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.
Bethlehem's recycling framework rests on three legal layers. First, the Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101 of 1988), codified at 53 P.S. §§4000.101 through 4000.1904, mandates curbside recycling in every municipality with population 5,000 or more. Bethlehem, with ~76,000 residents straddling Northampton and Lehigh Counties, is subject to §4000.1501 and must operate a curbside program covering at least three of the eight statutory materials plus leaf waste. Second, Article 933 of the Bethlehem Codified Ordinances (Recycling), effective January 7, 2009, implements the state mandate. Under §933.04(a), all residents shall separate all residential designated recyclables from municipal waste and store them until collection. §933.04(b) lists the residential recyclables: clear glass containers, colored glass containers, aluminum cans, steel cans, plastic containers (#1-7 except Styrofoam), aerosol containers, formed aluminum containers, aluminum foil, cardboard, flatboard, mixed office paper, magazines/catalogs/shiny paper, newsprint, telephone books, wrapping paper, brown paper bags, and leaf waste. §933.04(c) prescribes the source-separation method: glass/plastic/aluminum/steel/aerosol go in one container; paper products go in a separate container with a lid; corrugated cardboard too big for the container must be flattened, bundled by string, and placed next to the containers. The City provides each address two containers (§933.04(a)). Multi-family rental dwellings with 4+ units operate under §933.05 with central recycling areas. Commercial, municipal, and institutional establishments operate under §933.06, with licensed retail food and eating/drinking establishments required to recycle glass, plastic #1-7 (except Styrofoam), cans, paper, and cardboard. Third, the City-issued container under §933.08(c) is City property and may not be used for non-recyclable purposes, sold, intentionally damaged, or otherwise misused.
Recycling violations are enforced through §933.99 with a graduated fine schedule: $100 first violation, $250 second, $500 third, and $1,000 for the fourth and each subsequent violation - each carrying up to 90 days imprisonment. §933.08 lists unlawful activities: (a) taking recyclables from City containers without authorization; (b) placing non-recyclables in recycling containers; (c) misusing City containers; (d) placing recyclables in trash containers; (e) obstructing City enforcement; (f) knowingly depositing recyclables in a landfill/incinerator; (g) any hauler service mixing recyclables with trash; (h) violating or assisting in any violation. Non-payment of the $70 annual recycling fee (§933.10) triggers a 10% late penalty. Multi-family landlords contracting with private recycling haulers must file annual recycling reports with the Bethlehem Recycling Bureau by January 30 each year under §933.05(e) and §933.06(e). Under Pennsylvania Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1701), Bethlehem may impose civil penalties up to $300 per violation per day for non-compliance with the mandatory-recycling provisions.
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