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Category Archives: Uncategorized

Collection Update: Good Friday & Easter

Posted March 27, 2024

Friday, March 29, 2024 – All Penn Waste routes will be operating on schedule on the Good Friday holiday. Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day.
Sunday, March 31, 2024 – All Penn Waste routes will not be affected by the Easter Holiday. Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day next week.

Collection Update: Closed Saturday

Posted February 17, 2024

Due to inclement weather conditions, Penn Waste will not be operating on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Since we are currently operating on a 1-day delay due to the weather event earlier this week, this closure will only impact our Friday residential customers.

Friday residential customers – We will take double your normal volume next Friday, February 23, 2024.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep our team members safe.

Collection Update – Two Hour Delay 

Posted January 16, 2024

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Due to severe weather conditions, all Penn Waste operations will be operating on a two-hour delay on Wednesday to ensure the safety of our dedicated team members.

Furthermore, as a result of the closure on Tuesday caused by inclement weather,  our collection schedule for the remainder of this week will experience a one-day delay. Please note the following adjustments:

  • Tuesday customers will now be serviced on Wednesday
  • Wednesday customers will now be serviced on Thursday
  • Subsequent days will follow suit, with collection extending until Saturday

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. At Penn Waste, the well-being our dedicated crews is our utmost priority. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Thank you for your continued support.

Collection Update – Normal Collection Schedule the Week of January 15th

Posted January 12, 2024

Monday, January 15th, 2024 – All routes will be running on Monday for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday. Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day the week of January 15th.

Please visit our website at www.pennwaste.com for specific municipality information.

Collection Update – Christmas Day Holiday & New Year’s Day Holiday

Posted December 21, 2023

Due to the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Holidays, all residential Penn Waste trash and recycling collections will be delayed one (1) day during the weeks of December 25, 2023 and January 1, 2024.

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.

Please visit our website at www.pennwaste.com for specific municipality information.

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

Collection Update – Thanksgiving

Posted November 20, 2023

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, all regular Penn Waste residential trash and recycling collections will be delayed one (1) day. Thursday customers will be collected on Friday. Friday customers will be collected on Saturday. Monday – Wednesday customers will be collected on your normal collection day.

Please visit our web site at www.pennwaste.com for specific municipality information.

Sign Up for our E-News Updates to receive collection updates sent directly to your e-mail inbox.

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

How to Properly Dispose of Hot Ashes

Posted November 7, 2023

Not sure how to dispose of ashes after using your fire pit? Follow these tips to ensure proper disposal of your hot ashes.

  1. Allow ashes to cool in the area where you had the fire for several days. These areas are designed to contain their heat safely.
  2. When it is time to dispose of ashes, test to ensure the hot ashes are cool by placing them in a cardboard box or paper bag before disposal. In this situation, never leave these ashes unattended until they are cool enough for disposal. If the ashes are too hot, they will begin to burn through the box or bag.
  3. Transfer the cool ash to a plastic bag and then tie it shut. This will ensure any dust from the bagged ashes does not get into our employees’ eyes or lungs.
  4. Do NOT put any ashes in a trash container. They should be left on the ground beside your trash container. By sitting them outside of the cart, we can confirm the ashes are NOT hot before placing them in the truck.
  5. Never dispose of hot ashes with your yard waste material. By placing ashes with yard waste, such as tree trimmings and leaves, the potential for fires increase substantially.

Collection Update – Labor Day Holiday

Posted September 1, 2023

Due to the Labor Day Holiday, all regular Penn Waste trash and recycling collections will be delayed one (1) day. 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.

Please visit our web site at http://www.pennwaste.com for specific municipality information.

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

Do Not Dispose of Rechargeable Batteries in Your Trash or Recycling

Posted June 12, 2023

Rechargeable batteries, such as those found in common household items like cell phones, tablets, toys, electric toothbrushes, tools, and remote controls should NEVER be placed in your curbside trash and recycling bins because they start fires. Please visit Call2Recycle.org to find a drop off location near you.

Download our battery disposal guide by clicking on this link! 

Recycling center opens state-of-the-art facility after devastating fire – York Dispatch

Posted May 22, 2023

It was a hard blow to take when last March when a fire swept through Penn Waste’s Manchester Township recycling center.

“One of the devastating things for me was seeing the employees in the parking lot during the fire. They took it really hard,” said Shawn Querry, Penn Waste’s recycling center site manager. “We have people that want to be here. That was devastating to see that.”

Just over a year later, however, the company has launched a new — and decidedly more high tech — facility that’s able to process some 420 tons of recyclables per day.

“To be back up and be bigger and better is amazing to me,” Querry said. “The employees put a lot of work into it and take pride in what they do.”

It took $35 million to get the facility back up and running, but what Penn Waste got in return was a state-of-the-art facility with a fire suppression system to keep history from repeating.

“We initially projected the rebuild to take over a year and a half due to parts delays and the complexity of the rebuild,” Penn Waste spokesperson Amanda Moley said. “We were fortunate to have several vendors who all worked together to get us back up and running in record time.”

Automation is even more prevalent at the plant. Before the fire, the facility had six robotic sorters to take out things that could not be recycled or processed through the system.

Now, there are 11 robots to help in the sorting.

“We were able to change things up with optical sorters and robots,” Querry said, “and take the risk out of it for employees where employees are sorting through recyclables. We struggled with things that shouldn’t be put into a recycle bin.”

Automation also makes things more efficient.

The facility takes in 420 tons of recyclables a day and processes 48 tons of it an hour. Before the fire, the facility was processing 40 tons an hour.

“We have the capability to run 50 tons an hour, but we don’t need to right now,” Querry said.

Taking out things that could not be recycled also became more efficient, going from 30 picks a minute to a thousand picks a minute. It also takes less manpower. Before the fire, the recycling center had 21 human sorters. After the fire, that number was reduced to seven.

With automation came a reduction in the number of people needed to operate the recycling center. The workforce now stands at 25, from a high of 67 and the workday has been reduced to one 12-hour shift.

“Not all the material we were getting pre-fire came back to us after fire,” Querry said. “We just didn’t have the volume for a two-shift operation as of right now.”

Employees who were replaced by the robotic sorters were given the opportunity to shift to Penn Waste’s hauling division, if they were physically capable of doing the job.

“Some of the folks did that. The folks that didn’t take that opportunity unfortunately were laid off,” Querry said. “We brought back who we needed to bring back.”

Besides the obvious dangers of handling large volumes of recyclables, such as glass shards or sharp metal pieces, is the threat that comes from rechargeable batteries being tossed out into the recycling bin. The fire that broke out on March 8, 2022, was thought to have been caused by a rechargeable battery.

“Due to how fast the fire happened and how hard it was to put out, the fire department believes it was a rechargeable battery that caused the fire,” Moley said.

It was around 8:30 p.m. when the fire broke out in the middle of the facility’s cardboard bunker, Querry said.

“We had 40 employees on site, and they tried to put the fire out and they couldn’t because it got too hot,” he said.

The place went up in flames in about 10 minutes, Querry said, because nothing could be done to put it out. Damage to the metal building was minimal, but the machinery used to sort the recyclables was rendered unusable due to smoke and water damage.

Querry said they were able to get machinery that processed glass and cardboard up and running about five weeks after the fire. The rest of the recyclable material was taken to a sister facility in Virginia while plans were developed to retrofit the building with new technology. Starting in January, the facility was shut down for two months to install the new processing technology.

Changes made post-fire now can nip fire threats in the bud, Moley said.

One of them was the installation of Fire Rover, which is a fire detection technology and fire suppression system.

“It uses thermal imaging and 24/7 monitoring to notify us of any fires starting that we do not see ourselves,” Moley said. “We’ve also added foam fire suppression units throughout the building and near our holding bunkers. Our employees also go through special training so they are prepared should we experience another fire.”

All in all, what has resulted after what was a dark time last year is a more efficient and safer recycling center for York County.

“The technology in the waste industry today is amazing,” Querry said. “We’ve worked with our vendors to automate. Who would’ve thought in recycling we would be able to automate the plant.”

Source – https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/05/18/technology-helps-fire-ravaged-recycling-center-come-back-strong/70231302007/?fbclid=IwAR1ulnFs-fpCWp0UGMfuQj5ZX_C4PDAtLZt5J3oKwPoP1uV05q8c-umtr0M 

Collection Update – Normal Collection Schedule

Posted April 4, 2023

Friday, April 7, 2023 – All Penn Waste routes will be operating on a normal collection schedule on the Good Friday holiday. Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Monday, April 10, 2023 – All Penn Waste routes will be operating on a normal collection schedule the week following the Easter Holiday. Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day the week of April 10th.

As a reminder, please check our website at www.PennWaste.com and our social media pages when inclement weather hits to see if there are collection changes. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Collection Update – Presidents Day

Posted February 15, 2023

Monday, February 20, 2023 – All Penn Waste routes will be operating on a normal collection schedule for the Presidents Day Holiday / week of February 20th. Please place your trash and recycling curbside on your regular collection day.

Exploring the Differences between Trash, Recycling, and Hazardous Waste

Posted January 16, 2023

When it comes to waste disposal, there is a lot of confusion about what should be classified as trash, what should be recycled, and what needs to be disposed of as hazardous waste. It’s critical that you understand the differences between these types of waste in order to ensure proper disposal.

