2011 WEST HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP RESIDENTIAL

REFUSE & RECYCLING PROGRAM

 

The Township's goal is to provide trash and recycling collection at the lowest price possible for those residents who wish to participate in the program.  We can achieve that goal if everyone takes responsibility for following the guidelines below.  Following these guidelines should prevent or eliminate any problems with the pickup of your trash and recycling. 

 

WATCH FOR OUR SEMI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTERS FOR UPDATES & CHANGES

 

The following information explains the trash and recycling collection program

in detail.  If you need additional information, please contact the Township

office directly at 285-5554. Your contract is with the Township, not the hauler.

 

COLLECTION DAYS:        

 

THURSDAY for all streets/roads east of Prospect Road and

south of Marietta Avenue.  This includes residences on both

sides of Marietta Avenue east of Prospect Road.

 

FRIDAY for all streets/roads west of Prospect Road and north

of Marietta Avenue.  This includes residences on both sides of

Marietta Avenue west of Prospect Road, all of Prospect Road

as well as Wynwood Drive, Central Manor Road, Cedar Chase

Drive and all of Columbia Avenue.

 

If you have any questions about which day is your collection day, please call our office.

      

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PUT TRASH & RECYCLING CURBSIDE (no more than 5 feet from curb) ON THE EVENING BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED COLLECTION.  The Township will not be responsible for trash that is not out in time.  Items that are not out in time are not considered missed, and no return trips will be made.  There is no set time of day when the hauler will be in your neighborhood.  The time can vary week to week.

 

TRASH:  

            Up to three (3) 32 gallon size containers (cans or bags) will be collected from each residence each week.  If you use trash bags smaller than 32 gallon, you should place them inside a 32 gallon bag or can.  Each container must weigh 30 pounds or less.  Please DO NOT use cardboard boxes as containers on rainy days.

 

Any trash over the 3 allotted containers must be tagged with a YELLOW extra service tag sold in lots of 5 for $7.50.  (See below for more information)

 

No loose trash should be placed for pickup; all trash must be contained in some manner.  Cans should not be filled to overflowing, and bags must be closed securely.  If the lid cannot be placed firmly on the can, it is considered over the 32 gallon limit; meaning you should not stack additional bags on top of an already full can.  If you have problems with animals getting in the trash, we suggest using cans rather than just bags.  If you use a large toter rented from the hauler, trash must be bagged in three 32 gallon bags within the toter.

 

ABSOLUTELY NO BURNING OF TRASH ALLOWED.

 

EXTRA SERVICE TAGS:

 

Tags can be purchased at the Township office at 3401 Marietta Avenue or ordered by mail. If ordering large quantities by mail, please include postage.  An order form can be downloaded from our website.  Due to size, yard waste bags cannot be mailed. 

 

Tags cannot be sold to accounts that are past due.        

 

MISSED TRASH:

 

Trash, recycling or yard waste not picked up on the scheduled day must be left curbside, then call the Township office as soon as possible, either the afternoon of your pickup day or the next business morning.

 

Please remember, the scheduled pickup day for all yard waste during the summer months is Saturday regardless of which day your trash is picked up.  If the hauler has not reported a problem to us, they will return within 24 hours to retrieve the missed items.  If the hauler does not return within 24 hours, you should leave the items curbside and let us know it was not picked up.  It is important that you contact us each time you have any problem with your service. 

 

The Township cannot be responsible if we are not notified of service problems.

 

OVERSIZED ITEMS:

 

Items weighing more than 30 pounds or that are over 4 feet in any dimension must be marked with a RED extra service tag sold for $4.00 each. TWO RED TAGGED ITEMS WILL BE ALLOWED EACH WEEK.

 

Such items include, but is not limited to, wood or upholstered furniture, mattresses, box springs, microwaves, bicycles, grills (with gas tank removed) push lawn mowers with gas & oil drained.  Carpet and padding must be cut into lengths no more than 6 feet then rolled into a bundle & tied securely.  Each bundle of carpet or padding would need a red tag attached.  These items are limited to a weight that can be easily lifted by two people.

