Recycling in Pennsylvania

Did You Know..?
Pennsylvania's Waste Law
Finding Your County Recycling Coordinator

Did You Know..?

• In 1988, when Pennsylvania passed Act 101, it became the largest state in the nation to require recycling.
• By 1995, almost 9 million Pennsylvanians were recycling.
• While recycling is mandatory in only 415 communities in PA, an additional 350 are recycling at the curbside voluntarily.

Pennsylvania's Waste Law

Recycling's the Law in PA!

Communities of over 5,000 people in Pennsylvania are required to have curbside recycling programs for their residents that pick up 3 of the following materials:

High-grade office paper
Colored glass containers
Aluminum cans
Newsprint
Plastics
Corrugated paper
Clear glass containers
Steel and bi-metallic cans

These communities are also required to collect leaves, twigs, and garden trimming for composting and to have recycling at all commercial, institutional, and municipal establishments and sponsors of community activities.

Pennsylvania began its mandatory recycling career with the passage of Act 101.

Act 101, Pennsylvania's Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Act, was passed in 1988. This law:

• Mandated curbside recycling programs in communities with more than 5,000 people.
• Set up The Recycling Fund, which provides grants to local PA governments that need financial help to create and implement recycling programs in their communities.
• Required landfill and waste-to-energy facilities (trash incinerators) to create recycling drop-off centers.
• Mandated that all commercial, institutional, and municipal establishments and sponsors of community events (such as fairs, concerts and organized sporting events) in mandatory recycling communities must recycle aluminum, high-grade office paper, corrugated paper, and leaves.
• Required all Pennsylvania cities to establish a recycling program and a Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC). SWAC deals with municipal implementation of recycling programs, facilities operation and recycling, and commonwealth recycling and waste reduction

You can also recycle used motor oil and automotive batteries in Pennsylvania. To find out how, go to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's website at www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/RECYCLE/Recywrks/recywrks1.htm.

Finding Your County Recycling Coordinator

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) oversees the state's recycling program. In each county, there is a Recycling Coordinator to develop, implement, and monitor local recycling programs.

Find your local recycling coordinator by looking on PA DEP's website at www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/RECYCLE/DOCUMENT/County.htm.