TrashA black trash bag

Trash can generally be defined as anything that cannot or should not be recycled or reused in any way. Generally, this includes food waste, non-recyclable packaging, single-use plastics and other items of trash. While many forms of trash are unable to be recycled due to their composition or size, it is important to note that all trash should still be disposed of properly as taking shortcuts can lead to safety issues such as truck fires and fires at our recycling facility.

Recycling

Penn Waste recycling guidelines show what is acceptable to place in your recycling bin.Recycling is the process of taking materials such as cardboard, plastic, metal and glass that would otherwise end up in landfills or being incinerated, and transforming them into new items. In order for something to be classified as recyclable material it must meet certain guidelines such as being clean and dry, free from contaminants and on our list of recyclable items we accept at our recycling facility. When you place an item in your curbside recycling bin it will be collected,  go through our sorting process and then be shipped out for further processing at a mill. This process helps separate materials so they can be treated accordingly and re-purposed into new products.

 

 

 

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Hazardous waste refers to any kind of material that poses a threat either to humans or the environment if handled improperly; this includes certain types of chemicals, paint thinners, rechargeable batteries,  and cleaning products among other things. These items need special handling when disposing of them in order to prevent any potential health and safety risks or environmental damage. Hazardous waste products are show.

Hazardous waste is not something that should ever be placed in your curbside trash or recycling bins. Hazardous waste  needs to be dropped off at an approved solid waste authority facility that is specially equipped for taking these items.

By understanding the differences between each type of waste you can help protect our planet from potential harm while also ensuring responsible disposal practices are followed wherever possible.

Collection Update – Thanksgiving Holiday

Posted November 17, 2022

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday falling on Thursday, November 24th, all Residential Penn Waste trash and recycling collections will be delayed one (1) day. Thursday customers will be collected on Friday. Friday customers will be collected on Saturday. All collections on Monday, November 21st, Tuesday, November 22nd, and Wednesday, November 23rd will be collected on their regularly scheduled day. In addition, the below yard waste routes will be impacted.

Yard Waste collection will occur on Saturday, December 3, 2022 for the following municipalities:

Manchester Township
West Manchester Township
York Township

Want to stay up to date on our recycling tips and collection updates? Follow us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.

We wish all of our customers a safe and happy holiday!

How to Properly Dispose of Hot Ashes

Posted October 25, 2022

Not sure how to dispose of ashes after using your fire pit? Follow these tips to ensure proper disposal of your hot ashes.

  1. Allow ashes to cool in the area where you had the fire for several days. These areas are designed to contain their heat safely.
  2. When it is time to dispose of ashes, test to ensure the hot ashes are cool by placing them in a cardboard box or paper bag before disposal. In this situation, never leave these ashes unattended until they are cool enough for disposal. If the ashes are too hot, they will begin to burn through the box or bag.
  3. Transfer the cool ash to a plastic bag and then tie it shut. This will ensure any dust from the bagged ashes does not get into our employees’ eyes or lungs.
  4. Do NOT put any ashes in a trash container. They should be left on the ground beside your trash container. By sitting them outside of the cart, we can confirm the ashes are NOT hot before placing them in the truck.
  5. Never dispose of hot ashes with your yard waste material. By placing ashes with yard waste, such as tree trimmings and leaves, the potential for fires increase substantially.

Collection Update: Week of October 10th

Posted October 5, 2022

Collection Update: Week of October 10th

Columbus Day, Monday, October 10, 2022 – All Penn Waste routes will be operating on a normal collection schedule the week of the Columbus Day Holiday. Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Collection Update: Week of September 5th

Posted September 1, 2022

Week of September 5, 2022: Due to the Labor Day holiday falling on a Monday, all residential waste and recycling collection will be delayed by one day the week of September 5th. Monday customers will be serviced Tuesday. Tuesday customers will be serviced Wednesday, and so on for the remainder of the week. Penn Waste wishes all of our customers a safe and happy holiday!

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

How to Properly Dispose of Rechargeable Batteries

Posted August 11, 2022

Rechargeable batteries, such as those found in common household items like cell phones, tablets, toys, electric toothbrushes, tools, and remote controls should NEVER be placed in your curbside trash and recycling bins because they start fires. For this reason, rechargeable batteries need to be handled with special care. To find a drop-off location that accepts rechargeable batteries, please visit www.Call2Recycle.org/locator and put in your zip code. You can also call them at 1-877-2-RECYCLE.

In addition, many big box retailers accept rechargeable batteries. Some examples, are Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Staples.

What types of items have rechargeable batteries?

Smart Devices such as Smart Locks and Ring Doorbells

Children’s Toys such as Remote Control Cars

Electric Toothbrushes

Smoke Detectors

Remote Controls

Sporting Goods such as bike lights and golf rangefinders

Digital Cameras

Portable Radios

Cell Phones

Baby Monitors

Flashlights

Power Tools

Vaping Devices

E-Bikes, Hoverboards, and Scooters

Thank you for your help in keeping our employees and your property safe!

Driving Tips to Promote a Safe Back-to-School Season

Posted

Summer is ending and school will be starting back up soon. Penn Waste would like to remind the communities we service to take precautionary measures when near our garbage trucks to ensure a safe environment. Here are some safety tips to help keep our communities safe:

  1. Keep Your Distance – Garbage trucks are bulky with many blind spots. Keeping your distance will ensure we can see you AND no debris hits you, your children or your vehicle should it accidentally fall out of our truck. Please stay back at least 30 feet. Also, do not let your children go near or climb on the truck.
  2. If you cannot see the driver’s eyes, they most likely cannot see you.
  3. Proceed Carefully – If you must pass a garbage truck, do so with extreme caution. Make sure none of our employees or pedestrians are nearby and there is no on-coming traffic.
  4. Stay Calm – Getting frustrated and having road rage will not make our trucks move any faster. Irrational behavior will only lead to any accident.
  5. Stay Alert – Garbage trucks stop and start often due to the nature of our business, which is why it is important not to be distracted near one. If you hear a back-up alarm, move away from the truck.
  6. It takes a garbage truck twice as along as a passenger car to stop which is also, why it is important to keep your distance.

Penn Waste is committed to the safety of our employees and the communities we service. Please drive carefully around our vehicles and be extra vigilant since children will be returning to their bus stops soon.

Join Us for a Family-Friendly Job Fair July 16th

Posted July 11, 2022

Are you looking for a new career?
We want to meet YOU! Bring your family and kids, grab some lunch on-site, check out our trucks, facilities, and equipment and learn about our company culture! We’d love to hear what your goals are and how we can help you achieve them as a valued Penn Waste team member.
Saturday, July 16th 10am-2pm at 85 Brick Yard Road, Manchester, PA 17345

Click Here to Sign Up for Our Job Fair

Ready to Apply for a Position? Click Here

¿Hablas español? Nuestra reclutadora habla español.

Collection Update – Week of July 4th

Posted July 1, 2022

Week of July 4, 2022: Due to the 4th of July holiday falling on a Monday, all residential waste and recycling collection will be delayed by one day the week of July 4th. Monday customers will be serviced Tuesday. Tuesday customers will be serviced Wednesday, and so on for the remainder of the week. Penn Waste wishes all of our customers a safe and happy holiday!

Collection Update: Normal Collection Schedule Good Friday (4/15) and Week of 4/18

Posted April 11, 2022

Friday, April 15, 2022 – All Penn Waste routes will be operating on a normal collection schedule on the Good Friday holiday. Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Monday, April 18, 2022 – All Penn Waste routes will be operating on a normal collection schedule the week following the Easter Holiday. Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day the week of April 18th.

‘Everyone has trash’: Shift leader finds job security and more at Penn Waste

Posted March 1, 2022

Tony Santiago, who has been at Penn Waste seven years, was hired as a driver while he was still attending York County School of Technology to be a diesel mechanic. Today, he takes pride in his work and the life the job has provided him.

Tony Santiago is a second-shift leader at Penn Waste and oversees repairs, inspections, safety checks, and training of new staff. (Photo by Orendorff Studios for Our York Media)

While most people imagine truck bays to be greasy, dusty, and dirty places, Tony Santiago knows that’s not the case at the repair garage at Penn Waste in East Manchester Township. Every day, he prides himself in ensuring his toolbox shines and the floor is spotless.

Tony was hired by the company more than seven years ago as a truck driver. He spent six months behind the wheel, learning how the vehicles work and what the job entails each day.

His real goal, though, was to fix the vehicles when they broke down. When he finished his education as a diesel mechanic at York County School of Technology, Penn Waste pulled him off the route and put him in the garage. He’s been there ever since.

Through the years, Tony Santiago’s built relationships with his crew at Penn Waste. “I’m blessed being here,” he says. (Photo by Orendorff Studios for Our York Media)

‘Proud of my career’

Today, Tony is the second-shift leader and oversees repairs, inspections, safety checks, and training of new staff.

He sees a lot of young mechanics coming up through the ranks as he did years ago. They’re curious. They want to grow. And Tony wants to help them.

“I enjoy sharing my passions with others who want to do good work,” he says. “I feel like I accomplish something when I can train someone to do something on their own. It’s rewarding to see someone succeed.”

For Tony, he finds reassurance that his job is secure.

“Everyone has trash,” he says, laughing. He feels respected by the company; he knows he’s valued.

Through the years, he’s also built relationships with his crew. Someone might come over and help him with a project at his house, or if he ever needed anything, he knows he has people he can call.

“I’m blessed being here,” Tony says. “I’m proud of my career. I feel I’ve accomplished a lot.”

