610-8296332
Welcome to Environmental Services
Environmental Services, a Division of the Department of Public Works, deals with special collections and recycling education. Assistance is offered to municipal offices located within Northampton County and coordinate recycling and solid waste efforts within the County in the following ways:
· Assist municipalities and recycling agencies with the implementation of recycling programs, education, obtaining grant funding, and environmental data management.
· Prepare the Northampton County Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan.
· Organize various special waste collection events for the County residents that improve and increase recycling and waste diversion.
Northampton County offers, sponsors, and/or supports the programs and services listed to the left that help address various solid waste management and recycling needs within the County. Click on each tab to find out information about that program and/or service.
State legislation passed the Covered Device Recycling Act (Act 108) in 2010, implementing a disposal ban effective January 24, 2013, stating that desktop computers, laptop computers, computer monitors, computer peripherals, televisions, and any components of such devices may no longer be disposed in Pennsylvania with municipal waste. All of these devices are required to be properly recycled. Beginning in January 2012, the law required manufacturers to pay for the costs of electronics recycling to avoid Pennsylvania consumers bearing that cost.
**Please note: There are currently no County-wide collection events scheduled. In order to maintain a safe and manageable event, the County is assisting municipalities through a reimbursable funding program to host a municipal-only collection event for their residents. All municipalities are encouraged to participate in the County’s program so that proper and convenient disposal of electronic waste is available to households.
Covered Devices defined as electronic waste (Ewaste) are not considered hazardous waste material under Act 190 and does not receive any State funding for proper disposal. Those using Ewaste programs are required to pay fees where they apply.
Permanent Electronics Drop-Off Locations Include: FEES MAY APPLY
Best Buy, 4413 Birkland Pl., Easton 18045 P: 610-250-2689 (Televisions accepted, size restrictions)
Clean Earth Recycling, 2330 SW 26th St., Allentown 18103 P: 610-433-4011
DRC Technologies, 2005 Main St., Northampton 18067 P: 610-502-0854
GER Solutions, 635 S.10th St, Allentown 18103 P: 610-443-1776
Staples, various locations (No televisions accepted at PA store locations)
A licensed and insured junk removal or haul-out company may be able to help with labor/removal.
Flat screen televisions and monitors may be accepted at local scrap yards.
DON'T FORGET: Erase the data on your computer and mobile phone before recycling. Many companies will not do this for you, which could put your personal information at risk.
The annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
Online pre-registration is required to participate in this event. Registration will open August 28, at 8am.
If you do not have an appointment and valid confirmation ticket you will not be able to participate in the 2024 event.
Note: An Eventbrite user account is necessary to register for the event. You can create an account at any time.
If you are new to using Eventbrite, please see the Help Center for troubleshooting and questions & answers
2024 EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION USER INSTRUCTIONS
2024 HHW EVENT PROCEDURES OVERVIEW
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is waste produced in our households that is hazardous in nature, but not regulated as hazardous waste under federal and state laws. HHW is that portion of a household product that is no longer usable, is left-over or unwanted, and has to be disposed of. The labels on hazardous products typically use words like CAUTION, DANGER, WARNING, COMBUSTIBLE, CORROSIVE, EXPLOSIVE, TOXIC, POISON, or FLAMMABLE.
· Be sure to read product labels for disposal directions to reduce the risk of products exploding, igniting, leaking, mixing with other chemicals, or posing other hazards.
There is no dedicated drop off facility in Northampton County that accepts household hazardous waste. HHW Collection Events provide Northampton County residents with access to proper HHW disposal. If you reside within the County, you can take HHW products to an annual collection event free of charge. Acceptable waste must be generated in a home, and not affiliated with any commercial business, contractor, nonprofit, organization, institution or out-of-county residence. Staff has the right to determine and refuse unauthorized material. Proof of residency is required.
· If you cannot attend a county collection event, please consider asking a friend or neighbor to take the items to the event for proper disposal.
AS A LAST RESORT
If you are unable to wait for a County program offering, you can consider contacting a hazardous waste company to inquire about disposal of HHW materials from your home (fees will apply), or you may legally dispose of them in your household trash provided that:
· You have looked at the label for any disposal instructions and complied with them.
· Liquids have been allowed to evaporate or have been absorbed by a material such as vermiculite, cat litter, sawdust, etc.
· The material has been carefully packaged (i.e. double bagged) to prevent leakage.
· Large quantities are intermingled with your other household trash in small batches over several collection days.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HHW PROGRAM
One-day annual collection event are offered to Northampton County residents at no cost to them. The County does not use general fund tax dollars. Disposal costs and coordination are paid for by the Northampton County Recycling and Sustainability Fund, with contributions provided by Waste Management's Grand Central Sanitary and Alliance Landfills. ChemSweep Funds are provided by the PA Department of Agriculture and Support of grants is available through PA Department of Environmental Protection. PADEP offers a reimbursement program that provides 50% match for eligible household hazardous waste program expenses. Northampton Community College has provided use of their facility and assisted with setup and security since 2006. HHW material brought to collection events are collected and treated by a DEP licensed hauler and facility.
