Recycling Requirements: Allentown vs Bethlehem
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Allentown, PA and Bethlehem, PA?
Allentown has fewer restrictions than Bethlehem.
Allentown, PA
Lehigh County
Allentown requires residential recycling of accepted materials. Contamination with non-recyclables may cause entire bins to be rejected at the curb.
View full Allentown rules →Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh County
Recycling is mandatory in Bethlehem under both state and local law. Pennsylvania Act 101 of 1988 (Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, 53 P.S. §§4000.101-1904) requires Bethlehem (population ~76,000, third-class city in Northampton and Lehigh Counties) to operate a curbside recycling program. Locally, Article 933 (effective January 7, 2009) implements the state mandate: §933.04 requires all residents to source-separate designated recyclables (glass, plastic #1-7 except Styrofoam, aluminum cans, steel cans, paper, cardboard) and place them in City-provided containers for biweekly curbside collection. The annual recycling fee is $70 per residential or multi-family unit (Annex A). Penalties under §933.99 escalate from $100 to $1,000.
View full Bethlehem rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Allentown | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted | Paper, glass, aluminum, plastics | - |
| Not Accepted | Plastic bags, food waste | - |
| Enforcement | Contaminated bins skipped | - |
| Topic | Recycling Requirements | - |
| State Mandate | - | PA Act 101 of 1988, 53 P.S. §4000.101-1904 |
| Local Ordinance | - | Article 933 (effective 1/7/2009) |
| Collection Frequency | - | Biweekly ('A' or 'B' day), 6:00 AM-6:00 PM |
| Annual Fee (Annex A) | - | $70 per residential unit |
| Source-Separation Method | - | Commingled glass/plastic/cans + separate paper container |
| §933.99 Penalty | - | $100 / $250 / $500 / $1,000 + up to 90 days |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Allentown FAQ
What can I recycle curbside?
Paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastics #1-#5. No plastic bags or food-soiled items.
What if my recycling bin is skipped?
Likely contaminated. Remove non-recyclables and set out on next collection day.
Bethlehem FAQ
Is recycling required in Bethlehem or just encouraged?
Required. Bethlehem Codified Ordinance §933.04(a) states that all residents of the City shall separate all residential designated recyclables from municipal waste generated at their residence, and shall store them until collection. Pennsylvania's Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101 of 1988, 53 P.S. §§4000.101-1904) also mandates curbside recycling in every municipality with population 5,000 or more, and Bethlehem (~76,000) is subject to the mandate at §4000.1501. The annual recycling fee is $70 per residential unit under Article 933 Annex A.
What can I recycle in Bethlehem?
Under §933.04(b), Bethlehem accepts: clear and colored glass containers; aluminum cans; steel/tin cans; plastic containers #1-7 (except Styrofoam); aerosol containers; formed aluminum containers and foil; corrugated cardboard; flatboard (cereal boxes); mixed office paper; magazines, catalogs, and shiny paper; newsprint; telephone books; wrapping paper; brown paper bags; and leaf waste. Source-separation rules at §933.04(c) require commingled containers (glass/plastic/cans) in one bin and paper products in a separate bin with a lid. Oversized cardboard must be flattened, bundled with string, and placed next to the containers.
What's the penalty for not recycling in Bethlehem?
Under §933.99, recycling violations are punishable by $100 (first violation), $250 (second), $500 (third), and $1,000 (fourth and each subsequent) - or up to 90 days imprisonment. Unlawful activities under §933.08 include placing non-recyclables in the City recycling container, using the City bin for trash, putting recyclables in the trash bin, and using/damaging/selling a City container. Under Pennsylvania Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1701), the City may also impose civil penalties up to $300 per violation per day for non-compliance with mandatory-recycling provisions.
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