Work with Penn Waste

Penn Waste, a Waste Connections company, is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer (Minorities/Female/Disabled Veterans). Its jobs offer an outstanding working environment, including a great atmosphere with extensive on-the-job training and top-notch equipment. The company offers opportunities for career growth as well as a competitive compensation package with attractive benefits.

Collection Update: Presidents’ Day, February 21, 2022

Posted February 18, 2022

Monday, February 21, 2022 – Penn Waste is OPEN on Presidents’ Day. Please place your trash and recycling curbside on your regular collection day.

York Man Changed His Life After Finding Career at Penn Waste

Posted February 16, 2022

Larry Sanderson was in a temp job, living in a rough neighborhood, and unable to afford a car before he found a job — and purpose — at Penn Waste eight years ago.

 

WRITTEN BY:
REBECCA HANLON
SPONSORED BY:
PENN WASTE

 

Larry Sanderson says he’s grateful for the better life he’s found through a consistent paycheck, health benefits, and the assurance of a retirement plan. (Photo by Orendorff Studios for Our York Media)

Larry Sanderson “wasn’t in the best life situation.” He worked a temp job at a printing company, lived in a neighborhood that struggled with crime, and couldn’t afford a car.

He saw Penn Waste was hiring a full-time sorter and thought it might be his opportunity to change his life.

Eight years later, he feels like he’s a different person.

Finding growth

That job let to numerous promotions, from sorter to control room technician to being a lead person, where he assists the management team by monitoring machines and ensuring work is completed each day.

“This is the type of industry where it’s the small things that matter,” Larry says. “I have to pay attention to the sounds or visuals on a machine because if something goes down, it’s a big deal. I really pride myself on the attention to detail.”

“I didn’t just find a job here; I found peace of mind,” says Larry Sanderson of Penn Waste. “The impact I see in my personal life was the best thing that could have happened to me.” (Photo by Orendorff Studios for Our York Media)

Larry goes home at the end of each day tired, but knowing he has a job to return to tomorrow helps him rest easy.

While he’s grown personally since he started at Penn Waste — eventually moving to a different neighborhood and buying a car, among other things — he also feels a responsibility to educate people on recycling.

“A lot of people complain about the climate and global warming, but every day when I clock in, I make a difference,” he says. “We help the environment every day by what we do.”

‘I found peace of mind’

Larry admits that life is good these days. But, he says, he’s not done growing.

He’s working hard to earn his next promotion as shift supervisor. And he is grateful for the better life he’s found through a consistent paycheck, health benefits, and the assurance of a retirement plan.

“I didn’t just find a job here; I found peace of mind,” Larry says. “The impact I see in my personal life was the best thing that could have happened to me.”

The original story can be found herehttps://ouryorkmedia.com/stories/york-man-changed-his-life-after-finding-career-at-penn-waste/?fbclid=IwAR2rcKpAtJffEhKdlWWKtJ5KRNZnldqhOznHBMGAobuHgWjQMPWHE-tR2W8 

Collection Update – Monday, January 17th

Posted January 17, 2022

Due to poor road conditions, all Penn Waste routes (with the exception of City of Lancaster) are being canceled for today, Monday, January 17th. We will be operating on a holiday schedule the rest of this week. All Monday customers will be collected on Tuesday and so forth. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you but the safety of our employees is our top priority.

Quick Reminders Regarding Your Curbside Trash & Recycling Services During the Winter Months

Posted January 11, 2022

Cold, winter weather is here which brings a new set of challenges & safety concerns for our team members. To ensure your trash & recycling gets collected, please keep the following in mind when placing your items curbside.

Dark trash bags are easier for our employees to see. White trash bags blend in with the snow. If you have a darker colored trash bag that you could use or a trash can that you can place your bag in, it will make it easier for our employees to see ensuring that your trash gets collected.

Check for schedule changes. When there are service interruptions that effect the majority of our customers, we will post updates on social media, our website, and send out email blasts.

Know when to place your bins at the curb. Customers should refrain from placing bins at the curb before snowfall or while snowing to avoid the possibility of bins either getting buried or knocked over.

Cover the openings of bins. Customers should cover the openings of their bins so that snow doesn’t add unnecessary weight. Open bins filled with snow and waste or recyclables could injure collection workers.

Shovel out spaces for bins and shovel out buried bins / bulk items. To make for easy, quick and safe collection, customers should shovel out spaces for their bins, shovel them out if they get buried in snow, and shovel out any bulk items that freeze to the ground.

Pick up bins that have been knocked over. If bins happen to get knocked over by snowplows, customers should pick them up and place them back at the curb.

Safety is our number one priority. If you have children who are playing in the snow, please be mindful of them playing close to the streets as visibility may be impaired due to weather conditions.

Slow Down Before You Go Around. If you are behind a trash or recycling truck, please make sure you slow down before you go around. Check for traffic coming in the opposite direction before going around the truck and make sure you look for our employees before trying to pass.

Thank you for working with us to help keep our employees safe!

Collection Update: Inclement Weather 1/7/22

Posted January 7, 2022

Due to inclement weather and state roadway restrictions, all Penn Waste residential operations will be delayed one day. All residential Friday routes will run tomorrow (Saturday, January 8th).

All scheduled Christmas tree collections for January 8th will be pushed back one week to Saturday, January 15th.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Want to stay up to date on our recycling tips and collection updates? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

A Message Regarding COVID-19

Posted December 31, 2021

COVID-19 UPDATE

As many of you know, there continues to be tremendous unknowns surrounding COVID-19 and the rapid spread of the current Omicron variant. The recent increases in community spread in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals and quarantining due to exposures for our employees is resulting in a limited workforce at Penn Waste. These circumstances may result in future service delays, unanticipated service interruptions, or unusually high call volumes.

 

We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation daily and will send updates as necessary.

 

In order to protect our employees and reduce the spread of the virus, Penn Waste will be enforcing the following mandates:

  • All trash must be bagged and tied. If you are in a municipality that has a mobile cart for collection, all trash must be placed in tied bags.
  • All recyclable materials must be placed inside your recycling container(s). Flattened cardboard may be placed next to your recycle bin or cart.
  • We will enforce the bag and/or cart limits as designated by your municipality.

 

Other best practices to limit exposure:

  • Please limit your interactions with your waste and recycling teams when you see them in your neighborhoods.
  • Consider utilizing our pay your bill function on our website, pay over the phone (717-767-4456) or mail in your payment to help limit face-to-face interaction with our team members.

 

All of the above actions are being put in place to help protect the health and safety of our team members. Please continue to check our website and social media pages for any further updates. We appreciate your help, understanding and patience as we all navigate these unprecedented times together.

Collection Update: Christmas

Posted December 20, 2021

Penn Waste will be operating on a normal residential collection schedule this week since Christmas falls on a Saturday this year.

We do encourage all Friday customers to place their trash out Thursday night. Our team members will be starting earlier Friday morning to ensure they get home in time to spend Christmas Eve with their families.

We wish all of our customers a safe and happy holiday!

Penn Waste Donates 53 Bikes for a “Wheelie” Good Cause

Posted December 17, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     News Release

Media Contact:

Amanda Moley

Marketing Supervisor

717-360-1978

amoley@pennwaste.com

 

PENN WASTE DONATES 53 BIKES FOR A “WHEELIE” GOOD CAUSE

The Company raised over $8,450 towards their Annual Christmas Promise Bike Program  

 

York, PA – December 17, 2021 – Penn Waste, a waste and recycling company servicing south central Pennsylvania, is spreading holiday cheer this season by donating 53 bikes and bike helmets to children in need just in time for Christmas. Penn Waste team members raised over $8,450 through employee and vendor contributions to purchase the bikes.

“Part of our culture at Penn Waste is our commitment to our communities.  Our parent company, Waste Connections, has a particular passion for helping children in-need and at-risk. Their annual Christmas Promise Bike Program has provided 43,000 bikes to children in need nationwide since the program started 20 years ago. It’s very inspiring to see our team members come together for this worthy cause,” said Mark Pergolese, District Manager for Penn Waste.

The bikes were donated to Community Action Partnership (CAP) in Lancaster County.  Community Action Partnership is Lancaster County’s largest anti-poverty organization and boasts a service profile that interrupts inter-generational poverty with programs that assist families at every age and place in life. To learn more, visit https://caplanc.org/.

 

About Penn Waste

Penn Waste, a Waste Connections company, provides premier residential and commercial waste removal and recycling services to the south central Pennsylvania region. Founded in 2000, Penn Waste employs more than 380 dedicated and driven individuals who are committed to providing safe, dependable and courteous service to each and every home and business served. Penn Waste is recognized for its substantial growth over the past 21 years, operating a fleet of more than 130 waste removal and recycling collection trucks and serving over 190,000 customers in 67 municipalities in the counties of York, Lancaster, Adams, Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry. In addition, Penn Waste owns and operates one of the largest single-stream recycling facilities in the nation. The waste collected from Penn Waste customers is used to create clean, green energy, fueling local waste to energy sites to support a better future. For more information about Penn Waste, visit www.PennWaste.com or on social media @PennWaste.

 

About Waste Connections

Waste Connections, headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, is an integrated solid waste services company that provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer and disposal services, along with resource recovery primarily through recycling and renewable fuels generation.  The Company serves more than eight million residential, commercial and industrial customers in mostly exclusive and secondary markets across 44 states in the U.S. and six provinces in Canada.  Waste Connections also provides non-hazardous oilfield waste treatment, recovery and disposal services in several basins across the U.S., as well as intermodal services for the movement of cargo and solid waste containers in the Pacific Northwest.  For more information, visit Waste Connections at wasteconnections.com.