Covered Devices defined as electronic waste (Ewaste) are not considered hazardous waste material under Act 190 and does not receive any State funding for proper disposal. Those using Ewaste programs are required to pay fees where they apply.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENT
Saturday, September 28, by appointment only.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Showing up without an appointment or not at your designated time will result in being turned away. Follow the Registration Link to register for an event timeslot. An Eventbrite user account is needed to sign up for event participation. You will not be able to register the day of the event. Registration opens August 28, 2024, at 8am. | REGISTRATION LINK
Please see the EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION USER INSTRUCTIONS for step-by-step guidance for registration.
After successfully registering, you will be issued a confirmation email with an event ticket attachment from Eventbrite. Please print your ticket or have your confirmation email accessible on your smart phone for check-in. If you need to cancel your appointment, please do so as soon as possible through your Eventbrite account.
EVENT CHECK-IN
When to Arrive: Please arrive within your assigned time slot, so that we can safely space out traffic at the site.
Confirmation Ticket: Have your printed confirmation available so that it can be provided to staff checking in vehicles, or have your ticket ready to view from your smart phone.
Proof of Residency is required. A valid driver’s license or utility bill matching the registration information is required to complete your check-in.
DROP-OFF EVENT GUIDELINES
- Double check the waste items you plan to bring with the list of accepted and restricted materials.
- Place your waste items in your trunk, cargo-area, or truck bed.
- Remove items from these areas that are not intended for the event.
- You may arrive any time within your registered appointment window.
- Event workers will unload your materials. Remain in your vehicle and unlock the trunk or rear gate for event staff to access boxed materials.
- Keep chemicals in their original container and never mix products. If you can't read the label mark "unknown".
- Make certain all containers are tightly sealed to avoid spillage. Pack newspaper around any leaking containers.
- There will be no pour offs. Be prepared to drop off and leave behind any container with liquid (such as gas cans).
- If it is necessary to have your containers returned, write "RETURN" on a note and attach it to the container. You will be directed to pull out of line and will need to wait until the container is emptied and can be given to you.
- Transport chemicals in a cardboard box. NO plastic tubs. The time spent emptying plastic tubs for return slows down the collection line.
- Quick drop-offs are not accepted and will be treated as illegal dumps.
- The County will NOT accept wastes from businesses, contractors, municipalities, non-profits, organizations, institutions and out-of-county households – you will be turned away.
- There is a limit of 50 gallons or 90 lbs. of solid material waste per participating household. No 25- or 50-gallon drums will be accepted.
Please see the 2024 HHW Event Flyer for accepted (Yes!) and restricted (No!) materials.
An explanation of the HHW drop-off event can be found in the 2024 HHW EVENT PROCEDURES OVERVIEW.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY HHW AFTER I DROP IT OFF?
A licensed hazardous waste company will be on site to receive, sort, package, load and transport all collected HHW off site to an approved disposal facility. Treatment methods include fuels blending, recycling, incineration, neutralization, and reuse.
PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES
Collection events are for residents living within the boundaries of Northampton County. The only materials permitted for acceptance are unwanted or expired products intended for residential use.
Commercial Recycling
In 1988, Pennsylvania passed Act 101, Municipal Waste Planning Recycling and Waste Reduction Act. The Act requires recycling programs for municipalities with a population of 10,000 or more, or for municipalities with a population of between 5,000 and 10,000 people and a density of 300 people per square mile.
Non-residential establishments are required to recycle. Non-residential is defined as commercial, municipal, or institutional. Included in this are apartment buildings with four or more units. Fines for not recycling can reach $1,000 per day and per occurrence.
Act 101, Section 1501 (c) (iii)
Municipal implementation of recycling programs shall include, at a minimum, the following elements:
• High grade office paper
• Aluminum
• Corrugated paper
• Leaf waste
• And other materials deemed appropriate by the municipality generated at commercial, municipal or institutional establishments.
The State requires all commercial, institutional and municipal entities to provide written documentation as to the type and weight of materials recycled annually. Reporting forms are mailed to businesses at the end of the year. Completed reports are due back to your municipality by January 30th.
Business Disposal & Recycling Guide
Commercial Recycling Resources
Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center
Solid Waste & Recycling Haulers servicing Northampton County
EPA's Managing Hazardous Waste: Small Business Guide
EPA's Restaurant Guide: Reducing Food Waste & Packaging
Commercial Recycling Programs
Commercial Recycling Program Requirements:
As part of your recycling program you will need to supply collection containers with clear instructions as well as educate your employees, tenants, contractors, janitorial staff, and anyone else responsible for ensuring trash and recycling are disposed of properly. The goal of the commercial recycling program is to reduce waste and increase recycling but recycling is about more than just compliance. Your participation will contribute to building a healthier, cleaner, and stronger community.
Who must comply?
All offices, restaurants, grocery stores, manufacturing facilities, processing facilities, institutions, retail shops, garages, service shops, schools, churches, civic groups and apartment buildings with four or more units.
How does an establishment comply?
Each calendar year, a business is required to report how much you recycled and the items you recycled by January 31st. Forms will be sent to the businesses by the municipality in which the business location resides. The business's hauler will be able to provide the tonnage recycled for that year.
Waste Reduction Programs
A waste reduction program combines waste prevention with recycling efforts. Waste reduction programs can reduce waste disposal costs; and in addition to financial advantages, waste prevention programs benefit the environment, society, and demonstrate a commitment to environmental protection. View this guide for tips and suggestions to get your program started.
