Recycling/Compost of Emmaus PA
2013 - Recycling Day - Anything With a Plug
Commercial Recycling
Refuse and Recycling Information
Refuse and Recycling Information (PDF)
Recycling
Single Stream Recycling—The Borough adopted an expanded list of recyclables that will no longer need to be separated. The following list includes many types of items that were not previously recycled. In addition, you will no longer need to use Borough issued recyclng containers. You can simply use a regular garbage can and place all recyclable items into the same can. Use a marker or other labeling method to identify the container as holding recyclables. All of the recyclables are commingled, so that you do not need to separate the items.
- Aluminum food and beverage containers
- Glass food and beverage containers—brown, clear, or green
- Ferrous (Iron) cans
- PET plastic containers with the symbol #1—with screw tops only, without caps
- HDPE natural plastic containers with the symbol #2—narrow neck containers only (milk and water bottles)
- HDPE pigmented plastic containers with the symbol #2—narrow neck containers only, without caps (detergent, shampoo bottles, etc.)
- Plastics with symbols #3, #4, #5, #6, #7—narrow and screw top containers
- Newsprint
- Corrugated cardboard
- Magazines
- Catalogues
- Cereal boxes
- Telephone books
- Printer paper
- Copier paper
- All other office paper without wax liners
Lehigh County no longer offers Household Hazardous Waste collection events. You can however contact us at (610)782-3073 for information on alternative safe disposal methods. We will also provide you with contact information for commercial entities who specialize in the safe disposal of these items for a fee.
Composting/Alternative Yard Management Practices
The Borough is very pleased to have the resources of the Emmaus Compost Center, located on Klines Lane to serve the public for its yard waste as well as using compost and wood mulch in their yards. The Borough, starting on March 13 until December 7, 2013, permits residents to bring their yard clippings, branches, and small shrubs to be deposited at the compost center, as well as allowing residents to take home screened compost and wood mulch. Borough residents have been issued Compost Site ID cards for access into the Borough's Compost Site. These cards were included with the 2013 Refuse Bill. If you need a replacement card or were not issued one, please visit the Cashier's window at Town Hall, 28 S. 4th Street, Emmaus, PA. Please have identification verifying your address when obtaining a card.
2013 Compost Site Hours
| Closed on Holidays | Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and November 22, 2013 |
| March 13th to May 4th | Wednesdays 7:30 am to 7:30 pm or dusk Saturdays 8:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| May 6th to Sept 23rd | Mondays 7:30 am to 2:30 pm Wednesdays 7:30 am to 7:30 pm or dusk Saturdays 8:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| Sept. 25th to Oct 12th | Wednesdays 7:30 am to 7:30 pm or dusk Saturdays 8:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| Oct 21st to Dec 7th | (Leaf Collection) Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri. 7:30 am to 2:00 pm Wednesdays 7:30 am to 7:30 pm or dusk Saturdays 8:00 am to 4:00 pm |
We only accept organic yard waste. No lumber, root balls with dirt, garbage, dirt, building materials, etc., is allowed. If you observe any violations, please obtain the offerender's license plate number and report the incidient to the Public Works Department at 610-965-9288 (24/7). Your report will remain anonymous. When wood chip mulch and/or compost is available, Public Works personnel will load trucks and trailers on Wednesdays after 3:00 p.m. and on Saturdays.
Unscreened compost & wood chip is available for a loading fee of $10.00 per scoop or partial scoop. Only pick ups or small trailers will be loaded. SCREENED COMPOST IS FOR BOROUGH RESIDENTS ONLY AND IS AVAILABLE FOR A LOADING FEE OF $15 PER FULL OR PARTIAL SCOOP. Please call the Public Works Department at 610-965-9288, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with any questions or comments.
Emmaus Borough Council is very interested in having the community become better stewards of the land and would like to educate the public about alternative yard management practices that enhance the protection of water resources and environment habitats, how best to use the compost centers, and remind everyone of the Borough's recycling policy. The Joint Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) of the Borough of Emmaus and Upper Milford Township has undertaken a community education project to provide local homeowners with some simple actions that will go a long way in helping the environment.
The first and easiest step that you can take is by modifying your lawn care. Review how you maintain your yard by cutting only 1/2 of your grass blade's length. In this way, your grass will grow more slowly and require less mowing. This will also slow storm water runoff, minimize erosion, and filter out particulates and contaminants associated with storm water. The second step you make to help the environment is to plant trees. Trees reduce energy bills by shading your home and also help to minimize erosion. Tree roots also help storm water enter the ground and recharge the underground water sources. Another step you can take is to protect backyard streams. Allow for a wide planted strip alongside your stream. This buffer will help reduce erosion, slow runoff and create a healthy habitat around the stream. The use of rain barrels is another method of helping the environment. The rain barrel can be used as free, pure water which your garden will love and will also reduce storm water runoff. Perhaps you can create a rain garden which will soak up and filter the water from your downspouts. A rain garden is built by digging an area 3-4 inches deep and about 20-30% of the surface of your roof. This area can be planted with native plants which can tolerate periods of wet soil. Please try any or all of the above mentioned thoughts to help you do your part in the greening of America.
2013 Curbside Yard Waste Pickup
Yard waste pick-up is available through the Emmaus Public Works Department. Residents desiring curbside yard waste collection must use the following procedure:
From Monday, April 8 through Thursday, October, 2013, yard waste will be collected by Public Works personnel on Mondays and Thursdays, except holidays. Yard waste must be placed at the curb in approved yard waste bags (available at Wentz Hardware). Yard waste is limited to organice biodegradable materials such as grass, leaves, hedge trimmings, leafy plants, and small stick and twigs. Bags contaminated with stones or trash, will not be accepted. Separate grass, twigs and hedge trimmings into different bags.
There are three ways to contact the Borough to have your bags collected:
Phone: 610-965-9288 (24/7); Fax: 610-965-0705; or Email: pweiant@borough.emmaus.pa.us. Be sure to leave your address, and the number of bags to be collected. Contact must be made at or before 11:00 a.m. on the pick-up day.
TOP ^