Approximate meeting times and agendas are available on the Township Meeting Calendar.

• Monday, December 8 at 6 pm - Sustainability Ambassadors Monthly Meeting. Guest Speaker: Friends of Parks

Board of Commissioners

• Wednesday, November 19 at approximately 7:30 pm - Board of Commissioners
  • The Board of Commissioners will consider adopting an ordinance restricting the use of gas powered leaf blowers

• Meetings on the Proposed 2026 Budget:
  • September 3, 2025 - Budget Workshop (Agenda) (Recording) 
  • November 7, 2025 - Distribution of the 2026 Proposed Budget
  • November 12, 2025 - 2026 Proposed Budget Presentation (Agenda)(Recording)
  • November 19, 2025 - 1st Public Hearing on the Proposed 2026 Budget
  • December 3, 2025 - 2nd Public Hearing on the Proposed 2026 Budget
  • December 17, 2025 - Adoption of the 2026 Budget

Boards and Commissions

• The Environmental Advisory Council typically meets the fourth Tuesday of each month. 
• The Shade Tree Commission typically meets the second Tuesday of each month

The Board of Commissioners met on March 5, 2025 to discuss priorities for the upcoming year. watch here

The Board of Commissioners identified the following Sustainability Priorities in recent years: 

• Natural Resources: 
  • Improve community tree canopy through initiatives, ordinances, and policy updates.
• Energy Transition:
  • Expand Township fleet charging capabilities. Pursue charging infrastructure for public use.
  • Develop and implement a plan and cost estimate for electrification of fleet vehicles and the capital projects needed to support the transition of the fleet to electric vehicles.
  • Develop an ordinance for Board consideration restricting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers and an incentive and education program for residents and commercial landscapers.
• Waste Minimization: 
  • Expand compost drop-off program and create a pilot curbside compost program.
• Community Engagement: 
  • Conduct community engagement through sustainability initiatives, Ambassadors program, live events, PR, Annual Report, etc.
  • Pursue LEED for Cities certification and explore operational and regulatory practices to improve LEED score.

The Adopted 2025 Capitol Improvement Program contains the following sustainability budget items: 

• Construction of solar project at Penn Wynne Library
• Design of solar project at Ludington Library
• Installation of Public EV charging stations
• Facilities Energy Conservation Measures and Electrification Evaluation

The Adopted 2025 Operating Budget contains the following sustainability budget items:

• Full-time Sustainability Coordinator
• Composting at Township Administration Building
• Community compost pilot expansion and curbside compost pilot (grant match)
• Tree inventory in public parks
• Tree protection code review
• Tree planting & training events
• Sustainability educational events & incentives
• Electric leaf blower educational events & incentives
• Go for the Green Awards Ceremony

In 2025, the Township hired a new Sustainability Coordinator to work under the supervision of the Sustainability Manager to advance Township education and engagement efforts,  grant opportunities, and sustainability projects.

Lower Merion Township is taking steps to encourage the use of electric lawn equipment on public and private property.

More information can be found here: Electric Lawn Equipment

• Phase 1 - Penn Wynne Library
  • Adopted 2025 Capital Improvement Plan budget includes installation work
  • A Federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant of $126,000 was awarded to the Township for this project
  • A County Montco2040 Implementation Grant of $250,000 was awarded to the Township for this project 
  • An agreement has been reached with PECO to complete infrastructure upgrades to facilitate grid interconnection. PECO work is expected to be completed in winter 2025.
  • The Penn Wynne Library solar project is live on PennBid for public bidding. Proposals are due December 18, 2025, and construction is anticipated to begin in early 2026. The project includes an 87 kW solar PV system on the Penn Wynne Library roof and parking lot canopy, which is expected to generate over 85% of the library’s electricity. 

• Phase 2 - Ludington Library
  • Adopted 2025 Capital Improvement Plan budget includes design work  

• Ardmore Avenue Community Center
  • The project budget for the AACC rebuild includes installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic array

• Renewable Energy Certificates
  • September 18, 2024, the Finance Committee approved the next 3-year contract for energy procurement which includes RECs for 100% of the Township’s electricity usage.

Fleet Vehicles

• There are 10 electric vehicles in the Township fleet
• Three hybrid electric vehicles will replace internal combustion engine vehicles in the Township fleet in 2025
• Lower Merion Township successfully obtained $45,000 in federal rebates to offset the cost of six electric vehicles purchased in 2023.

Fleet Electric Vehicle Service Equipment

• Four dual-port chargers have been installed for fleet fueling at Township facilities

• The Township's first public electric vehicle charging stations have been installed in Municipal Lot #7 in Bryn Mawr. However, they are not yet available to the public. In coming weeks they will be energized and an announcement will be made when they are available for public use.
• Installation of EVSE at additional Township-owned facilities was funded in the 2025 Capital Improvement Program. EVSE locations are to be determined

The Montgomery County Planning Commission launched Fully Charged - an EV planning Tool on April 17. Watch the explainer here.  

Pilot Curbside Compost Program 

• The contract to service the program through 2026 was awarded in September 2025. Read more about the proposed program here.
• Pick up of organic waste at the curb began for the first 50 registered participants on Monday, November 10. There's still space available in this free pilot program. Learn more here.

Pilot Community Compost Program

• The Pilot Community Compost Program started in June 2024 with the Ardmore Library location. 
• The Belmont Hills Library location was opened in September 2024.
• Over 16,000 pounds of organic materials were diverted in 2024.

