Did you know that trash is a renewable energy? The Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA), the trash and recycling administrator for the Township, has developed an innovative system to provide the best combination of safe, clean, and efficient disposal for trash. It's called an Integrated System and it is the only one of it's kind. This integrated system allows for the disposal of waste in the most environmentally beneficial manner. The flow of waste into the landfill is greatly reduced and consumption of natural resources is reduced by generating energy (electricity) from waste and diverting a large portion for recycling or reuse. In fact, every 1 out of 9 homes in Lancaster County, benefits from the generation of electricity from waste.

West Donegal Township residents participate in a mandatory trash and recycling program with one hauler. Beginning 2025, collection day is Tuesday. Residents should place their trash, yard/woody waste, and recyclables curbside the evening before or no later than 5:00 a.m. Residents will be receiving a new Trash 96 gallon container equivalent to the prior year (3) 32 gallon bags (not to exceed 30 lbs), and a recycling container from Republic Services.  NOTE: Extra bag tags can be purchased for a fee from the township office. For more information on the trash and recycling program, including yard/woody waste click see the Resources section below.

Holiday Schedule: If the holiday falls on a Monday, trash/recycling service may be delayed a day. Republic Services observes the six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Please check the calendar located above for more information.

Recycling
In addition to residential units and multi-family units, it is mandated by state law that all non-residential units including commercial, industrial, community activities, and institutional facilities also recycle. See Chapter 183 of the trash/recycling ordinance found at https://ecode360.com/WE2498

The Township recycling has a huge impact on grant opportunities from PA DEP for the Township. Grant money helps us purchase the recycling bins and brown Kraft bags which we pass those benefits onto our residents by offering these items at no cost or at a reduced price.

In 2013, the PA DEP Covered Device Recycling Act 108 (CDRA) was enacted. This act established the recycling & disposal of "covered devices" which include computers, computer monitors, keyboards, speakers, and televisions. Covered devices (now called E-waste) can be taken to the LCSWMA hazardous household waste (HHW) facility.

For more information on the CDRA, click here to visit PA DEP's website for additional recycling information or contact the Recycling Hotline at 1-800-346-4242.

LCSWMA's updated Resident's Guide to Recycling & Waste Disposal in Lancaster County is available in the Resources section below. Packets are also available at the Township office or on the website www.lcswma.org

Batteries:
Collect using an orange recycling bag provided by LCSWMA for our residents. They can be picked up at the Township office during business hours. Free of charge.  Or use a clear storage bag if you cannot pick one up.  Place curb side beside your trash or recycling container.  The Hauler will get out of the truck and collect.  If they miss it, please contact the Township office.  Please see the Battery Flyer in the below Resources section for more information on proper disposal and information on rechargeable batteries.

Glass:
Clear, green and brown glass food and beverage bottles and jars should be thoroughly rinsed and lids should be removed. Throw the lids in the trash. It is not necessary to remove labels.
Broken glass is not recyclable. Put into trash bag and dispose in the REGULAR trash (not recycling toter). Glass may get heavy. As a friendly reminder, trash bags are 32-gal and may not excide 30 lbs. 

Metals:
All food and beverage cans which are made from aluminum, steel, tin or a combination of metals should be rinsed prior to placing in the recycling bin. Do Not Crush the Cans.

Plastic Bottles:
Plastic household bottles with a neck such as water, soft drink, juice bottles or milk and detergent bottles and the lids. Rinse, smash and put the plastic bottle in the recycling bin.

Corrugated Cardboard:
Corrugated cardboard includes boxes from Amazon or any item that is shipped from an online store, moving boxes, etc. (no paperboard boxes i.e: cereal, tissue boxes, pizza boxes etc.). Please flatten boxes and place it in your recycling bin. If you have a large amount of corrugated cardboard, Residents my bring it to the Township to recycle in our corrugated cardboard roll-off dumpster. The dumpster is located right of the Township building.  Styrofoam or other packaging is considered trash.

Contamination in your Recycling Bin:
Contamination items are NOT recyclable and should not be placed in the recycle bins. LCSWMA asked the local haulers to begin checking the curbside recyclables to eliminate contamination of non-recyclable items in the bins. Note: that contamination in the bin is NOT the same as those items that are no longer recyclable.
These items are  no longer recyclable or continue to NOT be recyclable:

• Plastic bags – recycle your plastic bags at your local grocery store.
• Paper such as magazines, newspapers, and junk mail.
• Other glass such as light bulbs, window and auto glass, drinking glasses and cookware are not recyclable and should be put in the trash.
• Other aluminum and metal products like foil, pie plates, and hangers are not recyclable and should be put in the trash.
• Plastic tubs such as yogurt and margarine and butter containers, toys and other plastic packaging such as those used by fast food restaurants and take out places.
• Paperboard, i.e., pizza boxes, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, and tissue boxes.
• Newspapers are no longer recyclable

Yard Waste/ Woody Waste/ Leaf Collection:
Yard waste, woody waste, and leaf collections will be collected every other week beginning in April until the last week in November as part of our curbside program. Yard waste must be placed in Kraft bags and not exceed 30 lbs. Maximum number of Kraft yard waste bags that may be placed  curbside per pick-up is limited to 20 bags per property. Grass clippings and dirt may not placed in Kraft bags. There is a charge of $1.50 per 5-pack of Kraft bags. For a schedule of yard/woody waste pick up, go to the Township Calendar (available for download in the below Resources section).

Woody waste such as branches and trunk pieces less than 3 inches in diameter will be picked up along with the yard waste as scheduled. The branches/trunk pieces must be bundled together with biodegradable twine and may not be more than 4 feet in length and each stack may not weigh more than 30 lbs. There are no additional charges for woody waste pickup.