Residents with curbside trash collection in five Centre County townships can now select what size refuse cart they want for when a new hauling contract goes into effect next year.
Beginning April 1, 2025 Altoona-based Burgmeier’s Hauling will replace Waste Management as the hauler for approximately 16,200 properties in Benner, College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton townships.
Under the new five-year contract approved by the Centre Region Council of Governments in March, automated collection using hauler-owned carts will replace bag limits for customers, with three cart sizes available: 35-gallon, 65-gallon and 95-gallon.
Residents will receive a postcard in the mail this month with information on how to make their cart selections, according to the Centre Region Refuse and Recycling Program, and registration is open at burgmeiers.com/cogcarts. Cart selection will remain open through September, and those who do not register a choice will be assigned a 95-gallon cart.
Monthly fees for refuse and recycling for the first year of the contract beginning April 1, 2025 will be:
• $31.09 for a 95-gallon cart and unlimited recycling;
• $29.83 for a 65-gallon cart and unlimited recycling; or
• $28.01 for a 35-gallon cart and unlimited recycling.
“Residents should choose the size that will meet their needs on their ‘trashiest’ weeks,” according to a COG news release. “The largest size will accommodate most families, the mid-size will work for two-person households, and the smallest size is a good choice for one-person homes.”
All three cart sizes are on display at each of the five townships’ municipal buildings, as well as at the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority office, 243 Transfer Road, Bellefonte, and the Centre Region Council of Governments building, 2643 Gateway Drive, State College.
Residents in rental properties or homeowners associations should check with property managers or HOAs before registering for a cart size. The contract does not cover residences with dumpster service.
While Burgmeier’s will handle trash hauling under the new contract, the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority will be responsible for billing, payments and related customer service, which COG staff found to be most cost effective.
CCRRA will also continue to collect curbside recycling in the red bins, and Christmas tree collection will continue to be collected each January.
Another significant change under the new contract is that bulk waste and bulk recycling collection will be on-demand. Residents can request collection of up to four large bulk waste items per year and four bulk recyclables (appliances, electronic devices and tires) per year. Pickups will be scheduled within two weeks of the request.
Collection of additional items or bags can be requested at any time for an additional fee.
Neither State College Borough nor any other Centre County municipality are part of the new contract.