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Collection Update – Thursday, November 25th

Posted November 22, 2021

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, all Residential Penn Waste trash and recycling collections will be delayed one (1) day. Thursday customers will be collected on Friday. Friday customers will be collected on Saturday. All collections on Monday (11/22), Tuesday (11/23), and Wednesday (11/24) will be collected on their regularly scheduled day.

Want to stay up to date on our recycling tips and collection updates? Follow us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.

We wish all of our customers a safe and happy holiday!

Please consider forwarding this email to a friend.

How to Properly Dispose of Hot Ashes

Posted October 19, 2021

It is important to keep safety in mind when handling hot ashes from wood stoves, fireplaces and fire pits. Hot ashes can cause major safety issues for not only you, but for our employees as well.

Hot ashes and coals from fires can remain hot enough to start fires for many hours or even days after a fire is out. The amount of time it takes for hot ashes to cool depends on many factors, some of which include how hot the fire was, what was burning, how much unburned fuel remains if fuel was used, etc. Please keep all of these factors in mind when disposing of hot ashes.

In order to properly dispose of the hot ashes, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • If possible, allow ashes to cool in the area where you had the fire for several days. These areas are designed to contain their heat safely.
  • When it is time to dispose of ashes, test to ensure the hot ashes are cool by placing them in a cardboard box or paper bag before disposal. In this situation, never leave these ashes unattended until they are cool enough for disposal. If the ashes are too hot, they will begin to burn through the box or bag.
  • Transfer the cool ash to a plastic bag and then tie it shut. This will ensure any dust from the bagged ashes does not get into our employees’ eyes or lungs.
  • Do NOT put any ashes in a trash container. They should be left on the ground beside your trash container. By sitting them outside of the cart, we can confirm the ashes are NOT hot before placing them in the truck.
  • NEVER  dispose of hot ashes with yard waste material. By placing ashes with yard waste, such as tree trimmings and leaves, the potential for fires increase substantially

West Lampeter Township Customers: Important Announcement

Posted October 14, 2021

Below is a postcard our West Lampeter Township customers will be receiving at their homes regarding changes to their trash service. Please see below.

Collection Update – Columbus Day

Posted October 8, 2021

All Penn Waste routes will be operating on schedule on the Columbus Day holiday (Monday, October 11, 2021). Please place your waste and recycling curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Recycling 101: Back to Basics

Posted September 16, 2021

As kids head back into the classroom, we thought it’d be a good time to take our customers back to recycling school! Here’s a refresher on the basics of recycling:

Step 1: Only recycle the items we accept at our recycling facility. This includes:

  • Plastics with numbers 1,2 and 5 on the bottom
  • Cardboard
  • Newspaper
  • Aluminum and metal food and beverage cans
  • Food & beverage cartons (such as an orange juice carton)
  • Glass food and beverage containers

Want to print this list? Here’s a downloadable version of our recycling guidelines – https://www.pennwaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2018-Penn-Waste-Recycling-Guidelines.pdf

If you live in Lancaster County, please follow their recycling guidelines which can be found here – https://www.lcswma.org/services/recycling-drop-off/

Step 2: Make sure your recyclables are empty, clean and dry. Dirty recyclables can contaminate other recyclables in the truck load.

Step 3: Place ONLY the above recyclable items in your recycling bin. Want to save space in your recycling container? Flatten your cardboard and condense your large plastics if possible.

Finally, one of the most frequently asked questions we get is whether lids should be taken off of containers. The answer is yes, but the reason why might surprise you. Lids are typically too small for our machinery to capture and end up getting mixed in with other contaminates that cannot be recycled.

Recycling really is that easy! Class dismissed.

Collection Update – 9/2/2021 – Normal Schedule

Posted September 2, 2021

Thursday, September 2, 2021 – We are operating on a normal schedule for the remainder of this week. 

In addition, we are attempting to collect in areas that were missed yesterday (Wednesday, 9/1/21). If they are still inaccessible today, we will collect double on your next regularly scheduled collection day.

Thank you for your understanding as we are dealing with many challenges from Tropical Storm Ida.

Kick Off Summer Safely

Posted May 20, 2021

Memorial Day is around the corner which means it’s time to fire up the grill & open up the pool! But not so fast…we have a few reminders we’d like to go over before you officially kick off summer.

Do NOT place the following items in your curbside trash & recycling containers:

  1. PROPANE TANKS – Propane tanks are extremely flammable and should never be disposed of in your curbside trash and recycling bins (This includes the small camping size propane tanks). Contact your local solid waste authority to see if they accept them or ask the vendor you bought it from if they will take them back.
  2. POOL CHEMICALS – Pool chemicals are extremely combustible which is why they cannot be disposed of in your curbside trash and recycling bins. To dispose of them, check with the store you bought them from to see if they have any resources for disposal. You could also donate them to a local pool or check with your local solid waste authority to see if they accept them.
  3. LIVE AMMUNITION – Live ammunition should never go in your curbside trash and recycling. Check with local law enforcement, indoor gun ranges, or your local solid waste authority to see if they accept live ammunition.
  4. RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES – Rechargeable batteries can easily start fires when combined with the right materials. Never place these in your curbside collection bins. Several retailers such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Target offer drop-off programs. You can also check with your local solid waste authority to see if they accept them.

With YOUR help, we can keep our employees safe and prevent fires in our trucks and at our recycling facility by properly disposing of these combustible materials. THANK YOU!

Help Celebrate Earth Day by Learning to Recycle Right

Posted April 22, 2021

Today is one of our favorite days of the year – EARTH DAY! As a reminder, below are our recycling guidelines to help ensure you’re recycling the correct items. These recycling guidelines should be used in York, Cumberland, Dauphin, Adams, and Perry counties.
For our customers in Lancaster County, please follow their BIG4 Recycling Guidelines. 

Clean & Green – Safe Spring Cleaning Tips

Posted March 14, 2021

Warmer weather is right around the corner. We’re just as excited as you are! During this time, many people like to do some spring cleaning. We’ve compiled a list of resources for you to check out before you place everything in the trash.

Many items can be recycled, reused, or donated to a local non-profit. More dangerous items, such as household hazardous waste items, pose a serious safety risk for our employees so you cannot place them in your curbside trash and recycling bins.

Please review the below tips and follow your own municipality’s guidelines when spring cleaning. Click here to view our Municipality Resource Page and select your municipality for more specific information regarding your guidelines.

Items You Can Recycle

Penn Waste accepts the following items through your curbside recycling program:

  1. Clean and empty plastic bottles and containers with #s 1, 2 and 5 on the bottom.
  2. Clean and empty glass bottles and jars.
  3. Clean and empty milk cartons.
  4. Clean and flattened cardboard.
  5. Clean and dry newspaper.
  6. Clean and dry steel and aluminum cans.

These are the ONLY items that should go in your curbside recycling container.

*If you live in Lancaster County, please follow Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority’s BIG 4 Recycling Guidelines.

How to Properly Dispose of Electronic Waste

In Pennsylvania, certain electronics are restricted by law from being disposed of in the trash due to the toxic metals they contain. As a result, electronic waste cannot be collected curbside by Penn Waste. Please contact your county Solid Waste Authority to see if they have a drop-off program.

Some examples of electronic waste are: computers, computer peripherals (keyboards, mouse, printer, etc.), computer monitors, and televisions.

How to Properly Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous waste is considered any products that are flammable, can react, or explode under certain circumstances. For this reason, they cannot go in your curbside trash and recycling bins. We experience countless truck fires every year due to hazardous waste NOT being properly disposed of. For this reason, please contact your county Solid Waste Authority to see if they have a drop-off program.

Examples of household hazardous waste are: Driveway sealant, flammable materials, fluorescent bulbs, tube lights and lighting ballasts, garden chemicals, household cleaners, mercury containing devices and liquid mercury, photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, rechargeable batteries and vehicle fluids.

Appliances & Appliances Containing Freon

Appliances that do not contain Freon can be placed with your curbside trash. If the appliance does not fit in your trash container, it will be considered a bulk item. Please check your municipality resource page to see if bulk item collection is a service you have. All bulk items must be able to be lifted by two people. Items that are too heavy to be lifted by two people will not be collected.

Please call Penn Waste at 717-767-4456 to schedule removal of any appliances containing Freon. Some examples are: refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and water coolers.

Paint Cans

Empty paint cans should be placed in your bagged trash, then placed in your trash container, due to the amount of paint residue that will be on them. If you’re not sure how to dispose of your half-empty paint cans, we recommend the following:

  1. Consider donating your paint to a community center, charity, place of worship, local theater or Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They’re often working on projects with a limited budget and could use the extra supplies.
  2. Harden the paint by adding equal parts cat litter to the paint in the can. Stir the cat litter into the paint until it thickens and won’t spill. Allow the mixture to sit for one hour before placing in your bagged trash. ***There are weight limits on your trash container and they vary by municipality. A good rule of thumb is your trash container should never weigh more than 50 lbs. Keep this in mind since hardened paint becomes very heavy.

Clothing

Clothing should never be placed in your curbside recycling bin. The materials get wrapped around the processing equipment at our recycling facility, causing it to jam up and break. Many non-profits such as Salvation Army, Goodwill, and consignment shops accept used clothing for donation. As a last resort, clothing can be placed in your curbside trash container.

Additional Resources

If you have something else that does not fit into the above categories, we recommend checking the website Earth911.com for additional resources for disposal. You can also check with your county solid waste authority or the vendor you originally purchased the item from.

