5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Verified from official government sources
Lehigh County runs no curbside collection; each municipality does. In Allentown, trash is collected twice weekly, and residents may set out trash and recycling only between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on their collection night.
Allentown Curbside Collection Program set-out rules
Residents may place out trash and recycling between 5pm and 10pm on their collection night. Emptied containers and rejected items must be removed from the curb within 12 hours after collection.
Bin-placement rules are municipal in Lehigh County. Allentown allows containers at the curb only between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the collection night, and only for waste generated at that property; empties must come off the curb within 12 hours.
Allentown Codified Ordinances Ch. 525, Art. I
Only municipal waste generated at the entity included in the City Curbside Collection Program by the owner or occupants of said entity may be placed out for collection in front of that entity.
Lehigh County offers no bulk pickup; municipalities do. In Allentown, one bulk item — such as furniture, a wrapped mattress, or a large appliance — is accepted only on the second collection night, or 40 pounds of construction material instead.
Allentown Curbside Collection Program bulk rules
Bulk items accepted only on the second collection night, limited to 1 bulk item such as furniture, mattresses (wrapped in plastic), or large appliances, OR 40 pounds of construction material.
Under Pennsylvania's Act 101, recycling is mandatory in covered communities. In Allentown, all entities in the Curbside Collection Program must source-separate designated recyclables — glass, aluminum and other listed materials — into a recycling container.
Allentown Codified Ordinances Ch. 525, Art. II (Residential Recycling)
All entities included in the City Curbside Collection Program shall source-separate all designated recyclable materials and commingle them into a recycling container in the manner designated and shall place said recyclables for collection at a place, in a manner and at such times as designated by the City of Allentown.
Illegal dumping in Lehigh County is a state crime. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6501, scattering rubbish or dumping waste on roads, others' land, or waters of the Commonwealth is a summary offense carrying a $50–$300 fine plus mandatory cleanup for a first violation.
18 Pa.C.S. § 6501(a)
...causes any waste paper, sweepings, ashes, household waste, glass, metal, refuse or rubbish...to be deposited into or upon any road, street, highway, alley or railroad right-of-way, or upon the land of another or into the waters of this Commonwealth.
2 cities in Lehigh County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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