Can I put all my recyclables (paper, plastic, glass etc.) in one recycling bin?
No, paper must be separated from other recyclables. You may commingle glass, plastic, etc. but paper should be in either its own container or a paper bag beside the recycling bin.
Does the Township provide refuse and recycling containers? How do I request one?
The Township provides recycling containers only. The resident must provide their own refuse container with a capacity of no more than 48 gallons for a standard can, or no more than 20 gallons for a mini-can. Residents may purchase the refuse container of their choosing through any retailer. To request recycling containers, please fill out the Solid Waste change form.
How often is refuse/recycling picked up?
Refuse and Recycling are collected every week. Recycling collection type is alternated week by week. Please visit the Lower Merion Trash & Recycling Guide and Schedule for more information. Please use the Address Lookup on the homepage, www.lowermerion.org, to determine your collection day.
I am a new homeowner in the Township and want to make sure my trash gets picked up. How do I start service?
Please fill out this form to ensure you are subscribed to the correct level of service.
How do I change my Solid Waste subscription?
Existing homeowners can use this form to add more cans or add Rear Yardcollection to their subscription. Decreases in service level are only allowed during the month of December.
How much are my subscription fees?
The basic 2026 Standard Level subscription is $465.
For those who place refuse/recycling for collection at the curb, no further fees were incurred.
Solid Waste Fee Subscriptions
2026 Fees
One Mini-Can (20-gallon container)
$303
Standard Level (One or Two Cans per week) - Maximum two 48 gallon cans
$465
Enhanced Level (Three or Four Cans per week) - Maximum of four 48 gallon cans
$686
Optional Additional Service Fee
Rear Yard Collection Fee (Mini-Can)
$245
Rear Yard Collection Fee (Standard)
$307
Rear Yard Collection Fee (Enhanced)
$368
Is curbside collection mandatory for multi-family units or townhomes?
All multi-family dwellings of four units or less are required to subscribe to Township solid waste collection by choosing a container level per unit as well as the rear yard collection option per unit if the collection point(s) for the refuse and recycling generated is more than five feet from the curb.
What will happen if I don't comply with curbside collection?
Households that do not subscribe to Rear Yard Collection will be required to place their trash at the curbside, which is within five-feet of the curb line. If you fail to do so, you will be given a notice of violation. Violations beyond two violation notices will result in automatically being charged and separately billed the full annual rear yard collection fee for your property.
What will be the cost to receive Rear-Yard Collection?
Customers who prefer to place their refuse/recycling further than five-feet from the curb line are required to subscribe to this service. The 2026 cost to receive rear yard collection will be an additional $245 annually for a Mini-Can subscription, $307 annually for a Standard subscription and $368 annually for an Enhanced subscription.
Citizens who currently receive rear-yard collection may opt to discontinue this level of service to avoid the additional annual fee.
Customers who do not subscribe to rear-yard collection will be required to place their trash for collection at the curb line. Rear-yard trash containers will not be collected without a subscription for this additional level of service.
What about households where no one is physically able to place their refuse/recycling within five-feet of the curb line?
The Township offers a program to exempt qualified disabled homeowners who meet certain criteria from paying the fee to maintain rear yard collection service. Customers who wish to apply for this exemption can download the application here or call the Township’s Public Works Department at (610) 645-6150 for an application.
A waiver of the rear yard collection fee will be granted when the subscriber’s application includes a doctor's confirmation that he or she is disabled and not able to transport a 50- pound refuse container to the curb for collection. Waivers will not be granted to those who reside with others who are physically capable of bringing trash containers to the curbside.
If a subscriber has previously filed a waiver form along with documentation from their doctor indicating a permanent disability, the Township will allow the annual waiver form to be re-certified by the disabled subscriber (without a doctor's signature). The subscriber must also re-certify that there are no others residing in the home who are physically capable of bringing the trash to the curbside. All other requests for a disability waiver must be submitted along with confirmation of the disability form their doctor.
Are there any incentives to reduce trash disposal?
Charging increased fees for increased trash volumes set out for collection is an incentive for citizens to decrease the amount of waste generated at their household. A further incentive to reduce trash disposal was the creation of the “mini-can” option. This option is available only to subscribers whose one-container level of service is a maximum 20-gallon capacity.
There is no limit to the amount of recycling you can place for collection.
Does the Township offer a Senior Citizens Discount?
The Township currently offers Solid Waste customers that meet certain requirements, including income levels, a Senior Citizens rebate, which is 20% of the single container subscription. Applications forms are available on www.lowermerion.org or you may call (610) 645-6146 for more information.
NOTE:Senior Citizens rebates are not applicable to the Mini-Can subscription level or for Rear Yard Collection.
How does the Township define a container size?
Residents may use many different sizes of trash containers up to a maximum of 48 gallons.
A single container 20-gallon capacity or less - weight limit of 25 pounds each
A single container 48-gallon capacity or less - weight limit of 50 pounds each
I currently have a 28-gallon container. Can I increase the size of my container to reduce my current subscription level?
The Township will accept up to a 48-gallon container (weighing up to 50 pounds) for collection. Citizens whose current containers are smaller than 48-gallons may be able to reduce their subscription level and subsequent fees by purchasing the maximum capacity container. Each household should carefully consider the subscription level and container size that works best for them. Remember: regardless of size, no container can contain more than 50 pounds of refuse/recycling.
When will I choose my subscription level the following year?
The subscription form is at the bottom of the subscription letter mailed to customers in mid-November. Selections must be made and returned by mid-December (specific date TBA) and are effective January 1st.
If I don't want to change my level of service, do I need to return the subscription form?
It is not necessary for all solid waste collection customers to return the subscription form. If you do not want to make changes, please DO NOT return the form.
What is the current method for Township refuse and recycling refuse pick-up?
The Township provides collection and disposal services to all single-family dwellings, all two-family dwellings and all apartments containing four or fewer dwelling units. Collection by the Township is optional for residential buildings of five to fifty units, but not from dumpsters. The Township does not collect commercial waste.
Refuse and Recycling are collected once a week at curbside or from the rear yard by municipal employees. Residents are required to recycle plastic, glass, aluminum food and beverage containers (comingled) and mixed paper. Recycling collection type is alternated week by week. Please visit the Lower Merion Trash & Recycling Guide and Schedule for more information. Please use the Address Lookup on the homepage, www.lowermerion.org, to determine your collection day. Residents are charged a Solid Waste Fee based on their container subscription level. There is no limit on recyclables.
What is the Solid Waste Fund (SWF)?
The SWF is an enterprise fund which is intended to be self-supporting through user fees charged for services to residential customers. The purpose of the SWF is to account for revenues and expenditures related to the state mandated disposal of refuse and recycling.
Will my refuse and recycling still be picked up once a week if a new collection option is selected?
Yes, there would still be weekly refuse and recycling collection. Recycling collection type is alternated week by week. Please visit the Lower Merion Trash & Recycling Guide and Schedule for more information. Use the Address Lookup on the homepage to determine your collection day.
How do I increase my Solid Waste Fee container selection?
You may increase your container selection to a higher level at any time during the year by filling out the Solid Waste Change form located at http://www.lowermerion.org/swchange. You will receive an interim solid waste bill based upon the change that was selected.