Lastly, before you throw something in the trash, take a moment to consider if there’s anyone else in your community who might be able to use what you’re about to throw away. Many non-profits accept donated household goods, clothing, appliances, furniture, and more.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

4 Tips for Staying Safe Near a Garbage Truck

Posted January 18, 2021

Follow these driver safety tips the next time you’re near a garbage truck.

  • Keep Your Distance. Garbage trucks are bulky with many blind spots. Keeping your distance will ensure we can see you AND no debris hits your vehicle should it accidentally fall out of our truck. Please stay back at least 30 feet.
  • Proceed Carefully. If you must pass a garbage truck, do so with extreme caution. Make sure none of our employees are near by and there is no on-coming traffic.
  • Stay Calm. Getting frustrated and having road rage will not make our trucks move any faster. Irrational behavior will only lead to an accident.
  • Stay Alert. Garbage trucks stop and start often due to the nature of our business which is why it’s important to not be distracted while near one.

Three York-Based Organizations Team Up to Spread Christmas Cheer

Posted December 18, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

News Release

                                                                                                            Media Contact:

Amanda Moley

Penn Waste

Marketing Supervisor

amoley@pennwaste.com

 

Three York-Based Organizations Team Up to Spread Christmas Cheer

Penn Waste, KBS Trucking, & The Scott & Tracy Wagner Family Foundation donate $50,000 to two local Salvation Army organizations in South Central Pennsylvania

YORK, Pa. 12/18/20 – Three local organizations, Penn Waste, Inc., KBS Trucking, and The Scott & Tracy Wagner Family Foundation have teamed up with the Salvation Army of York and the Salvation Army of Harrisburg to help “Rescue Christmas.”

“Our community non-profits need our help now more than ever. When we heard the Salvation Army was facing a 50% decrease in donations from their annual Red Kettle campaign due to COVID-19, we knew we needed to help,” said Scott Wagner, Chairman and CEO of KBS, Wagner Family Foundation President, and Founder of Penn Waste.

Pictured Left to Right: Judy Toomey, CFO of KBS Trucking; Ed Ward, District Manager of Penn Waste; Kathy Anderson-Martin and Jeffrey Piccola, both representing the Salvation Army of Harrisburg; Cristina Wagner and Katharine Wagner, both representing The Scott & Tracy Wagner Family Foundation.

 

Due to the on-going pandemic, The Salvation Army needs resources to serve up to 155% more people with Christmas assistance this year.

The group made a $50,000 donation to each of the Salvation Army locations (York and Harrisburg) to assist with their community initiatives.

“On behalf of Penn Waste, KBS Trucking, and The Scott & Tracy Wagner Family Foundation, we applaud the Salvation Army for the services they provide our communities and we encourage others to support them financially during this time of need,” said Wagner.

Pictured Left to Right: Judy Toomey, CFO of KBS Trucking; Ed Ward, District Manager of Penn Waste; Major Tom Babbitt of Salvation Army of York, Cristina Wagner and Katharine Wagner, both representing The Scott & Tracy Wagner Family Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Find Out Which Items are on Penn Waste’s Naughty List This Year

Posted December 4, 2020

Penn Waste is making a list and checking it twice – here are all the non-recyclable items that ended up on our 2020 NAUGHTY LIST!

Dead Animals Are NOT Recyclable

Posted November 11, 2020

Important Reminder – Dead animals / animal remains should NOT go in your recycling bin. We have seen an increase in animal carcasses coming through at our recycling plant including but not limited to: coyotes, foxes, deer, a goat head and bear paws. Aside from the fact these items are gross for our employees to come in contact with, these items result in down time for our plant and contaminate actual recyclable material. A recent incident involving skinned bear paws required us to shut down for a portion of our 1st Shift while the police investigated to ensure they were not human remains. Thankfully, they were not. We post often about what NOT to recycle because we continue to get the same crazy items coming through our facility. Please help us spread the word – NO DEAD ANIMALS.

The #1 Reason Why You Should Bag Your Trash

Posted August 5, 2020

Many residents ask why we require them to bag their trash, even if they’re placing it directly into a trash can or trash mobile cart. The answer is simple: Safety.

Loose trash in your waste receptacle is dangerous to our employees. When it’s dumped from your container into the back of our truck, loose trash such as debris and liquids can spray in our employees faces or get on their skin.

Cat litter dust, paint splatter, broken glass, dog poop, saw dust – Would you want any of these items splattering on you if you were collecting the trash?

COVID19 has amplified the need for trash to be bagged in order for us to protect the health and safety of our employees.

In addition, bagging your trash helps to prevent waste from contaminating your property. Less loose trash and light debris will get blown or thrown from the collection area if it is bagged. There’s also less chance for liquids from the truck to spray the surrounding area.

By bagging your trash, you’re helping to protect your property and keep our employees safe.

A Scary Trend

Posted July 17, 2020

We need your HELP!

Hazardous waste continues to be an issue we are now dealing with on a WEEKLY basis. It should NEVER go in your curbside trash and recycling.

The result is always the same…a FIRE. This puts our employees lives in danger and causes major down time for our crews. We are already short-staffed due to a number of reasons and THIS has a ripple effect on our service.

When a truck catches on fire, it must immediately pull over in an opening parking lot and dump all contents out of the truck. 911 must be called, fire crews have to come put it out, hazmat occasionally has to get involved, and our employees need checked out for injuries. A professional cleaning crew must then come out and clean up any residue from the parking lot we dumped on.

Please do not put pool chemicals (or chemicals of any kind), rechargeable batteries, propane tanks, or anything else that could be combustible in your curbside trash and recycling. THANK YOU!

Here’s our resource guide for safe disposal of hazardous waste – http://ow.ly/sgLF50AzZPq

Resources for Getting Rid of Hazardous Waste

Posted May 6, 2020

Do you have hazardous waste but you’re not sure how to get rid of it? Click on this link to download our Hazardous Waste Resource Guide.

Hazardous waste is considered pool chemicals, lithium batteries (rechargeable batteries), hot ashes, live ammunition and propane tanks.

Bulk Item & Yard Waste Programs to Resume

Posted April 24, 2020

Although we are still working with a depleted workforce, we will be resuming our yard waste and bulk item collection programs. We understand that there is a need for these materials to be collected and we appreciate your understanding while we worked through the difficult circumstances that led us to delay these services for a period of time.
We will be resuming Yard Waste collections beginning on May 2nd. The yard waste collections will follow your regularly scheduled collection schedule for May. If you do not know when your yard waste collection is scheduled, you can find out by visiting your municipality’s page on our website – https://www.pennwaste.com/for-your-home/municipalities/.

We understand that customers may have yard waste ready to be collected, but we ask that residents hold until their next regularly scheduled collection day and place a reasonable amount of yard waste curbside. We will not be able to collect an unlimited amount of yard waste from each home, so by asking residents to place a reasonable amount curbside, it will ensure that the entire route is completed.
Bulk item collection will resume on Monday, May 4th on your next regularly scheduled collection day. We will be collecting one bulk item per week per residence. We will strive to clean up any back log over the next two months. This is in order to make sure our crews are able to finish routes in a timely manner.

If you are unsure of when your bulk item collection is, please visit your municipality’s page on our website – https://www.pennwaste.com/for-your-home/municipalities/.
Also, please bundle any excess cardboard you may have in order to allow our crews to collect this material in an efficient manner.
Thank you for your understanding and patience during this crisis.

Collection Update – Lower Windsor Township

Posted

Attention Lower Windsor Township residential customers – You will be collected tomorrow (Saturday, April 25th). As we continue to deal with a depleted workforce due to the Covid-19 crisis, we need to push your collection back one day. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

New Collection Mandates Take Effect Monday

Posted March 27, 2020

Effective Monday, March 30th, Penn Waste will be enforcing the following collection mandates in an effort to protect our frontline team members and as a result of having a limited workforce during this COVID-19 pandemic:

  • All trash must be bagged and tied. If you’re in a municipality that has a mobile cart, all bags must be placed inside your mobile cart. Loose items will not be collected.

 

  • All recyclable materials must be placed inside your recycling container(s), including your flattened cardboard. Recyclable items left outside of your recycling container will not be collected.

 

  • We will enforce the bag and/ or cart limits as designated by your municipality. If you do not know what your limits are, you can check on our website by selecting your municipality on our municipality resource page – https://www.pennwaste.com/for-your-home/municipalities/.

 

  • Bulk item and yard waste collection is suspended until further notice. We are doing this so we can continue to focus all our efforts and personnel on trash and recycling collection.

All of the above actions are being put in place to help protect the health and safety of our team members. After the COVID-19 crisis is over, we will resume our normal collection practices and reinstate bulk item and yard waste collection services. Please continue to check our website and your municipality’s website for updates.

Penn Waste takes great pride in being a trusted partner in the South-Central Pennsylvania community for the last 20 years. We appreciate your help, understanding, and patience as we all navigate these unprecedented times together.

 

 

 

Important Service Updates

Posted March 20, 2020

As a result of Governor Wolf’s recent Executive Order in response to the COVID-19 crisis, we have several important updates to share with you.

Effective Monday, 3/23/20, Penn Waste Residential Collections will operate as follows:

Trash Collection – On Schedule as Normal
Recycle Collection – On Schedule as Normal 

Yard Waste Collection – Temporary suspension until further notice
Bulk Item Collection- Temporary suspension until further notice

We are doing this so we can continue to focus all our efforts and personnel on trash and recycling collection.

