Recycling at the City Drop off Center – The City of Lebanon places a high priority on reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and operates a Recycling Drop Off Center at 14th and Lehman Streets to collect items that are not collected curbside and a drop off if you desire to recycle more frequently than your curbside pick-up. 

The Recycling Center is available for use by residents of the City and County of Lebanon. 

*** Please do not leave unattended bags by the gate during off hours.***

Hours of Operation (November 1- February 28)

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday- CLOSED

Wednesday - 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 

Thursday - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Friday - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Hours of Operation (March 1-October 31)

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday- CLOSED

Wednesday - 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 

Thursday - 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m.

Friday - 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Why Clean Recyclables?

Much of the issue with the recycling industry is an abundance of recyclables with remnants of their contents still in containers. Another issue is that non-recyclable materials are being placed in the recycling stream, contaminating the entire load of recyclables.  Companies that buy recyclables do not want to purchase recyclables that will cost more to clean out, than they will make in recycling them.

This is why the City is emphasizing the need to thoroughly clean each item placed in the recycling stream, remove lids and to make sure you are recycling the right things. If you are not sure or have questions about recycling in the City, please call the City Recycling Coordinator at (717) 639-2800 or contact the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority at (717) 867-5790.  Thank you for your continued recycling efforts!

Yard Waste Drop Off Center – The City of Lebanon saves landfill space by accepting yard waste materials which would be converted to compost.  Compost is the decomposition of organic materials.  The Yard Waste Drop Off Center is located at 893 N. 8th Street.  The hours are as follows:

Hours Of Operation:

March through October - 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. daily 

November through February - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily 

This service is available to all Lebanon City residents and property owners.

 The following materials are accepted: 

• Tree & hedge trimmings

• Branches and tree limbs (must not exceed 3" in diameter and must be cut to no more than 6 feet in length)

• Unbagged leaves

The following rules apply:

• ABSOLUTELY NO grass.

• No materials are to be deposited outside the fenced in area. All items to be dropped off should be placed at the specified area. 

• NO items are to be placed in the sweeper debris roll off container.

• Only organic materials are to be deposited at the center. 

• Please do not sweep trash from your truck bed into the yard waste or leaf piles.

The facility is monitored with a camera surveillance system and violators will be prosecuted.  

An access card is required to enter the facility.  The initial fee for a yearly residential access card is $40.00.  The annual renewal fee is $35.00.  The annual fee for an access card for commercial use (including landscapers is $500.00 (one card per account).  Card sharing is NOT permitted.    There is a $25.00 fee for replacement of misplaced or lost cards. 

For more information please call the Department of Public Works at 717-639-2800.

Commercial Recycling

Pennsylvania's Act 101 and other state laws, effective September 1990, require that all commercial establishments recycle. Fines for not recycling can reach $1,000 per day and per occurrence. It is mandatory for commercial establishments to contract for recycling services when contracting for waste removal. Recyclable materials must be separated from municipal solid waste generated at commercial, institutional and municipal establishments located within the City of Lebanon. 

Materials to be separated include at minimum the following: 

• PLASTIC #1 & PLASTIC #2
• NEWSPAPER
• MIXED OFFICE PAPER (see the paper recycling guide below)
• CORRUGATED CARDBOARD
• ALUMINUM CANS
• TIN CANS
• CLEAR & COLORED GLASS BOTTLES
  (This requirement does not apply to materials coming into contact with infectious waste.)

Starting (and continuing!) your commercial recycling program:

• Evaluate your waste. Determine what recyclable items you use and the quantity of those items. You may want to designate an employee as a recycling coordinator for your office. 
• Contact your waste hauler. Contact your contracted hauler to set up a recycling schedule and designated area. 
• Keep it simple. Clearly label all containers and place them where they can be easily accessed by everyone
• Take pride in doing it.  Set an example. Make sure that materials end up in the proper designated bins.
• Be environmentally aware.  Look for ways to reduce waste and increase recycling.  Consider buying recycled items and items with environmentally friendly and reduced packaging.  Recycle non-required items to the best of your abilities.  Be creative.
• Help your community.  Recycling puts money back into our community by way of grant money and this increases the benefits to both our City and our enviornment. 