 

BILLING: 

 

            Bills are issued quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1

            each year

 

Effective 1/1/11 the cost will be $43.00 per quarter ($172.00 annually).   Bills are due upon receipt and any payments not postmarked or paid in person before the date listed on the bill will be considered past due and will incur a penalty as indicated on each bill.  Bills are payable to the Township by cash, check or money order.  We do not accept debit or credit cards or MAC at this time.

 

An annual discounted rate as indicated on the January 1 bill, can be paid prior to March 1 each year.  Your payment must be received at the Township office or be postmarked  BEFORE March 1  to be eligible for this 5% discount.  The discounted rate for 2011 is $163.40 if you had a zero balance as of 12/31/10. 

 

Any past due account not brought up to date within 30 days of the date of the past due bill will result in discontinued trash service.  A final notice will be sent before this action is taken.

 

HOLIDAYS: 

 

            No more than 6 holidays ever affect trash pickup each year.  In 2011 only FOUR

            holidays affect pickup.

 

            Collection will be postponed by one day following each of these holidays during 2011:  Memorial Day,  July 4^th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day.  Again, please put trash & recycling out the evening before collection.  Any holidays not listed have no effect on the schedule. New Year’s Day 2011 and Christmas 2011 will not affect trash pickup since they fall on a weekend.

 

Holidays that affect trash pickup can change each year.  Watch for our semi-annual newsletters for these changes.  If in doubt, please call our office.

 

If you do not have your trash out at the appropriate time during a holiday schedule, it is not considered missed.  You will have to attach extra service tags to any extra trash you have the following week.  Also, if you have any extra trash due to any holiday activities, especially Christmas, all trash over the three containers allowed must be tagged with extra service tags.  All boxes should be broken down and tied into a bundle, counting the bundle as one container of trash.  Gift box cardboard is not recyclable.

 

YARD WASTE:

 

To dispose of grass clippings, summertime leaves & green plants through our refuse program, you must place these items in Kraft biodegradable bags purchased at the Township office for $1.50 each during the period APRIL 1 THROUGH OCTOBER 15 each year.  Small twigs, small branches & shrubbery trimmings must also be placed in these bags.  If you have yard debris at other times of the year, it will be handled as regular trash.  In 2011 all yard waste will be collected on Saturdays regardless of when your trash & recycling is collected and must be placed curbside by Friday evening.  The first pickup in 2011 will be Sat. 4/2/11 and the last will be Sat. 10/15/11.

 

Brush, larger branches (up to 6" diameter) & any woody material too large for the Kraft bags must be tied into 4 foot bundles no heavier than 30 pounds each and tagged with a GREEN yard waste tag sold in lots of 5 for $7.50.  Piles of loose clippings, loose limbs, or loose branches will not be taken.

 

If you remove entire shrubs or bushes, each individual shrub will need a green tag attached to it.  Please remove the dirt from the root ball before placing these items for pickup.  Each item must weigh less than 30 pounds and be no more than 4 feet tall.  If they are bigger than 4 feet, you will have to cut them into lengths of 4 feet or smaller.

           

DIRT, stone and rocks are not considered trash or yard waste and will not be taken.  If you have sod to dispose of, please let it dry, then remove the dirt from the root section before placing it in the Kraft bags.

 

An alternate drop off site for yard waste is available for Township residents on Norwood Road near our Township maintenance building April through September each year. Signs identify the site which is open the second and fourth Saturday each month from 9 AM to Noon. A Township employee will greet you, ask for identification and will document the material and the location from which it originated. 

 

The drop-off dates for 2011 are:  April 9 & 23; May 14 & 28; June 11 & 25;

July 9 & 23; August 13 & 27; and September 10 & 24

 

ABSOLUTELY NO BURNING OF YARD WASTE MATERIAL ALLOWED.