The collection of trash is our top priority as improperly managed waste can create conditions that may have severe adverse effects on public health, safety and the environment.

ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES:
Monday, March 23rd, administrative staff will be working remotely and we will have limited staff on premise. If you need to pay your bill, you can still mail it in, pay your bill online at https://www.pennwaste.com/pay-your-bill/, or pay over the phone via our automated system by calling 717-767-4456.

Residential Customers – If you have an emergency, please send us an email at info@pennwaste.comPlease do not send an email unless it is a real emergency.

Commercial Customers – Any requests should be emailed to  commercialcs@pennwaste.com.

Both emails will be monitored during our normal 8AM-5PM business ours.

If we have more service changes to communicate, we will continue to share additional updates via our social media channels, website, email blasts and we will make individual contacts as necessary.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all try to navigate these unprecedented times.

Help Us Keep Our Employees Safe

Posted March 19, 2020

As we continue to provide an essential service to our customers, we’re asking for your help to keep our employees safe.

What Can You Do To Help?

  1. Bag & tie your household trash. Household trash that is not properly bagged and tied is susceptible to spills and further increases the risk of exposure for our personnel to potentially infectious waste.
  2. Continue to place recyclable items loose in your bin. Refer to our recycling guidelines on what is acceptable. Do not place items such as plastic bags, tissues, napkins, food-soaked material etc. in your recycling bin.
  3. Limit interaction with our team members. We love our Penn Waste fans, but please say hi to our employees from a safe distance.
  4. Properly dispose of medical waste. Medical waste such as needles used to administer medication to individuals or pets should be placed in a rigid plastic container that has a lid (such as a detergent bottle or coffee can), clearly marked “Sharps”, sealed shut and placed inside a garbage bag in the TRASH.
  5. Utilize our website and email contact form. Many of your frequently asked questions are addressed on our website. If you have a question, please consider contacting Penn Waste via our contact form on our website at www.PennWaste.com instead of calling in.
  6. Pay Your Bill Online – You can pay your bill online at www.PennWaste.com

What Are We Doing?
Our number one value at Penn Waste is the safety of our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve. We are closely monitoring the current situation and are following guidance from the CDC, WHO, and our state and local public health officials. We have also implemented measures to prevent the spread of illnesses, including COVID-19. At Penn Waste. We recognize that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has tremendous unknowns and could cause unanticipated service delays, service interruptions, or unusually high call volumes.

At Penn Waste, we have developed and implemented business continuity plans to ensure our operations run as effectively as possible during this unique period in order to keep our commitment to provide the best possible service in a courteous, effective manner, and show respect and gratitude for those we are fortunate to serve.

Thank you. We greatly appreciate your patience and trust in Penn Waste.

A Message Regarding (COVID-19)

Posted March 18, 2020

Dear Penn Waste Customer:

Our number one value at Penn Waste is the safety of our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve. We are closely monitoring the current situation and are following guidance from the CDC, WHO, and our state and local public health officials. We recognize that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has tremendous unknowns and could cause unanticipated service delays, service interruptions, or unusually high call volumes.

We provide an essential service within our communities and strive to meet our customer commitments. At Penn Waste, we have developed and implemented business continuity plans to ensure our operations run as effectively as possible during this unique period in order to keep our commitment to provide the best possible service in a courteous, effective manner, and show respect and gratitude for those we are fortunate to serve.

Thank you. We greatly appreciate your patience and trust in Penn Waste.

COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Posted

Due to the current circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 virus, we wanted to let you know that we are committed to working together during these unprecedented times.  We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation daily and will send updates as necessary.

As of today, Wednesday, March 18th, we are operating on a normal schedule.

We have taken precautions to protect our employees but ask for your help as well. Please limit your interactions with your waste and recycling teams when you see them in your neighborhoods.

In addition, please utilize our Pay Your Bill function on our website, pay over the phone (717-767-4456) or mail in your payment to help limit face-to-face interaction with our team members.

We will continue to share updates via our website, email blasts, social media channels, and make individual contacts when necessary.

Stay safe everyone!

COVID-19 Update: Saturday, March 14, 2020

Posted March 14, 2020

COVID-19 Update (Saturday, March 14, 2020) – At this time, all Penn Waste operations are conducting business as usual. As of today, we do not have any changes in service. As the current situation is still evolving, it is too early to say if our operations will be impacted.

Safety remains our #1 priority at Penn Waste. As the emerging health crisis takes place, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and make necessary decisions based off of the safety and well-being of our employees and customers. We do encourage everyone to check back regularly for updates via our social media pages, website, email blasts, and we will make individual contacts as appropriate. Stay safe everyone!

Recycle Responsibly – What NOT to Put in Your Recycling Bin

Posted November 15, 2019

In honor of America Recycles Day, we’d like to remind all of our customers to please recycle responsibly! Check out our latest video on what you should NOT be placing in the recycling bin & why it’s important you recycle right!

Yard Waste Preparation Tips

Posted October 14, 2019

How to Prepare Your Yard Waste Properly:

It’s that time of year again – cutting plants back, raking up leaves, and trimming your hedges one last time this season! We compiled a list of tips for you to keep in mind when preparing your yard waste to ensure it gets collected and disposed of properly.

  1. No Plastic Bags – Do not place plastic bags INSIDE of your yard waste containers or brown paper yard waste bags. All yard waste trimmings should be placed loosely into these containers.
  2. Container / Yard Waste Bag Weights – Please be mindful of how heavy the container is when placing yard waste into your containers and brown paper yard waste bags. When you smash down trimmings it can become severely compacted. This makes it difficult for our employees to lift the bags and containers. This may result in material getting stuck in the bottom of the yard waste containers. If you have to drag your containers and bags to the curb, they’re too heavy.
  3. Bundles of Trimmings – Bundles of tree and bush trimmings should be no longer than 4 feet in length, no wider than a basketball, and branches may not exceed 6 inches in diameter. Bundles should also not weigh more than 30 pounds each. This ensures our employees can safely collect the material and it fits in our trucks. You can use any type of biodegradable twine to bundle your trimmings.
  4. Thorns – Be mindful of any trimmings that have thorns on them. Please give our team members an easy and safe way to handle this material as thorn bushes are a major safety hazard for our employees. We encourage you not to bundle these items, but to place them inside of brown paper yard waste bags or to use a yard waste container so our employees have a safe way to pick them up and dump them in to the truck.
  5. Leaves – Check with your local municipality to see if leaves are accepted as part of your yard waste collection. Some municipalities allow them and some do not.
  6. Grass Clippings, Dirt, Stones, Tree Stumps, and Fruits & Vegetables – As always, the previously mentioned items should NOT be placed out for yard waste collection.

Safe Disposal of Toilets

Posted September 16, 2019

Toilets may not be something you initially think of as being a safety hazard to our team members but they are when not placed at the curb properly! In the last few weeks, we’ve seen an influx of cracked or broken toilets being placed curbside. They are collected as trash but we would like to encourage all of our residents to either place them out in two pieces (as shown in the photo below) or sit the cracked pieces out separately. Please do not place any cracked pieces back together so the toilet is sitting curbside looking as if it is not broken. Toilets should be placed curbside in two pieces when disposing of them – the tank and the seat should be taken apart.

We’ve had multiple instances where our team members pick up a toilet and the cracked, porcelain pieces fall apart as they are loading it into the truck. Broken porcelain is extremely sharp and toilets are dirty. These incidents have resulted in lacerations to our team members legs requiring stitches.

As always, thanks for helping us keep our team members safe!

 

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

Posted August 29, 2019

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!

Tips On Proper Mobile Cart Placement

Posted August 20, 2019

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

Posted August 12, 2019

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.

Location: Company Name: Address: Phone #:
Dover Spangler’s Ace Hardware 4072 Carlisle Rd., Dover, PA 17315 717-292-6055
Elizabethtown B & G Lumber 212 W. High St., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 717-367-1680
Harrisburg Amerigas 6823 Paxton St., Harrisburg, PA 17111 717-561-8806
Gettysburg Consolidated Scrap Resources 2230 York Rd., Gettysburg, PA 17325
Lancaster Suburban Energy Services 2440 Dairy Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601 717-898-2267
Lancaster Wrecklamations 1119 Manheim Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601 717-299-6796
Lemoyne Ritter’s True Value Hardware 1200 Market St., Lemoyne, PA 17043 717-731-1070
Mountville Ressler Propane 27 W. Main St., Mountville, PA 17554
New Freedom Aero Energy 25 E. High St., New Freedom, PA 17349 717-235-3854
Shrewsbury Shrewsbury True Value 836 E. Forrest Ave., Shrewsbury, PA 17361 717-235-6700
York Consolidated Scrap Resources 120 Hokes Mill Rd., York, PA 17404 717-843-0931
York Consolidated Scrap Resources 530 Vander Ave., York, PA 17403 717-843-0931
York Darrah’s Automotive & Recycling 535 Prospect Rd., York, PA 17403 717-845-9679
York J & K Salvage 1099 Kings Mill Rd., York, PA 17403 717-843-3672
York West York Agway 2650 W. Market St., York, PA 17404 717-668-8258

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

 

Rechargeable Batteries Are A Fire Hazard

Posted July 19, 2019

Penn Waste would like to advise all of our customers not to throw rechargeable batteries in their trash and recycling bins. Rechargeable batteries are a fire hazard and are prone to exploding. In just the last week, Penn Waste has experienced several small fires in the trash collected due to rechargeable batteries. Once these batteries are damaged or incorrectly charged, they’re a fire hazard.