City of Lebanon Commercial Waste Paper Recycling Guide

Office paper consists of these materials: 

• Copier paper
• Computer paper
• Office envelopes   (excluding yellow or brown)
• Window envelopes
• Post It notes
• Ledger paper
• Colored paper
• Shredded paper        

Items that are NOT acceptable in a recycling container:

• Food and food wrappers
• Carbon paper
• Napkins and paper towels
• Paper cups and paper plates
• Padded envelopes
• Tablet backs and bindings
• Tissues
• Wax coated paper
• Glossy paper

Make sure paper recycling containers are clearly marked for recycling.

Please direct any questions to the City of Lebanon Recycling Coordinator at (717) 639-2800 or to the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority at (717) 867-5790. 

Additional Recycling Information

Leaf Pick-up – Each fall the City of Lebanon picks up leaves curbside from mid/late October to early December.  Exact dates will be published via public service announcements, City newsletters and the city website.   Residents are requested to abide by the following guidelines for leaf collection: 

• Leaves shall be placed curbside one foot from curb line so as to not hinder stormwater run-off.
• Vehicles should park at least 10 feet from leaf piles.  Leaves under vehicles will not be removed and could cause a fire hazard.
• Do not mix branches, grass, ornamental grass, garbage, bricks or concrete block in with the leaves.
• Do not bag leaves.
• Only place leaves in the street just prior to your scheduled collection day.  Crews will do their best to adhere to the posted schedule, however, the volume of leaves, weather and equipment failure may cause a delay.   
• Do not place leaves out after the end of the fall leaf pickup season.  Placement of leaves in the streets after the last scheduled pickup date results in unsightly streetscapes, and with the onset of winter and snowfall, create very difficult conditions.  Additionally, in mid-December focus is shifted to ready equipment for snow and ice removal operations.  
• However, residents may continue to take leaves to the City's yard waste facility after the last leaf pickup. 
• Questions regarding leaf pick up should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 717-639-2800. 

Yard Waste Pick-Up – In the spring and fall of each year, generally in April and in October, the City will collect yard waste curbside.  Exact dates will be published via public service announcements, City newsletters and our web site. While we ask that residents have their yard waste placed curbside by the first day of collection, city crews will be working the entire week collecting yard waste.  Once an area is cleaned, no additional materials may be placed curbside for collection. 

• Yard waste materials must be placed in the street, 1 foot from the curb for collection. Vehicles must be parked at least 10 feet from the yard waste piles to allow room for city equipment to maneuver while cleaning up the yard waste. Branches longer than 6 feet in length cannot be accepted. Please do not block the storm sewers when placing items curbside for collection.
• Do not place materials curbside until the weekend prior to collection. In case of rain, this will help prevent the chance of materials being washed into the catch basins and clogging the storm sewers. Do not place materials curbside after our crew has passed your street. Our crew will make one pass by each street.
• Collection will include hedge trimmings, branches and garden residue. (Lawn grass, ornamental grass and non-organic materials will not be picked up.  Please do not place bricks, pavers and other similar items in the piles.  Crews cannot see those items under the piles and the items could damage city equipment.

City residents unable to participate in curbside collection may purchase an access card for the City of Lebanon Yard Waste Recycling Facility located at 893 N. 8th Street.   The initial fee for a yearly residential access card is $40.00.  The annual renewal fee is $35.00.  The annual fee for an access card for commercial use (including landscapers) is $500.00 (one card per account).  Card sharing is NOT permitted.    There is a $25.00 fee for replacement of misplaced or lost cards. 

For more information please call the Department of Public Works at 717-639-2800.

