Special Waste

One key to the Authority's success in managing the County's waste in an environmentally responsible manner lies with you!  Because managing certain materials called "special wastes", in ways that will not harm disposal facilities or the environment, requires your help. Because if you understand what special wastes are, and how they should be handled, you are doing your part to help protect the integrated system, and in doing so, the environment.

The Authority accepts large appliances (commonly referred to as white goods) and tires for recycling. Ozone damaging gasses are safely recovered by Authority staff and sold to be recycled. The metal is also sold for recycling. This is the environmentally preferred option over disposing of them in the landfill.

If you live in a community that has a contract with one refuse hauler to pick up trash in the entire municipality, large appliances and tires are usually collected on special days. There are extra charges for such services. Call your municipal office for more information.

If you hire your own trash hauler, most of them collect appliances and tires. There is usually an extra charge for such services. Call your waste hauler for more information.

If your trash hauler does not accept large appliances and tires, you may hire another trash hauler to pick up those items for you. Or you may bring appliances and tires to Authority facilities for disposal. The Authority charges a fee; please call the office for details.

The Authority's program for Large Appliances and the recovery of the chlorofluorocarbons from them was awarded a 2006 Waste Watcher Award from the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, and the Solid Waste Association of North America.