Rechargeable batteries are found in laptops, cell phones, wireless security cameras, digital cameras, and rechargeable tools, just to name a few.

Rechargeable batteries are considered hazardous material and should be disposed of properly, otherwise they create a safety hazard for our team members.

Please check with your local solid waste authority (listed below) for hazardous waste resources, drop-off locations and times. In addition, you can check with local retailers such as Best Buy, Lowe’s and Home Depot. Many of them offer battery recycling at their stores.

We appreciate your help in keeping our team members safe!

Resources:
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

Why ‘Tanglers’ Don’t Belong in Your Recycling Bin

Posted June 24, 2019

TRANSCRIPT:

Many people try to recycle items that cannot be recycled or processed by the equipment we use at our recycling facility.

Some common materials are what we call “tanglers.”

Tanglers are non-recyclable items that get wrapped around the rolling screens which are used to help separate recyclables during the recycling process.

Penn Waste team members do try to remove as many of the tanglers as possible, but some still make it through.

Some examples of tanglers are – Plastic Shopping Bags, Garbage Bags, Hoses, Clothing, Rope, Christmas lights, plastic and metal strapping, towels, electrical cords, and VHS tapes.

Meet Moises.

Moises is 1 of 10 Penn Waste team members who must climb into the machinery and cut off the tanglers.

It takes at least 1 hour to remove the tanglers from each of the 4 screens and this required maintenance happens 4 times per day.

The machinery must be shut down during this time which wastes time and money. In addition, climbing into the equipment puts our employees in harm’s way.

The good new is, you can help!

Please do not bag your recyclables. Also, do not place plastic bags, plastic packaging, or other non-recyclable items in your curbside recycling bin.

There’s a list of acceptable items at www.pennwaste.com and here’s a reminder…. The only items that should be going in your curbside recycling bin are metal cans, plastic bottles and containers with numbers 1,2 and 5 on the bottom, newspaper, glass bottles and jars, dry and flattened cardboard, and cartons.

And don’t forget…all of these items should be clean and dry before placing in your recycling bin.

Moises and the rest of the Penn Waste team appreciates your help! For more information, visit www.PennWaste.com

How to Have an Eco-Friendly Picnic

Posted June 11, 2019

School’s out and so is the sun! In our latest blog post, we’re sharing tips for having an eco-friendly picnic with your family and friends this summer.

1. Pack sustainable items instead of takeout or pre-packaged meals to reduce waste. You can cut down on waste and expenses with eco-friendly picnicware such as reusable straws, utensils and plates. You can also bring your own picnic basket or cloth bag instead of using paper or plastic bags. Don’t forget to pack your picnic blanket, cloth napkins and reusable food containers.

2. Recycle! We’re partial to this one 😉 If you choose to bring items that aren’t reusable, make sure that you recycle or dispose of them properly. Some of the most common recyclable items at a picnic are:
– Plastic water and soda bottles (throw the cap in the trash – it’s too small to be captured at our recycling facility)
– Metal soda and beer cans
– Glass wine and beer bottles
– Kids juice boxes (throw the straw in the trash)
All of the above recyclables should be clean, empty and dry before placing in a recycle bin. For a full list of what items are recyclable, please visit www.pennwaste.com.

3. Take trash with you. To ensure you leave the environment in the exact condition you found it, do not leave litter behind. It can contaminate water and land or be a danger to wildlife. Please take all your belongings and trash with you if there are no recycling or trash receptacles on site.

We hope these tips will help you enjoy your picnic with friends and family in a sustainable manner!

Recycling Basics

Posted April 22, 2019

To celebrate #EarthDay, we would like to remind everyone how to properly recycle with Penn Waste. Check out our latest video, “Recycling Basics” to learn more.

(***If you are a Lancaster County resident, please follow their recycling guidelines which can be found here – https://www.lcswma.org/recycling/)

TRANSCRIPT:

Recycling is an important part of a sustainable lifestyle and for preserving the resources used by society. Penn Waste can help you become a better recycler by following these Recycling Basics:

#1 – Know What to Recycle

Aluminum and steel cans. Plastic bottles and jugs with numbers 1,2 and 5 on the bottom.

Newspaper. Glass bottles and jars. Food and beverage cartons.

And corrugated cardboard.

You should never place the following items in your curbside recycling bin:

No packaging such as Styrofoam, bubble wrap, or packing pillows.

No medical waste…. No clothing or linens…no wood or building products…..and no electronics.

Also, never place plastic bags or tanglers – such as garden hoses and extension cords – in your recycling bin. These items get wrapped around the recycling equipment. Our team members must then crawl into the equipment and cut it off of the machinery.

Remember – Just because an item has the recycle symbol on it, doesn’t mean it can be recycled through your curbside recycling program.

You should always check our list – NOT the label.

#2 – Make sure your recyclables are empty, clean, and dry before placing them in your recycling bin. If you place this half empty ketchup bottle in your recycle bin, it can ruin other recyclables in the truck.

#3– Never bag your recyclables. As we just stated, plastic bags jam up our recycling equipment. As a result, recyclable items should always be placed individually into your recycling bin. This ensures all materials get recycled efficiently and can be turned into new products.

By following these 3 easy steps, you’ll help eliminate contamination and streamline the recycling process.

Collection Update – Inclement Weather Monday, 3/4/2019 – 2 Hour Delay

Posted March 3, 2019

At this time, all Penn Waste routes will be operating on a 2 hour delay on Monday, March 4th. For any areas that are not accessible, we will accept double the normal volume on the next regular collection day.

Inclement Weather - Penn Waste

How to Properly Dispose of Ashes

Posted September 19, 2018

With the cooler weather of fall upon us, everyone’s breaking out their fire pits and roasting s’mores! It’s important to keep safety in mind when sitting around the fire and when the fire is done. Hot ashes can cause major safety issues for not only you, but for our employees as well. 

Hot ashes and coals from fires can remain hot enough to start fires for many hours or even days after a fire is out. The amount of time it takes for hot ashes to cool depends on many factors, some of which include how hot the fire was, what was burning, how much un-burned fuel remains if fuel was used, etc. Please keep all of these factors in mind when disposing of hot ashes.

In order to properly dispose of the hot ashes, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • If possible, allow ashes to cool in the area where you had the fire for several days. These areas are designed to contain their heat safely.
  • When it is time to dispose of ashes, test to ensure the hot ashes are cool by placing them in a cardboard box or paper bag before disposal. In this situation, never leave these ashes unattended until they are cool enough for disposal. If the ashes are too hot, they will begin to burn through the box or bag.
  • DO NOT dispose of hot ashes with yard waste material. By placing ashes with yard waste, such as tree trimmings and leaves, the potential for fires increase substantially.

Please keep these tips in mind when disposing of ashes this fall.

How to Properly Dispose of Pool Chemicals

Posted August 19, 2018

As summer comes to an end, Penn Waste would like to remind everyone that pool chemicals should not be disposed of in your trash or recycling.

Chemicals such as chlorine, muriatic acid, and sulfuric acid are used to balance and disinfect pools, while other chemicals are used to “shock” the pool. These chemicals are extremely combustible and can cause fires in the back of our trucks, putting our employees’ safety at risk.

Here are a couple suggestions on how to properly dispose of pool chemicals:

  1. Check with the store you bought your pool chemicals to see if they have any suggestions
  2. Donate extra pool chemicals to local pools around the area
  3. Check with your local Solid Waste Authority to see if they accept pool chemicals
    1. York County Solid Waste Authority
    2. Lancaster County Solid Waste Authority
    3. Cumberland County Solid Waste Authority
    4. Dauphin County Solid Waste Authority
  4. Check with your neighbors who have pools to see if they can use them.

New Recycle Guidelines

Posted July 9, 2018

Effective July 1, 2018, Penn Waste is implementing new recycle guidelines. The new recycle guidelines are a result of the current recycling crisis created by China. Back in the fall, the largest buyer of recyclable material in the world, China, set unachievable contamination limits on the recyclable material they receive resulting in the recycling markets crashing. Previously, bales were allowed to have around 5% contamination in them which equates to 92lbs of contamination in a 1,850lb paper bale . At the beginning of 2018, China imposed a 0.5% contamination limit on imported recyclables from any country which equates to only 9lbs of contamination in a 1,850lb bale of paper. This is an impossible level of contamination for recycling companies to achieve.

Subsequently, Penn Waste has taken a “Back to Basics” approach in an attempt to try and meet the new contamination limits.  Please see below for our new recycle guidelines.

If it is not listed below, do not place it in your recycle bin. 

 

Change in China Recycling Policy Driving Costs in the Midstate

Posted June 15, 2018

Written by Rachel McDevitt | WITF News, Jun 14, 2018 6:51 PM

Source – http://www.witf.org/news/2018/06/change-in-china-recycling-policy-driving-costs-in-midstate.php

recycle.jpg

(Harrisburg) — The cost of recycling will likely go up for many midstate communities over the next few years.

A change of standards in China is causing recycling processors in the U.S. to recalculate.

China is the largest importer of U.S. recyclables. At the beginning of this year, the country enacted a ban on some materials and strictly limited the contamination allowed in shipments of others, from five percent to half a percent.

That’s driving up costs for processors like Penn Waste, which collects recycling from 70 municipalities in the region.

Marketing director Amanda Davidson said 35 percent of the material they collect as recycling is garbage that then needs to be disposed of.