Bulk Waste Drop-Off – In the fall, generally around September of each year, the City may schedule a specific quadrant of the City for a Neighborhood Clean-Up Program.  This program affords citizens the opportunity to discard bulk items that may present a sanitation and/or fire hazard. Residents are responsible to deposit acceptable materials in roll-off containers that will be placed within the City of Lebanon Yard Waste Drop off Center, located at 893 North 8th Street. 

The facility normally will be open during the hours of  11AM and 6PM during the project. 

• Resident must provide proof that they live within the area designated for clean up purposes, i.e. driver’s license. 
• Residents are not to put items curbside before or after the designated dates of the clean up. Items placed curbside after the scheduled clean up or outside the designated clean up area will not be picked up and residents will receive a fine for illegal dumping.
• Residents are only to put items curbside if they are unable to transport materials to drop off location.
  We only accept car tires, no oversized tires. 

The following items will NOT be accepted:

• Electronics – The GLRA has a free electronics drop off center. For more information call 717-867-5790.
• Pesticides, Herbicides and Insecticides (Household Hazardous Waste – 1-800-449-7587).
• Paint in liquid form (remove lids and dry out or mix with absorbent such as cat litter or sand).
• Household garbage, food waste and clothing
• Items generally placed out for disposal on a weekly basis
• Recyclable items – Take all recyclable items to the City recycling center located in the vicinity of 14th and Lehman Streets.
• Cardboard 
• Commercial tires
• White goods (refer to Household Hazardous Waste below)

Fluorescent Light Bulbs – Fluorescent light bulbs are considered hazardous waste. The GLRA accepts a maximum of ten bulbs. Residents can purchase a kit for the disposal of florescent light bulbs at https://lamprecycling.veoliaes.com/store

B.O.A.T. Recyclers  (B =  Batteries   O =  Motor Oil   A = Antifreeze   T = Tires) – The following is a list of local “B.O.A.T.” recyclers within and near the City of Lebanon.  On average there is a $2.00 per tire charge associated with tires.  Batteries and oil are generally taken free of charge.

Source Reduction Tips – Source reduction is the practice of reducing the amount of trash you produce. 

• Buy products that are reusable, refillable or concentrated.
• Avoid products that are double packed.
• Use a sponge in place of paper towels.
• Donate usable unwanted materials to charity.
• Reuse plastic bags and containers.  
• Buy products made from recycled materials. 

For additional information on the benefits of recycling, call the PA Recycling Hotline 1-800-346-4242 or go to DEP's Recycling homepage at www.dep.state.pa.us and click on "Waste."

Household Hazardous Waste – This includes paint, car batteries, used oil, poisons, spray cans, and more. To arrange pick up of these materials, call the HHW Hotline, 1-800-742-5542, Ext. 123, or visit www.mxiinc.com/lebanon to arrange for an "at your door" collection. There is a $15.00 fee associated with this program and due to program funding, each household is limited to one per year. 

Electronic waste can be dropped off at the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority Electronics Facility, 1610 Russell Road.  Further information can be obtained by logging on to the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority’s website, www.goglra.org. or by calling 867-5790.

Major appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers, dryers, etc., can be taken to CSR-Brandywine Recyclers (328 N. 14th Street), Royal Green (620 N. Lincoln Avenue - entrance off of Lehman Street on N. 2nd Avenue) and Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority.  The facilities may pay you for the scrap value of the appliance less the refrigerant removal cost or charge a disposal fee depending on the metal markets.

Junk Mail – What goes into your mailbox?  Depends on what you're into.  Direct Marketing Association can help you start getting the mail you want - and stop getting the mail you don't.  If you want to reduce the amount of unsolicited national advertising mail you receive at home, you may sign-up with DMA Choice™ by registering online at www.dmachoice.org or via mail by downloading a registration form and sending a $1.00 check or money order payable to DMA at the address listed below.

DMA Choice

Direct Marketing Association

P.O. Box 643

Carmel, N.Y.  10512

For information only call: (212) 768-7277 ext. 1888.