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West Reading Borough
West Reading Borough
West Reading Borough
West Reading Borough
Utility Information

Trash & Recycling

Key Contact

Stephanie Burkholder
610-374-8273 Ext. 221

Trash & Recycling

This page and the related links provide detailed information about West Reading Borough’s trash and recycling program. Please note that at no time are trash cans or recycling bins to be stored in front of your property, on the front porch, or in the yard. Any content that spills out of your refuse or recycling containers is the homeowner’s responsibility to clean up. If you have any questions or wish to view the Ordinance, please call or stop in Borough Hall in the Administration or Code Enforcement Department, and we would be happy to assist you.

Contact the Berks County Recycling Office at 610-478-6362 for the disposal of hazardous materials. The Berks County Solid Waste Authority sponsors the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program.

Trash Collection is Every Tuesday and Friday
The container and its contents are not to exceed 75 pounds.
  1. All refuse must be stored in durable, water-tight containers equipped with handles and tight-fitting covers that cannot be larger than thirty-five (35) gallons.
  2. Four (4) trash cans per household per trash collection day are allowed.
  3. Please do not place trash/recycling out prior to Noon the day before collection, and promptly remove your receptacle(s) by midnight the day of collection.
  4. Please mark your containers with your address in the event they are lost or misplaced.
  5. Paint Disposal: Latex, water-based, or acrylic paint can go in the trash. If there is less than an inch of paint in the can, remove the lid and air-dry; if there is more than an inch of paint, mix the paint with cat litter and let it solidify. Throw the can of dried paint in the garbage. Oil-based paint is a hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly.
  6. Yard waste should be disposed of at the Borough Garage during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please contact the garage at 610-374-8605 to schedule an appointment. Or, yard waste may be disposed of on the first Saturday of the month without an appointment from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, from April through November.
Bulk Refuse Collection
  1. Residents may purchase a small, medium, or large bulk tag, per item at Borough Hall for items that are too large to fit in your trash container. Examples of acceptable bulk items by size can be found here.
  2. Residents must provide contact information, the date and address for collection, and a description of the item(s) to be collected. Payment options include cash, check or charge, a 3.5% processing fee will be assessed on credit and debit card transactions.
  3. A limit of two bulk items per household may be collected per week and may be placed out for collection on any regular refuse collection day.
  4. Tags must be purchased a minimum of 48 hours prior to collection.
  5. Bulk tags must be affixed to the item that you want to dispose of. It is the responsibility of the resident to securely affix the tag to the item.
  6. Bulk items may weigh no more than 75 pounds nor exceed 5 feet in length. Larger items may be dismantled to fit these parameters while remaining a single tag item.
  7. Refunds are not issued in the event that paid-for bulk items are taken by someone other than the borough refuse hauler.
  8. Metal pickup is free for residents but must be scheduled in advance. Metal pickups occur on Mondays, the deadline to schedule a pickup is Wednesday afternoon. To schedule a metal pickup please call Borough Hall at 610-374-8273. Appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioning units, dehumidifiers, water coolers, and freezers must have the freon removed, and have a Certified Freon-Free sticker to be picked up. If purchasing a new appliance, ask the company delivering the new appliance to take the old appliance. The Freon Hotline can provide information on how to properly remove freon from your appliance at 1-888-GO-FREON (1-888-463-7366). Or you may contract with a local scrap hauler to dispose of your appliance.
Recycling Information & Resources
  • Recycling collection occurs every Wednesday.
  • Recycling is single-stream which means residents do not need to sort items.
  • Recycling containers should be clearly marked that they are for recycling.
  • Never mix trash and recycling in the same container.
Medical Waste

Unsure how to dispose of medical waste? Medical waste must be placed in the trash, not in the recycling. Used needles must be placed in laundry detergent bottles and marked “hazardous” before being placed with the trash. Medical waste contaminates the entire load of recyclables, rendering it unusable.

Recyclable Item Reminder

  • Rinse all food and beverage containers.
  • Crush plastic containers if possible to prevent blowing around the neighborhood.
  • Do not break glass.
  • Do not use plastic bags.
  • Break down and bundle cardboard boxes.
  • Recycle plastics with the numbers 1 through 7.
  • If possible, refrain from placing paper/cardboard out for collection if it is raining on the day of collection.
  • Contact Borough Hall at (610) 374-8273, ext. 221 to report a missed collection.

Do Not Recycle These Items

  • Pizza boxes
  • Paper or polystyrene take-out containers
  • Plastic bags or plastic wrap
  • Styrofoam or cups with wax or plastic coatings
  • Broken glass
  • Window glass, mirrors, ceramics
  • Dishes and glasses
  • Pyrex
  • Light bulbs
  • Paint cans
  • Clothes hangers
  • Plastic toys or tableware (knives, forks, spoons,etc.)
  • Garden hoses, Christmas lights or tangling items (these items can wrap around equipment, endangering workers and shut down the entire recycling center)
  • Shredded paper
  • Propane tanks
  • Aluminum foil

More Information

If you experience missed stops, please contact Borough Hall at 610-374-8273 Ext. 221 to report the matter, and Borough Hall will contact the hauler to report the missed stop.

Reasons for Missed Trash Collection

Missed municipal trash collection is often caused by a combination of resident errors, logistical challenges, and unforeseen operational disruptions.

Common Resident-Related Issues

It is important to note that not all types of waste are accepted for curbside collection. Hazardous materials, electronic waste, and oversized items often require special handling and disposal.

  • Improper Bin Placement: Bins must be clearly visible and accessible. Drivers may skip your home if containers are blocked by parked cars, basketball hoops, snow piles, or lawn decor.
  • Prohibited Items: Trash is frequently left behind if it contains hazardous materials (batteries, chemicals, electronics, paint) or medical waste. Some services refuse bins containing construction debris, such as bricks or cinder blocks.
  • Weight and Overflow: Most municipalities enforce strict weight limits to protect workers and equipment. If the lid cannot fully close or if extra bags are placed outside the bin, the driver may skip the pickup.
  • Timing: Bins set out after the truck has already passed will not be collected.

Operational and Environmental Factors

  • Holiday Schedules: Collection is often delayed one day during federal or local holiday weeks.
  • Weather Conditions: Severe events like heavy snow, flooding, or extreme storms can make roads unsafe for heavy trucks, halting services for entire neighborhoods.
  • Mechanical and Labor Issues: Truck breakdowns, equipment failure, or staffing shortages can lead to unfinished routes.
  • Human Error: Despite best efforts, human errors can still occur in waste collection processes.

Next Steps to Resolve a Missed Pickup

If your trash was missed, you should first check for neighborhood-wide service alerts or missed pickups.

  1. Wait until the end of the day, as trucks sometimes run late.
  2. Report the miss to Borough Hall at 610-374-8273 Ext. 221.
  3. Correct any violations, such as removing prohibited items or repositioning the bin, before the rescheduled pickup.