 

LEAF COLLECTION:

 

Each fall, the Township collects leaves which are raked to the curbside by residents.  Do not include leaves with trash collection at this time of year.  Please check our fall newsletter or our website for specific collection dates for your area and instructions concerning this pickup.   

NO BURNING OF LEAVES IS PERMITTED.

 

RESIDENTIAL CORRUGATED CARDBOARD:

 

A receptacle is available at the rear parking lot of the Township building to drop off corrugated cardboard for recycling and is available 24 hours per day.  All boxes must be flattened before placing in the dumpster.  DO NOT include any items that are not corrugated.  No pizza boxes, NO cereal boxes or other food product boxes, NO plastic coated boxes. Absolutely no other material such as newspapers, phone books or plastics should be placed in this dumpster.  If in doubt, please check in the Township office before placing in the dumpster.  Be sure to use the proper dumpster and follow instructions on the sign.

 

To dispose of cardboard as part of the trash program - it is NOT RECYCLABLE.  All boxes must be flattened and tied into bundles no bigger than 4 feet in any dimension and not weighing more than 30 pounds.  Each bundle of cardboard will count as a container of trash.  If you have more than the 3 containers allowed, each bundle of cardboard will need a yellow extra service tag attached.

 

RECYCLING:

 

The Township program requires that you recycle glass bottles & jars, aluminum & bimetal cans, specific types of plastic bottles, and newspapers.  Replacement bins are available at the Township office as needed by residents.

 

Please see complete information about requirements for preparing these items on the enclosed recycling guide.  This guide also lists items that are not recyclable.  The green bin does not have to be placed out each week -- only when it is full.   Never use plastic bags for recycling materials.  Remember to crush all plastic to save room in the bin. 

 

ABSOLUTELY NO BURNING OF RECYLABLE MATERIALS ALLOWED.

 

Please Do Not Litter.  It is against the law and is a nuisance to your neighborhood.  To avoid spilled items from your recycling bin, please do not overfill the bin.  Remember it is your responsibility to clean up any recycling material that may fall from your bin when it is spilled or if it is blown about on windy days.

 

ADDITIONAL RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES:

 

Computers & associated items must be taken to the Lancaster County Solid Waste Authority, Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 1299 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster free of charge to County residents.

 

Televisions of all sizes should also be taken to this facility for recycling. 

 

Fluorescent light bulbs & ballasts must also be taken to this facility.  Up to 30 bulbs per month per household will be accepted free of charge.  DO NOT place these items in your regular trash.

 

Call 397-9968 for hours of operation or for more information regarding

these opportunities.

 

TIRES & LARGE HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES:

 

Tires and large appliances are collected twice each year, once in April and again in October.  Watch our newsletters or website for announcements of these dates or call the Township office.  This special pickup includes, but is not limited to, washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, water heaters, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, furnaces, televisions larger than 36" screens, etc.

 

Each appliance must be marked with a BLUE extra service tag which costs $12.00 each and must be purchased no later than NOON on the day before the scheduled pickup.

 

Rimless tires must have one YELLOW extra service tag attached and tires with rims must have two YELLOW extra service tags attached.  If the tire & rim are separated, each piece needs a yellow tag attached.

 

You must register your name and address with the Township office for any tires or large appliances placed for collection, especially if you already have the necessary tags. If you purchase yellow tags for tires and/or rims, please let Township staff know you are placing tires out for this special pickup.  If your appliance and/or tires are not picked up on the scheduled day, leave the items curbside and call the Township office after 8AM on the next business day following the scheduled pickup.

 

STARTING OR STOPPING SERVICE:

 

Property owners have the option to join the Township program at any time during the year.  However, service cannot be stopped in the middle of a billing period.  If you would like to stop service, you must notify the Township office prior to the end of a billing period.  The service stop will then become effective as of the first day of the new billing period.

 

If you are selling your home, your trash account will be transferred automatically to the new owners.  Any prepaid funds will be refunded as part of the settlement or unpaid bills will be prorated between you and the purchaser of your property at the time of settlement.