertent mixing of pool chemicals with an incompatible material.

When pool chemicals are disposed of in the trash or recycling, there is a high risk of them reacting because they will come in contact with other liquids in our trucks. Rain, high humidity, and other general liquids disposed of in your trash and recycling can cause the pool chemicals to react when they get collected by our truck resulting in a truck fire (as seen in the above photo).

The Solution
Do not place pool chemicals in your trash and recycling! Here are several options for getting rid of pool chemicals:

1. Take them to a facility that handles hazardous waste. Make sure you check with your local solid waste authority to see if they accept pool chemicals prior to arriving.

• York County Solid Waste Authority – Click here
• Lancaster County Solid Waste Authority – Click here
• Dauphin County Solid Waste Authority – Click here 
• Cumberland County Solid Waste Authority – Click here

1. Check with the pool store you originally bought them from to see if they have a disposal method.

1. Donate them to a community pool or your neighbors who have pools.
2. Shock your pool by dumping the left over pool chemicals in before you close it for the season.

We appreciate your help in keeping our team members safe!

Collection Update: Labor Day Holiday 2019

Monday, September 2nd, 2019: Due to Penn Waste being closed on Labor Day, all Residential Penn Waste collections will be delayed one (1) day for the remainder of that week. Monday customers will be collected on Tuesday. Tuesday customers will be collected on Wednesday and so on for the remainder of the week through Saturday.

Special Note:

• Camp Hill Borough: Yard Waste collection will be on Saturday 9/14/19 due to the holiday.
• Carroll Township: Yard Waste collection will be on Saturday 9/14/19 due to the holiday.
• East Pennsboro Township: Yard Waste collection will be on Saturday 9/14/19 due to the holiday.
• Fairview Township: Yard Waste collection will be on Saturday 9/14/19 due to the holiday.
• Susquehanna Township: Yard Waste collection will be on Saturday 9/14/19 due to the holiday.

To stay up to date on recycling tips and collection updates, consider following us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you have not already done so, consider signing up for our E-News Updates to receive recycling suggestions and collection updates directly to your e-mail inbox.

Penn Waste wishes all of our customers a safe and happy holiday!

Tips On Proper Mobile Cart Placement

Please be advised that all mobile carts should be placed BEHIND THE CURB and not on the street. The mechanical arm on the Single Operator Vehicle garbage truck has the capacity to reach past the curb in order to pick up the mobile carts.

Here are some tips to ensure a smooth collection process:

1. Set mobile cart out before your start time.
2. Place mobile cart with the lid opening towards the road.
3. Do not place the cart in the roadway. Remember to “Keep it Neat, and Off the Street!”
4. Do not block walkways with carts.
5. Place carts at least three feet apart from each other and mailboxes, fire hydrants, low hanging trees or shrubs, parked cars, or utility poles – so trucks can easily access the carts.

Thanks for your help ensuring the carts are placed properly at the curb!

How to Properly Dispose of Propane Tanks

One question that Penn Waste gets asked a lot is how to properly dispose of propane tanks and smaller camping gas tanks. Neither of these items should be disposed of in your curbside trash and recycling. While some Solid Waste Authorities do accept them at their drop-off locations, others do not which can make disposal tricky.

It is imperative these gas tanks are disposed of properly because they are a fire hazard. This past weekend, we actually experienced a small fire in a baler at our recycle center which was linked back to a propane tank.

In fact, any type of container that previously contained gas / fuel should NEVER be placed in your recycling bin! This includes propane tanks, small camping gas tanks, butane, and Paslode quick fuel cartridges.

We’ve compiled a list of local resources for you to contact to inquire about disposal of gas propane tanks.

Please call each location in advance to ensure they are still accepting these tanks from the public. You will also need to check their hours of operation, whether there is a disposal fee and if there are any other special instructions such as valve removal.

You can also check with the vendor you bought the tank from to see if they have a return or exchange program.

None of the resources work for you? You can also visit www.Earth911.com for additional resources by entering your zip code.