• In January 2025, Pilot Community Compost locations were established at Penn Wynne Library, Ludington Library, and Gladwyne Library.
• Organic waste diverted  in 1Q2025: 7.9 tons
• Organic waste diverted in 2Q2025: 11.7 tons
• Organic waste diverted in 3Q2025: 9.7 tons

Employee Waste and Events Composting

• The Township piloted an employee's organic food waste composting program at the Township Administration Building from May 2024 through August 2025. Over 1,000 pounds of organic waste were diverted during the pilot period.
• On October 22, 2025 the Board of Commissioners voted to approve a new janitorial contract that includes separation of organic waste for composting at several Township facilities. More information is available here.
• Organic waste produced at the Annual Go for the Green Awards Ceremony is composted

• The Sustainability Ambassadors email list has over 1,000 subscribers
• A weekly email bulletin highlighting sustainability-related events and learning opportunities is sent to the email list. Email bulletins have about a 65% open rate and a 7% click rate.
• Once a month, Sustainability Ambassadors are welcome to join a monthly meeting where Township projects are highlighted, a guest speaker discusses their sustainability work in a community-based organization, and Ambassadors discuss their own initiatives. 
• Township employees and volunteers staffed sustainability tables at 11 community events in 2025, engaging with over 350 community members.
• Township employees gave sustainability presentations at 6 community organization meetings in 2025.

Recycling

• Updates were recently made to what can be accepted for curbside recycling in the Township. Namely, flexible plastics and carton packaging are now accepted. A flyer was mailed to all waste pickup subscribers in the Township to inform them of the change. The What to Recycle page on the Township website was also updated. 
• The Township hosts two "Clean up Weekends" a year to allow residents to dispose of unwanted items for disposal or recycling. Several non-profit organizations attend to collect bicycles, furniture, clothing and more.
• Each year, Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough, host one or two recycling events known as “Anything with a Plug” at the Township’s Public Works Complex (1300 N Woodbine Avenue, Penn Valley) to allow residents an opportunity for a nominal fee to responsibly recycle obsolete electronics such as televisions, computers and monitors. Check the Township Calendar for upcoming events. 
• The Township partners with Montgomery County to host a Household Hazardous Waste event once a year at the Township’s Public Works Complex (1300 N Woodbine Avenue, Penn Valley). Check the Township Calendar for upcoming events. 
• The Township collects Christmas trees from residents during the first two weeks in January. Trees are mulched and composted at the Township's compost facility.
• Unfortunately, Retrievr services for at-home pickup of unwanted electronics and textiles have been indefinitely paused in the area. 

• Lower Merion Township served as a Secondary Host Site for the PA Plants Native tree giveaways in April 2025 and October 2025, making it more accessible for community members to receive free trees through this program, at no cost to the Township. Staff and volunteers distributed a total of 515 native trees and shrubs to community members across the two events.
• The Township supports bi-annual Tree Tenders tree planting events by supplying materials, picking up and delivering trees to be planted
• The Township is currently sponsoring individuals who would like to become trained Tree Tenders by completing one of the virtual training events offered by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
• The Township is currently working with a consultant to complete a Tree Canopy Management Plan
  • Phases 1 and 2 of the Tree Canopy Management Plan are nearing completion. Staff is currently pursuing funding mechanisms to implement Phase 4 (tree protection code review) once Phase 1 and 2 are complete.

• Participation in the DVRPC's commercial energy benchmarking program was authorized by the Board of Commissioners following the February 5 Sustainability Committee meeting and February 19 Board of Commissioners meeting.

• November 19, 2025 - Board of Commissioners. Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance. (recording). 
• October 22, 2025  - Board of Commissioners. Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance. (recording)
• October 22, 2025 - Finance Committee. Organic waste separation atTownship buildings. (recording)
• October 8, 2025 - Sustainability Committee. Proposed gas-powered leaf blower ordinance. (recording)
• September 30, 2025 - Proposed Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance Information Session. (recording) 
• September  17, 2025 - Finance Committee. Curbside Compost Pilot Program. (recording)
• September 3, 2025 - 2026 Budget Workshop (recording)
• June 25, 2025 - Capital Improvement Plan Workshop (recording)
• May 7, 2025 - Police Committee and Sustainability Committee. Recommendations regarding Public Electric Vehicle Parking Regulations and Fueling Fees. (recording)
• March 19, 2025 - Board of Commissioners Meeting. Several public comments and Board response regarding gas-powered leaf blowers. (recording)
• March 5, 2025 - Board of Commissioners Workshop. 2026 Board Priorities (recording) 
• February 5, 2025 - Sustainability Committee Meeting. Participation in DVRPC's Regional Commercial Energy Benchmarking Program (Recording)
• February 12, 2025 - Finance Committee Meeting. 2025 Equipment List (Recording)
• November 13, 2024 - Finance Committee Meeting. 2025 Proposed Budget (recording)
• October 1, 2024 Building & Planning Committee meeting. Schauffele Plaza public comment (recording)
• September 18, 2024 - Public Works Committee meeting. High-priority sidewalks (recording)
• September 11, 2024 Building & Planning Committee Meeting. Schauffele Plaza
• July 31, 2024 - Sustainability Committee meeting. Food Waste Compost Pilot Program (recording) 
• May 1, 2024 - Sustainability Committee meeting. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations for Public Use (recording)
• April 10, 2024 - Parks & Recreation Committee meeting. Geothermal HVAC at Ardmore Avenue Community Center (recording)
• April 3, 2024 - Board of Commissioners Workshop . 2025 Board Priorities (recording)
• March 6, 2024 - Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting. Ashbridge House sustainability features (recording) 
• March 6, 2024  - Sustainability Committee Meeting. Community Solar Letter of Support (recording)
• February 7, 2024 - Sustainability Committee meeting. Solar Photovoltaics at Ludington Library (recording)
• January 10, 2024 - Finance Committee meeting. Tree Canopy Management Plan (recording) 
• November 1, 2023 - Sustainability Committee meeting. Solar Photovoltaics at Penn Wynne Library (recording)