Lower Merion, PA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Township Code § 82-6.C
- Residential items to separate
- Glass, metal, plastic, paper, leaves
- Commercial items to separate
- Office paper, cans, corrugated, leaves
- Multiunit obligation
- On-site system for 4+ unit complexes
- Max fine
- $1,000 per violation
Summary
Lower Merion Township requires residents who receive Township trash service to separate glass, metal and plastic containers, paper and cardboard, and leaf waste from other trash. Commercial and institutional occupants must separate office paper, cans, corrugated paper and leaf waste under Township Code Section 82-6.
§ 82-6. Certain prohibitions and requirements. ... ... C. Residents provided municipal waste collection services implemented by the Township shall be required to use such services for the collection of all municipal waste generated by their households and to separate from other municipal waste placed for collection those recyclable items set forth in regulations issued by the Lower Merion Director of Public Works, with the concurrence of the Board of Commissioners, including the following: ... (1) Commingled items: glass (clear or colored) food or beverage containers; aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans; and plastic food or beverage containers. (2) Newspaper, magazines, books, cardboard. (3) Leaf waste. ... ... E. Commercial, institutional and business recycling. Henceforth, persons occupying commercial, institutional and business establishments shall be required to separate from other solid waste placed for collection the following recyclable items: ... (1) High-grade office paper. (2) Aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans. (3) Corrugated paper. (4) Leaf waste.
Full Breakdown
Section 82-6.C of the Township Code requires residents provided with Township municipal waste collection to use that service for all household waste and to separate out recyclable items set by the Director of Public Works, specifically commingled glass, aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans, and plastic food or beverage containers, along with newspaper, magazines, books, cardboard and leaf waste. Residents who do not receive Township collection face a separate rule under Section 82-6.D: they must still separate leaf waste and at least three additional recyclable categories chosen from glass, metal cans, high-grade office paper, newspaper, corrugated paper and plastic containers.
Section 82-6.E extends a parallel mandate to commercial, institutional and business establishments, which must separate high-grade office paper, aluminum/steel/bimetallic cans, corrugated paper and leaf waste from other solid waste. Section 82-6.F requires owners, landlords, or homeowners' associations of complexes with four or more units to set up an on-site recycling collection system with suitable containers and written instructions for occupants, arranging private collection if the Township does not provide it. Section 82-6.G bars mixing hazardous waste or improper items into recycling collection.
Violations & Fines
Section 82-14 authorizes a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation of Chapter 82's recycling separation requirements, with continued noncompliance after notice counted as a new offense each day. Section 82-6.H also lets the Township or its refuse contractor simply refuse to collect solid waste that has not been separated as the ordinance requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must Lower Merion residents separate for recycling?
Do Lower Merion businesses have to recycle?
What happens if I don't separate my recycling in Lower Merion?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lower Merion
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