Trash & Recycling in Bensalem, PA (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for Bensalem, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Bensalem Township either contracts with an authorized collector that all non-farm properties must use, or lets residents hire their own licensed private collector, under Sec. 107-5.5(a)-(b). Sec. 107-5.7(a) makes it unlawful for anyone to collect, haul or convey solid waste in the Township without a license from the governing body.
Solid Waste Collector Rules in Bensalem
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code §§ 107-5.5(a)-(b), 107-5.7(a)
(a)The municipality may contract with authorized contracted collector(s) for collection of solid waste, or in the absence of municipally required collection by contract, waste generators shall contract directly with a licensed private collector.(b)If the municipality contracts with an authorized contracted collector it may require all properties to use such collection service. Farm properties a...
Bin Placement Rules
Bensalem Township residents may put refuse containers at the curb or street line no earlier than 24 hours before pickup and must pull them back within 24 hours after collection under Sec. 107-5.2(b). Containers must hold 20 to 35 gallons, stay on the owner's property between collections and be kept tightly covered under Sec. 107-5.4.
Trash Container Placement Rules in Bensalem
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code §§ 107-5.2(b), 107-5.4(e)-(f), 107-5.5(g)(1)
Owners and occupiers of residential property are hereby required to make accumulated solid waste available for collection as scheduled under the terms hereof. Furthermore, owners and occupiers of residential property shall place refuse containers of solid waste material no earlier than 24 hours before the scheduled collection date and time at curb or street line at ground level, and further, af...
Bulk Item Disposal
Bensalem Township collects household solid waste at least once a week, but bulky waste such as appliances and furniture is the exception: Bensalem Township Code Section 107-5.5(c)(1) requires residents to arrange bulky item pickup in advance directly with their municipal waste collector rather than setting it out on the regular weekly collection day.
Bensalem Bulky Waste Pickup Arrangement Rules
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code § 107-5.5(c)(1)
(1)All household solid waste shall be collected at least once each week, with the exception of bulky waste and dead animals for which arrangement shall be made in advance with the collector. All municipal waste generated by institutional, commercial, industrial and municipal facilities shall be collected as often as required by generated volumes and environmental problems.
Recycling Requirements
Bensalem Township requires every single-family home, townhouse and row-home with individual collection to keep a separate recycling container and follow strict curbside timing. Under Bensalem Township Code Section 107-8.2(d), containers can only reach the curb starting 6:00 p.m. the evening before collection and must be removed by 11:59 p.m. on collection day, with a 50-pound weight cap on every container.
Bensalem Curbside Recycling Container Rules
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code § 107-8.2(d)
(d)All occupants of single-family homes, including townhomes and row-homes where individual municipal waste collection occurs, shall maintain a separate container of the type specified or provided by the Township or municipal waste collector to collect all designated recyclable materials in a commingled or modified commingled ... fashion, as established by the municipal waste collector, subject...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
When a scheduled collection day in Bensalem Township falls on a holiday, Sec. 107-5.5(d) requires the collector to notify every customer of the day collection will instead be made, on top of maintaining and recording a regular collection schedule year-round.
Holiday Trash Pickup Rules in Bensalem
Light RestrictionsBensalem Township Code § 107-5.5(d)
(d)The collector shall establish and record a regular collection schedule. If a collection day falls on a holiday, the collector shall notify all customers of when collection will be made.
Illegal Dumping
Bensalem Township Code Section 107-17 bans filling, dumping or burying garbage, refuse, trash, debris, uprooted trees, wood, plaster, metals, bricks, concrete or dredging waste on any property in the Township, whether the waste originated locally or elsewhere. The only exception is material that federal or state law allows to be used lawfully as fill, dumped or buried under applicable regulations.
Bensalem Illegal Dumping Ban and Fines
Heavy RestrictionsBensalem Township Code § 107-17
No person, individual, partnership, association, corporation or governmental entity shall use or permit to be used any property or portion of property within the Township for the filling of land, dumping, burying of any garbage, refuse, trash, debris, uprooted trees and other vegetation, or other discarded substances and materials, including, but not limited to, wood, plaster, metals, bricks, c...
Yard Waste Collection
Bensalem Township Code Section 107-15 requires every municipal waste collector to run at least one yard and leaf waste collection during the spring and one during the fall each year. Leaf waste must go to a DEP-permitted facility, never a sanitary landfill or waste-to-energy plant, and residents are flatly barred from burning leaf waste.
Bensalem Yard and Leaf Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code § 107-15
(a)Each municipal waste collector shall provide yard and leaf waste collection service at least once during the spring and at least once during the fall of each year.(b)Leaf waste collection shall be conducted by municipal waste collectors in accordance with regulations of DEP and leaf waste disposal shall be in a DEP-permitted facility in accordance with all applicable State guidelines.(c)All ...
Dumpster Rules
Bensalem Township Code Section 107-8.2(e) makes owners and landlords of multifamily buildings without individual trash pickup responsible for supplying recycling dumpsters at accessible locations, with written use instructions for tenants. Section 107-8.2(f) extends that identical duty to institutional, commercial, business and industrial property owners, and Section 232-413.6.1.6 of the mixed use zoning district separately requires dumpster areas to be screened by masonry or wood enclosure walls.
Bensalem Multifamily and Commercial Dumpster Rules
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code § 107-8.2(e)-(f)
(e)Owners or landlords of any multifamily residential units where individual residential refuse collection does not occur shall be responsible for providing suitable containers or dumpsters for recyclable materials. Such containers or dumpsters shall be provided through arrangements with a municipal waste collector, and source-separated or commingled recyclable material containers or dumpsters ...
Collection Schedule
Bensalem Township requires all household solid waste to be collected at least once each week under Sec. 107-5.5(c)(1), with bulky waste and dead animals arranged separately in advance. Recyclables must go out at least once a month, or on the schedule the Bensalem Township Recycling Ordinance sets, under Sec. 107-5.5(c)(2).
Weekly Trash Collection Rules in Bensalem
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code § 107-5.5(c)(1)-(2)
(1)All household solid waste shall be collected at least once each week, with the exception of bulky waste and dead animals for which arrangement shall be made in advance with the collector. All municipal waste generated by institutional, commercial, industrial and municipal facilities shall be collected as often as required by generated volumes and environmental problems.(2)All recyclable mate...
Recycling Rules
Bensalem Township Code Section 107-8.3 spells out exactly what each type of property must separate for recycling. Homes and apartments recycle glass, newsprint, aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans and No. 1 PET and No. 2 HDPE plastics; commercial establishments recycle corrugated paper, high-grade office paper, aluminum cans and yard waste; and restaurants, taverns and hospitality establishments follow their own combined list of materials.
Bensalem Recycling Separation Rules by Property Type
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township Code § 107-8.3
(a)All homes, apartments and other residential establishments shall be required to separate and recycle the following: clear glass, colored glass, newsprint (including newspaper inserts, junk mail and telephone books), aluminum cans, steel cans, bimetallic cans, No. 1 PET plastics and No. 2 HDPE plastics.(b)Commercial establishments will be required to separate and recycle the following: corrug...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bensalem city rules.
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