4 Options for Leaf and Yard Waste Recycling

Penn Township will conduct a fall leaf and yard waste clean up for any residents, businesses, churches, institutions, etc. Residents, businesses, churches, and institutions are reminded that they always have the option of dropping off leaves and yard waste into the free bin at Valley Landfill designed for compost. (Landscape businesses are not included for free drop off privileges.)

NOTICE: No one, neither residents nor businesses, is permitted to burn leaves in Penn Township.

Leaf disposal options:

 Option 1 – Mulch & Compost: This is the preferred method as it returns nutrients to the soil by mulching and compost the leaves, brush, or other yard waste. Running over leaves with a mulching lawn mower reduces the leaves to shreds that decompose and fertilize your lawn.

 Option 2 – Take Bagged Leaves and Yard Waste to Valley Landfill: Township residents and businesses (not landscaping companies) may take leaves in paper (not plastic) biodegradable bags and loose brush and twigs to Valley Landfill themselves between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on weekdays; there is no charge.
If leaves are in paper biodegradable bags, they may be left in the bags when put in dumpster, but if they are in any kind of plastic bags whatsoever, they must be dumped from the bags and the bags removed.

 Option 3 (only available for Fall Leaf Pickup): Leaves may be placed in paper biodegradable bags for curbside pickup.

How to prepare waste

 * Grass clippings can be placed in a normal refuse collector.
 * Leaves and other yard waste must be placed in paper biodegradable bags that weigh no more than 40 pounds. These bags are available online, from retail home improvement and grocery chain stores.
 * Branches and twigs can be bundled into 4 foot sections that weigh no more than 40 pounds.

Note 1: Leaf and Yard Waste is defined as leaves, garden residues, and similar materials, excluding grass clippings.
Note 2: Bags and bundles should weigh no more than 40 pounds not to exceed more than 4 feet in length.

When to place at curb

Special Pickup Days - Republic Services will have a special pickup of leaf and yard waste on Saturdays through December 9th (excluding November 25th 2017).

Regular Collection Days - Place at leaf and yard waste at curb with your normal garbage collection.

Option 4 – Rake Leaves to the Curbside for Vacuuming: Township residents, businesses, churches, schools, etc. may rake leaves to the lawn side of the curb, NOT THE TRAVEL PORTION OF THE CURB (on the road). The township strives to maintain a collection schedule as appears below, but this schedule is subject to changing weather conditions. PLEASE KNOW THAT IF YOUR LEAVES ARE NOT PICKED UP DURING A SCHEDULED WEEK, THE TOWNSHIP WILL COME BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN UNTIL ALL LEAVES ARE PICKED UP.

Keep in mind that a very early or late frost, high winds, or heavy rains can all affect when the leaves fall, so the schedule shown for leaf vacuuming is just approximate.