Sort First, Then Use Lancaster’s New Holland Avenue Recycling Drop-Off
The City of Lancaster Recycling Drop-Off Center at 850 New Holland Ave. accepts more material categories than Lancaster County’s simple curbside “Big 4,” including sorted paper, magazines, books and shredded paper.
The biggest planning detail is the schedule: the center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, plus only the third Saturday of each month from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM. It is a self-service drop-off even when staff are present.
Quick answer: where is Lancaster Recycling Center and when is it open?
The City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania Recycling Drop-Off Center is at 850 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603. The City’s dedicated facility page lists hours as Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM and the third Saturday of each month, 7:00 AM–11:00 AM.
The published phone number is 717-291-4744. If you are going during a holiday week, after severe weather or because you have an unusual material, check with the City before loading your vehicle.
Saturday does not mean every Saturday
The City lists only the third Saturday of each month. A first, second, fourth or fifth Saturday is not part of the regular published drop-off schedule.
On this page
- Facility facts
- Hours and Saturdays
- Temporary closures
- 2026 holiday rules
- Accepted materials
- Paper and books
- Cardboard and chipboard
- Bottles, cans and jars
- Drop-off vs Big 4
- How to prepare
- Free recycling bins
- Yard-waste bags
- Special waste alternatives
- Batteries and electronics
- Styrofoam / #6 foam
- Large appliances
- Business recycling
- Map and directions
- FAQs
Lancaster Recycling Drop-Off Center Quick Facts
| Detail | Current official information |
|---|---|
| Facility | City of Lancaster Recycling Drop-Off Center |
| Address | 850 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603 |
| Monday–Friday | 7:00 AM–4:00 PM |
| Saturday | Third Saturday of each month only, 7:00 AM–11:00 AM |
| Sunday | No regular Sunday hours listed |
| Phone | 717-291-4744 |
| Facility style | Self-service drop-off; staff may be on site |
| Primary use | Sorted recyclable materials that meet the City’s accepted list |
Lancaster Recycling Center Hours: Weekdays and Third Saturday
Monday
7:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Tuesday
7:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Wednesday
7:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Thursday
7:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Friday
7:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Saturday
Third Saturday only, 7:00 AM–11:00 AM.
Sunday
No regular Sunday drop-off hours listed.
Holiday / closure
Verify before a special trip.
Remaining regular third-Saturday dates in 2026
October 17
7:00 AM–11:00 AM, based on the City’s published third-Saturday schedule.
November 21
7:00 AM–11:00 AM, subject to any future City closure notice.
December 19
7:00 AM–11:00 AM, subject to any future City closure notice.
Temporary Maintenance and Same-Day Closure Checks
Regular hours do not guarantee that the center can never close temporarily. The City closed the facility on April 1 and April 2, 2026 for routine maintenance and announced that no recycling would be accepted during that closure.
The center reopened for regular business on April 3. The practical lesson is to check City notices before a special trip, particularly if you are visiting during maintenance, severe weather or a holiday period.
Large load? Check before you drive
A quick visit to the official facility page or call to 717-291-4744 can prevent an unnecessary return trip when you have a vehicle full of sorted paper or cardboard.
2026 Holiday Schedule: Curbside Delay Is Not the Same as Drop-Off Hours
Lancaster’s holiday information needs two separate decisions. Penn Waste curbside collections can shift after certain holidays, while access to the New Holland Avenue drop-off center should be verified separately.
The City’s 2026 calendar says that when a Penn Waste-observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection days on or after that holiday move back one day. If the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, there is no collection-schedule change.
| 2026 holiday | Date | Drop-off planning |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Verify City facility access. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | City holiday; verify before visiting. |
| Presidents’ Day | February 16 | Verify drop-off status separately from curbside service. |
| Good Friday | April 3 | Check City notices. |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Penn Waste holiday-delay rules may apply to curbside collection. |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | Verify City facility access. |
| Independence Day observed | July 3 | Check the City notice for the holiday period. |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Penn Waste holiday-delay rules may apply. |
| Election Day | November 3 | City holiday; verify facility access. |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26 | Penn Waste-observed holiday; verify drop-off separately. |
| Day after Thanksgiving | November 27 | City holiday; check before visiting. |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Penn Waste-observed holiday; verify facility status. |
| Day after Christmas observed | December 28 | City holiday; verify before visiting. |
Accepted Items at the Lancaster Recycling Drop-Off Center
The City’s drop-off list is broader than the Lancaster County curbside “Big 4,” but it is still specific. Do not bring an item merely because it looks recyclable.
Mixed office paper
Printer paper, envelopes, index cards, file folders, dividers and uncoated junk mail are examples listed in the City’s 2026 guidance.
Newspaper
Newspapers, including ads and inserts, are accepted at the drop-off center.
Magazines & catalogs
Glossy paper such as magazines, catalogs, brochures, pamphlets and mail flyers is included.
Corrugated cardboard
Boxes with a fluted or wavy center are accepted. Flatten them before arrival.
