Township of Cumru, Berks County, Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mandates recycling through Act 101 of 1988.  The Township of Cumru encourages recycling for additional reasons. Recycling conserves natural resources. Recycling saves limited landfill space and avoids dumping fees, which, in turn, helps to keep your refuse fee down. Finally, information on Cumru's recycling success is a crucial part of applications for recycling equipment and performance grants. Such grants also help to keep you fee down.  So, recycling is good for you and good for Cumru!

       Our recycling program is changing due to stringent regulations put into place in 2018 by China, the world's largest market for recyclable materials. Recycling is returning to dual stream collection. This means that paper products, including cardboard, are to be separated. The number of plastics for recycling collection has been reduced.

       Items to be placed in the blue recycling container include:

• Clear, brown, and green glass
• Aluminum, steel, and bi-metal cans
• Plastic marked 1 PETE or 2 HDPE

       Newspaper and cardboard that are not wet, coated, or contaminated with food should be placed on top or next to the blue container. Pizza boxes are usually not considered recyclable because they have been in direct contact with food and are almost always contaminated with grease/oil. Boxes should be broken down and flattened. 

Refuse collection is once a week.  Six bags or cans of normal household trash may be placed out for each collection. Please refer to the attached "Trash Schedule" and color code to determine the collection days for your household.

Each container should not weigh more than 75 lbs. or measure any longer than four feet. All loose items such as cardboard, etc. must be bundled or tied together. Trash/refuse containers shall be kept away from the vicinity of mailboxes. Residents are cautioned not to attempt to put too much refuse in the thinner plastic bags that may rip when lifted. Care should be taken to ensure that only cold ashes are placed out for pickup. Each metal or plastic container should not exceed 30-gallon capacity and should be equipped with two handles. Refuse shall not be placed in cardboard boxes. Each collection is limited to six bags or cans.

Items to be placed in the blue and yellow recycling container include: clear, brown and green glass; aluminum, steel and bi-metal cans; and plastics marked 1 PETE or 2 HDPE on the bottom. Badly damaged containers may be exchanged for new containers at the Township Office, 1775 Welsh Rd., Mohnton, PA. The containers are the property of the Township and should remain with the dwelling in the event that the residents move. Excess glass/metal/plastic recycling may be placed in a plastic or metal 2-handled container clearly marked "Recycling."

Items to be placed next to the blue and yellow recycling container include black-and-white newsprint, magazines, and phone books. These items should be tied or placed in a brown paper bag.

Trash and recycling collections shall not be made on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When a holiday falls on a Monday or Tuesday, collection shall be made on the prior Saturday. When a holiday falls on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, collection shall be made on the following Saturday. These changes are reflected in the trash and recycling schedules.

If you experience any problems with your trash or recycling collection, call the Township Office during the next business day at (610) 777-1343.

All persons owning, leasing, operating, managing and/or otherwise controlling commercial or institutional establishments shall recycle the following:

• Office Paper
• Aluminum Cans
• Corrugated Paper
• Glass Bottles & Jars
• PET Plastics
• Newsprint
• HDPE Plastics
• Commingled Items

Reports must be filed with the Township of Cumru no later than January 30th of each year indicating the types and weights of the materials recycled during the previous year. Business owners must supply the above information on letterhead from their trash hauler.

Your cooperation is needed in order to reach our recycling goals.

The following items will be accepted:

-Leaves
-Garden Debris
-Brush and Bushes
-Tree Trimmings
-Weeds
-Flowers and Garden Plants

Note: Kraft paper bags must be emptied, 

due to a requirement from the composting 

facility.