With the recent snow that fell all but melted, Saucon Valley residents are beginning to take stock of and clean up their yards from winter wear and tear.
Soon the Saucon Valley Compost Center at 2011 Springtown Hill Road, Hellertown, will be open to accept yard waste collected during spring cleanups.
The compost center will be open on Saturday, March 30, Saturday, April 6, and Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will then be closed Saturday, April 20 for the Easter holiday before officially opening for the 2019 season on Friday, April 26. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Friday and Saturday (closed Sunday through Thursday) thereafter, through Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019.
You must be a Borough of Hellertown or Lower Saucon Township resident to drop off materials. ID Cards are required (see below).
Accepted Items
- Leaves should be loose and in bags (brown paper only). If bagged in plastic, you must take the bags home.
- Small brush up to 4″ in diameter (no longer than 6 ft)
- Hedge trimmings, garden plant residue
- Christmas trees (without tinsel)
Unacceptable Items
- Grass
- Sod
- Tree stumps
- Commercial business materials
Compost Center Tips
- Do NOT leave material outside the compost center gate.
- Grass is NOT accepted. Recycle grass by using a mulching mower or cut your grass frequently and leave clippings on the lawn. This does not create thatch and provides a lawn fertilizer.
- Loading of mulch is available for $10 per scoop (one scoop equals 1 cubic yard). Payment is by check only and is due at the time of material loading. Checks should be made payable to “Lower Saucon Township.”
Compost Materials
Compost materials must be from a property within the Borough of Hellertown or Lower Saucon Township. Proof of residence and sign-in are required.
Mulch Disclaimer
Municipal mulch is a natural, unprocessed material stored outside. As a result, it may contain allergens, poison ivy, termites and/or carpenter ants as well as foreign matter. Users should wear proper clothing and protection when handling the mulch. The Saucon Valley Compost Center makes no guarantee concerning the quality of the mulch and assumes no liability for injury or property damages as a result of the loading, delivery and/or use of the mulch. Residents who use the mulch do so at their own risk.
Compost Center ID Cards
The laminated multi-year ID card residents are required to use when visiting the center can be obtained at Hellertown Borough Hall, 685 Main St., Hellertown or the Lower Saucon Township offices at 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, during regular business hours. Please have your driver’s license at the time of registration for proof of address. ID cards should be displayed to the gate attendant when you visit the compost center. The card can be used by all members of the residence it is issued to. The compost center reserves the right to confirm the identification of a card holder if there is a suspicion that the card is being misused for non-resident or commercial purposes.
Contractors
Landscaping contractors hired by a borough or township resident may drop off brush/yard waste/leaves only with a signed invoice and/or the resident’s ID card.
Tarping Requirements
Visitors to the center are reminded that per Pennsylvania state law all loaded trucks or trailers must be covered with a tarp when traveling on any public road and when dropping off or picking up materials at the compost center.
Volunteers Needed
The Saucon Valley Compost Center is recruiting volunteers to assist with the future operation of the center. Due to municipal funding limits, the operating days/hours of the compost center cannot be extended beyond the current schedule at this time. However, expanded schedules could be considered in the future if an adequate number of volunteers step forward to assist the facility staff. If you are interested in volunteering to help out, contact the township manager at ma*****@lo*****************.org or the borough manager at c.*********@he***************.org. Training and equipment will be provided to all volunteers. For more information about the use of the compost center, contact either the Borough of Hellertown at 610-838-7041 or Lower Saucon Township at 610-865-3291.
Note: The information above can be found on the township website.
