Yard Waste Collection: Allentown vs Bethlehem

Can I put grass clippings in my yard waste bag in Bethlehem?

No - this is one of Bethlehem's most distinctive rules. Codified Ordinance §1162.04(g) reads, 'Grass clippings are not permitted to be disposed of with yard waste or solid waste. All grass clippings are to be mulched into the yard from which they were collected.' The City requires grasscycling - leave clippings on the lawn, where they decompose as natural organic fertilizer. Putting grass clippings in your yard-waste bag, in your trash bag, or at the curb anywhere is a §1162.04(g) violation enforceable at $200 first offense under §1162.99.

When does Bethlehem pick up yard waste?

Curbside yard-waste collection runs twice per year under §1162.04(f) and §933.03, at intervals set by the Department of Public Works each season. The fall leaf collection is separate - leaves are collected by the City in the fall of each year. For year-round drop-off, residents may bring leaves, branches (max 4 inches diameter, 6 feet length), small brush, hedge trimmings, and garden plant residue to the Bethlehem Yard Waste Facility at 1480 Schoenersville Road, Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 2:45 PM. The facility is CLOSED December, February, and March. Bring it in loose or in brown biodegradable paper bags only - NO plastic.

Can apartment buildings put yard waste at the curb in Bethlehem?

No. Under §933.05(d), multi-family rental dwellings shall separate leaf waste from other municipal waste, but leaf waste from multi-family complexes may not be placed in the street. The owner or landlord must make arrangements to transport the leaf waste to the City's Yard Waste Facility at 1480 Schoenersville Road. Residents of 4+ unit buildings cannot rely on the curbside program. Curbside service is for single-family residences and residential dwellings with fewer than four units (§933.01 'Residential Dwelling').