Carlisle, PA

Carlisle Borough’s current solid waste and recycling contract expires on December 31, 2022. A new contract, as well as changes to the way you dispose of trash, begins on January 1, 2023. Under this new contract, Waste Connections charges the Borough $75 per residence to pick up trash and recycling and $6.92 per additional tagged bag.

Thus, as of January 1, 2023, the Pay as You Throw Model is eliminated and Borough bags will no longer be used for trash collection. Each week, residents can leave out one bag or reusable container, with a content weight limit of up to 40 pounds. If a resident has more than 40 pounds of trash in a week, they can purchase a tag to attach to additional bags. Residents will provide their own reusable containers and/or bags. Recycling will still be picked up weekly in the current recycling bins or toters and residents can still leave out one bulk item per week.

Waste Connections’ charges for services will be passed on to property owners effective January 1, 2023. This flat fee of $75/quarter (which is what Waste Connections is charging the Borough for collection) will be added to a resident/property owner’s utility bill, along with water, sewer, and stormwater.

**As per the contract, the rate for 2024 is $80.25/quarter and $7.92/bag. In 2025, the rate is $85.86/quarter and $8.92/bag.

Our contract with Waste Connections defines the container as “one constructed of plastic, metal, or fiberglass, having handles of adequate strength for lifting, having a tight-fitting lid, containing no more than 40 pounds of refuse*, and able to be easily handled by one person.” The photo below illustrates examples of acceptable and non-acceptable containers. The Borough recycling toters and bins cannot be used for trash. Waste Connections suggests using a 35 gallon toter or container.

*The 40-pound weight limit applies to the actual trash in the container and does not include the weight of the containers.

No, you do not have to use a container. Trash can also be placed curbside in a trash bag of your choosing, provided the bag is of sufficient durability.

Yes. Plastic containers and bottles numbered 1, 2, and 5 will be the only plastics accepted. Other acceptable recyclable materials include colored and clear glass, aluminum, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, steel and bi-metal cans, paper, and magazines as currently allowed.

Yes. There are no schedule changes in the new contract.

No. Chapter 212-4.A of the Code of the Borough of Carlisle requires that occupants living in single or two-family residences or apartments with three units or less must utilize the Borough’s contractor for solid waste and recycling services.

Multifamily dwellings with four or more units must contract with their own waste hauler unless they go through an appeal process to be included in the Borough's program (See Chapter 212-4.B of the Code).

If we were to have Waste Connections provide all residences with a trash container, it would have driven up the cost of the overall program.

In addition, given the large variety of residences in the Borough, one standard container would not have worked for everyone. You can pick the size and style of container that best meets your needs, or choose to use a trash bag for collection.

Orange Borough bags & trash tags expire on 12/31/22. Beginning December 12, the Borough will buy back any bags or tags that residents are not expecting to use. Buyback will only occur at Borough Hall.

Special evening hours will be held on January 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on January 12 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Yes. Under the Pay as You Throw system, bulk items were required to have a Borough bag with them because this told the hauler that you participated in the Borough’s trash collection program. Under the new system, your property is billed for the service, so the hauler knows who is participating.

The cost to collect recycling was always included in the price of the Borough bag/tag.  Under the current Pay-as-You-Throw system, those who do not purchase bags or tags, but put out recycling are relying on their neighbors who do purchase Borough bags/tags to pay for their recycling service. Your recycling bin was most likely still picked up because the hauler uses two different trucks, one for recycling and one for trash. These two trucks are not running at the same time, so trash bags are often picked up by the time the recycling truck shows up.

Waste Connections charges the Borough $75/quarter and $6.92 per tag for the collection of trash and recycling. This fee only covers collection costs and does not include the cost of other services such as brush collection and operation of the compost facility. Borough staff is currently exploring options for funding these additional services.

Yes, by switching to a lump sum fee on a utility bill, we can offer more forms of assistance, which was not possible under the bag system.

There are currently several assistance programs available:
Flexible Payment Agreements: All past-due utility customers are strongly encouraged to contact the Borough's Finance Department during normal business hours at 717-249-4422 to discuss entering into a flexible payment agreement.

Borough of Carlisle Homeowner Public Utility Assistance Program: This program is designed to provide up to three months of public utility assistance (water, sewer, trash, and stormwater) to low-to-moderate income homeowners. Eligible applicants must be homeowners living in Carlisle, PA with a household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) and have lost household income as a result of COVID-19. Download the Application.

Cumberland County Emergency Rental Assistance Program: This program provides rental households with rent and/or utility assistance (arrears, current, and future) for up to 18 months in 3-month increments. Utilities include electricity, gas, fuel oil, water, sewer, and trash removal. Priority is given to those applicants that are below 50% of the AMI or unemployed for 90 days. Download the Application.

We will also continue to evaluate potential new assistance programs. Look for more information to come on this topic.

Property owners will be billed for multifamily dwellings with three or fewer units. For example, if a multifamily dwelling has two units, the utility bill will contain the equivalent charge for two dwelling units and the hauler will be made aware that they should collect two 40-pound bags or the trash from two reusable containers as part of the base service for that address.

The process for billing for trash service follows Cumberland County's Property Assessment Data. If the County determines the residence is a three-unit, then the fee would be issued for each of the units. If your property is incorrectly listed as three units, there is a way to correct this and ensure that you are billed based on how you actually use the property. You will need to file a request with the County for a change in your assessment information to a single residence, which should provide you savings in your quarterly billing.

The Cumberland County Assessment Office can tell you how your property is listed and help change assessment information if necessary. They can be reached at 717-240-6350.

Seasonal residents will continue to receive a utility bill for services unless utilities are terminated.  Termination is done through the Borough’s Finance Department requesting that water be terminated.  By terminating water service, other utilities including sewer, and trash will be automatically terminated. 

Only our current provider, Waste Connections, opted to bid on the contract. Two contractors cited the distance of the Borough to their facilities as being too far to provide a competitive bid, while the other contractor indicated they only submit bids in municipalities where they can use automated collection services. 

North Middleton Township last bid solid waste and recycling services in early 2018, before the United States recycling market collapsed. The cost to provide solid waste and recycling services is now much higher than it was in early 2018.

Municipalities that have gone out to bid for trash services in 2022 have seen significant increases in their program rates. Middlesex Township bid in January of 2022 and their rates increased 47.9%, while Shiremanstown Borough bid in February 2022 with a 127.5% increase in their quarterly fee.

Borough staff will be researching the cost and resources associated with bringing trash and recycling collection in-house to potentially control costs.