A big problem is “hopeful recycling,” which means people will put things in recycling bins they want to be recyclable but should really be thrown out.

“So diapers, car parts, hoses, electrical cords, medical waste, clothing, mattresses. We’ve gotten deer carcasses. Deer season is a horrible time of year at our recycle center,” Davidson said as she gave examples.

She said now there’s added pressure to get these sometimes-hazardous items out of the waste stream.

Penn Waste has been investing in labor and equipment to reduce contamination.

The company is now charging a sustainability fee for commercial and private subscription customers.

Davidson said they are approaching municipalities now to see if they can renegotiate waste contracts to add a sustainability fee.

“Even if we don’t get a small increase now, everyone’s going to see a large increase later to make up for the impact that the recycling crisis is having,” she said.

The company plans to release new guidelines next month that should make it easier for customers to understand what’s recyclable and what’s not.

Penn Waste Wins 2018 Excellence Award

Posted June 6, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: 

Amanda Davidson
Director of Marketing

PENN WASTE, INC. EXEMPLIFIES COMMITMENT TO PROPER WASTE DISPOSAL
WINS SWANA 2018 EXCELLENCE AWARD

York, PA  (June 4, 2018) –The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) announced yesterday that Penn Waste, Inc. has been named the winner of the SWANA Silver Excellence Award in the Recycle Systems category. The award will be presented at SWANA’s annual conference, WASTECON®, on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee.

Penn Waste, Inc.is receiving the award for its York, Pennsylvania, 45-tph single stream system retrofit.

“We continue to invest in technology to boost throughput, recovery and purity,” said Amanda Davidson, director of marketing.  “The complete retrofit took only 9 days. The results have led us to continue to expand our reach in what have become turbulent market conditions.”

The winning entry can be found on SWANA’s website in August.

SWANA’s Excellence Awards Program recognizes outstanding solid waste programs and facilities that advance the practice of environmentally and economically sound solid waste management through their commitment to utilizing effective technologies and processes in system design and operations, advancing worker and community health and safety, and implementing successful public education and outreach programs. Programs also must demonstrate that they are fiscally and environmentally responsible through their compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations.

###
Penn Waste Excellence Award

About Penn Waste, Inc.
Founded in 2000 by Scott Wagner, Penn Waste is South Central PA’s premier choice for residential and commercial waste removal and recycling services. A locally owned and operated company, Penn Waste is committed to improving the communities we serve throughout the counties of York, Lancaster, Adams, Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry. For more information, visit www.PennWaste.com

About SWANA:
For more than 50 years, the Solid Waste Association of North America has been the leading professional association in the solid waste field. The association serves more than 10,000 members throughout North America, and thousands more with conferences, certifications, publications and technical training courses.

How to Properly Dispose of Old Propane Tanks

Posted July 18, 2016

We’re not here to settle the great debate between charcoal and gas grilling. This summer, we just want to remind you of how to properly dispose of old propane tanks, just in case your loyalty leans towards gas grilling. Although Penn Waste encourages the recycling of most metal containers, we do have an exception and that is propane tanks.  Propane tanks should not be placed with either recycling or trash.  This includes both large and small propane tanks, such as those used for camping stoves, torches and other small appliances and tools.

Propane tanks, even empty, pose a safety risk for our employees if they enter our recycling trucks or facilities.

Luckily, there are some alternatives for disposing of propane tanks.

  1. You can refill your propane tank and reuse it.
  2. You can exchange your propane tank for a new one.
  3. You can take your old tank to a local facility which permits propane tank disposal.

Propane TankAmeriGas and U-Haul are two locations that offer refill stations so that you can reuse your old tank, and Blue Rhino will allow you to exchange your old propane tank for a new one.  Facilities that allow you to dispose of your old tank depend on the area in which you live.

Below are some resources for different disposal locations in our service area:

York County

Lancaster County

Cumberland County

For any other questions you may have in regards to recycling and items which may or may not be accepted, please consult our recycling guidelines on our website at www.RecycleMorePA.com.

Take a Tour of our New Recycling Facility

Posted June 3, 2015

Want to see our new recycle facility? We have created a tour of our new Material Recovery Facility so all of our customers can see what happens to their recyclables once it comes to our facility. Please check out the tour below.

Be sure to stay up to date with all things recycling and collection updates by signing up for our E-News Updates. Consider following us on Facebook and Twitter to receive updates on your news feeds. We also use Pinterest and Google+ if you are active on those sites.

Winter Weather Reminders 2015

Posted January 23, 2015

In anticipation of the bad weather in the forecast over the next few days, below are several winter reminders to ensure your safety, the safety of our employees and that your trash and recycling gets collected. (more…)

Collection Update: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2015

Posted January 16, 2015

Monday, January 19th, 2015: All Penn Waste routes will be running on schedule during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.

To stay up to date, be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for tips on recycling and collection updates! We also send recycling tips and collection updates through email if you sign up for our E-News Update!

Collection Update – Inclement Weather 1/12/15

Posted January 11, 2015

Due to inclement weather, all Penn Waste routes will be operating on a two hour delay.

Want to stay up to date on holiday collections and recycling tips? Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for tips on recycling and collection updates! We also send recycling tips and collection updates through email if you sign up for our E-News Update!

Small Business Saturday

Posted November 28, 2014

Banner_IShopSmallWith the holidays just around the corner, many are taking to the shops to get a head start on their gifts this year. If you are planning on holiday shopping this weekend, Penn Waste would like to remind you that Small Business Saturday is tomorrow. By patronizing local businesses you are directly support your community’s core economy. Please consider intentionally making at least one purchase at a locally owned businesses this Saturday, November 29th.

Want to find a great shop to visit? For more information on great local businesses, please check out the Buy Local Coalition!

Collection Update: Veterans Day

Posted November 10, 2014

Tuesday, November 11th, 2014: All Penn Waste routes will be running on schedule for the Veterans Day holiday.

To stay up to date, be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for tips on recycling and collection updates! We also send recycling tips and collection updates through email if you sign up for our E-News Update!

Collection Update: Election Day

Posted November 3, 2014

Tuesday, November 4th, 2014: All Penn Waste routes will be running on schedule for Election Day.

To stay up to date, be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for tips on recycling and collection updates! We also send recycling tips and collection updates through email if you sign up for our E-News Update!

Collection Update: Columbus Day Holiday

Posted October 10, 2014

Monday, October 13th, 2014: All Penn Waste routes will be running on schedule for the Columbus Day Holiday.

To stay up to date, be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for tips on recycling and collection updates! We also send recycling tips and collection updates through email if you sign up for our E-News Update!

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Posted August 22, 2014

Penn Waste was recently nominated to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge to Strike Out ALS. Many of our employees were more than happy to rise to the occasion. Below is a link to our video.

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Still

We nominated Eagle Disposal, KBS Trucking and Scott Wagner to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge or donate to the ALS Foundation. Penn Waste will also be making a contribution to the ALS Foundation.

If you would like to make a contribution, please visit www.alsa.org/donate.

(more…)

Collection Update – Fourth of July Holiday

Posted June 27, 2014

Fourth of July Holiday Collection Schedule: Friday, July 4th, 2014

Residential Customers: Due to the Fourth of July Holiday, all regular Penn Waste trash and recycling collections will be delayed one (1) day. Monday through Thursday customers will be collected on your normal collection day. Friday customers will be collected on Saturday. (more…)

Garbage Man Day

Posted June 17, 2014

This week, we celebrate the individuals that ensure a clean environment and sanitary living conditions, the garbage collectors. On June 17th, we celebrate Garbage Man Day, a time to show appreciation for those in the waste and recycling industry. (more…)

Collection Update – Memorial Day Holiday

Posted May 23, 2014

Memorial Day Holiday Collection Schedule: Monday, May 26th, 2014

Residential Customers: Due to the Memorial Day Holiday, all regular Penn Waste trash and recycling collections will be delayed one (1) day. 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.

Penn Waste wishes all our customers a safe and happy holiday.

Want to stay up to date on holiday collections and recycling tips? Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for tips on recycling and collection updates! We also send recycling tips and collection updates through email if you sign up for our E-News Update!

What Do You Know About Yard Waste?

Posted May 21, 2014

{D3758600-D255-45BF-85EB-244F280E2202}It’s almost Memorial Day Weekend, a time for many that to take care of yard projects they have been putting off for nice weather. A by-product of this outdoor work is yard waste. Yard waste is material such as tree trimmings, shrubbery and other organic landscape vegetation. So what can you do to take dispose of this waste? Keep reading for more information. (more…)

National Small Business Week

Posted May 13, 2014

Did you know that this week is Small Business Week? May 12th through May 16th is Small Business Week all across America. Are you doing your part to support your local small businesses? (more…)

Collection Update – Good Friday

Posted April 17, 2014

Friday, April 18th, 2014: All Penn Waste routes will be running on schedule on Good Friday.

To stay up to date, be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for tips on recycling and collection updates! We also send recycling tips and collection updates through email if you sign up for our E-News Update!

Support Small Businesses this Saturday

Posted November 29, 2013

SmallBusinessSaturdayWe hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday as much as we did! If you are planning on holiday shopping this weekend, Penn Waste would like to remind you that Small Business Saturday is tomorrow. By patronizing local businesses you are directly support your community’s core economy. Please consider intentionally making at least one purchase at a locally owned businesses this Saturday, November 30th.

Want to find a great shop to visit? Visit this map and begin the search for great local businesses! For more information on great local businesses, please check out the Buy Local Coalition!