Garbage / Recycling

Message from the Borough

Tamaqua Transfer was awarded the residential solid waste and recycling contract for the Borough of Lehighton for a three-year term from 2021-2023. Collections for both garbage and recycling are scheduled on Tuesdays.  Toters are to be placed on the curb on Monday evenings.

If your garbage or recycling was missed, please contact Tamaqua Transfer directly at:

                (570)668-4515    OR    toll free at (866)337-1007

We hope everyone has noticed the changes taking place in the borough. We have been trying diligently to improve the overall appearance of town square, parks and recreation areas. Our hope is to make our residents want to keep these areas looking great and that visitors to our town will want to come back because of it.  We have also added the large garbage/recycling containers received through grant money at the Trailhead, Grove and Baer Memorial Parks. New smaller containers have been added to the 6th & Coal soccer field, Baer Memorial Pool, Recreation Center and Upper Park. The Colonel Jacob Weiss Park has been given a new look and trash/recycle containers have now been placed there to keep the park looking new, fresh and free of debris.

All the containers are clearly marked for trash or recycle. Please use them properly as we put them there for your convenience and to keep our town clean.  

PLEASE NOTE: Construction Material is prohibited.  Only 1 garbage toter per week will be taken by the hauler as per the new contract.  County Waste cans will not be emptied by the new hauler.  A dumpster is required when emptying out a home or garage. If a dumpster is not used for these purposes a citation will be issued.  Any bulk items made with material and padding ( mattress, boxspring, couch, chairs) MUST be sealed in plastic or they will not be taken.  A bulk item does not mean an extra trash bag.  It is an item that will not fit into the regular toter (furniture, appliances, small household items)

The Public Works Garage no longer accepts used cooking and motor oil due to the fact that people have been dropping off poisons, pesticides and other chemicals mixed in with the oil. We cannot dispose of this properly so we have discontinued the program. Please contact DEP to learn how to properly dispose of these items.

Please try to recycle tree branches under 8 inches in diameter and all tree/hedge trimmings by dropping them off at the black dumpster at the Public Works garage during April, May, September and October. This dumpster is available for Yard Waste Recycling ONLY and helps the borough receive more grant money. Do not put leaves in this dumpster as Public Works picks those up curb side. Do not put whole hedges or trees in this dumpster. If it is absolutely impossible to take it to the dumpster then it is permissible to put tied up bundles measuring not more than 3 foot in length out for garbage. Unbundled items of any kind WILL NOT BE TAKEN by the garbage company.

These programs benefit the individual resident and the borough as a whole. Each year the borough is required to file two (2) reports reporting the recycling tonnage for the year which includes the weekly pick up, leaves and yard waste. The borough then receives monies for the total tonnage from all the programs on a yearly basis.