Chipboard
Examples include cereal boxes, paper egg cartons and toilet-paper rolls.
Books
Softcover and hardcover books are accepted. The 2026 guide also lists phonebooks.
Shredded paper
Accepted when bagged or otherwise contained. The center does not shred documents for you.
Plastic bottles & jugs
Plastic bottles and jugs with a neck are accepted. Random plastic objects are not part of this rule.
Cans & glass
Steel, tin and aluminum cans plus glass bottles and jars are accepted.
Paper, Newspaper, Books and Shredded Paper
The City’s 2026 guidance specifically asks visitors to sort paper by type before going to the recycling center. The center is designed as a self-service operation, so arriving with everything mixed together creates unnecessary sorting work beside your vehicle.
| Paper category | Examples | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed office paper | Printer paper, envelopes, index cards, file folders, dividers | Keep clean and dry. |
| Junk mail | Uncoated non-glossy junk mail | Keep separate from glossy paper when directed. |
| Magazines | Magazines, catalogs, brochures, pamphlets, glossy mailers | Keep dry. |
| Newspaper | Newspapers, ads and inserts | Keep separate if site signage directs it. |
| Books | Hardcover, softcover, phonebooks | Group separately from loose paper. |
| Shredded paper | Home or office shredded documents | Bag or contain it so pieces cannot blow around. |
The center does not provide document shredding
If you need secure shredding, shred documents before arrival or use a document-destruction service. The City facility accepts already shredded paper; it is not a shredding service.
Corrugated Cardboard and Chipboard Rules
Lancaster separates two common box categories in its recycling guidance.
Corrugated cardboard
Look for the wavy or fluted layer inside the box wall. Shipping and moving boxes are typical examples.
Preparation: flatten boxes and remove foam, plastic wrap, loose packing material, food and trash.
Chipboard
Thin boxes without the fluted center are a different paper category. Examples include cereal boxes, paper egg cartons and toilet-paper rolls.
For detailed box preparation, tape, labels and food-soiled packaging, use the site’s cardboard box recycling guide.
Plastic Bottles, Metal Cans and Glass Jars
Container preparation is simple but important. Lancaster’s recycling guidance tells residents to empty and rinse accepted bottles, jars and cans.
| Material | Accepted form | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic | Bottles and jugs with a neck | Adding trays, random containers, bags or unrelated plastic objects. |
| Steel / tin cans | Food and beverage cans | Leaving food or liquid inside. |
| Aluminum cans | Accepted metal cans | Adding foil, cookware or cutlery just because it is metal. |
| Glass | Bottles and jars | Adding ceramics, mirrors, window glass or other non-container glass. |
Remove lids and caps when the City directs you to
The 2026 recycling guide tells residents to remove lids and to keep only listed materials in the recycling stream.
Lancaster’s “Big 4” vs the New Holland Avenue Drop-Off Center
Lancaster County’s normal curbside recycling message is intentionally simple. LCSWMA calls the four accepted curbside material groups the Big 4.
1. Corrugated cardboard
Boxes with the wavy/fluted middle layer.
2. Plastic bottles & jugs
Containers with a neck.
3. Metal cans
Food and beverage cans.
4. Glass bottles & jars
Standard container glass.
The City Drop-Off Center accepts those categories plus several additional separated paper streams, books, magazines, newspapers, chipboard and shredded paper.
Do not put drop-off-only paper into curbside recycling automatically
Newsprint, office paper, magazines and similar materials may have a separate drop-off route even though the New Holland Avenue center accepts them.
How to Prepare a Lancaster Recycling Center Load
Identify each material
Make sure every item appears on the City’s accepted list before loading it.
Sort paper by type
Separate office paper, newspaper, magazines, books, corrugated cardboard, chipboard and shredded paper at home.
Flatten every cardboard box
The 2026 guide specifically asks users to flatten boxes to save space.
Bag shredded paper
Contain small pieces so they cannot blow across the drop-off area.
Empty and rinse containers
Remove liquid and food residue from bottles, jars and cans.
Plan for self-service unloading
The City says staff may be on site, but the drop-off center is designed as a self-service facility.
Save up enough material to make the trip worthwhile
This is another tip included in the City’s 2026 recycling guidance. A well-sorted larger paper or cardboard load is usually more efficient than repeated small trips.
Free Recycling Bins for Lancaster City Residents
The City currently says recycling bins are free to City residents and can be picked up at the Recycling Drop-Off Center during its listed hours.
Need a recycling bin?
City residents can pick one up at 850 New Holland Ave. during normal drop-off-center hours.
Damaged bin?
Place the damaged bin curbside with a clear note stating “Please Take.” The City’s hauler can remove it, and the resident can obtain a replacement.
Free Yard-Waste Bags Are Available Here — But Yard Waste Is a Separate Program
Lancaster City residents can also obtain complimentary paper yard-waste bags at 850 New Holland Ave. This does not mean yard waste belongs in the recycling drop-off containers.
- Use biodegradable paper yard-waste bags.
- Each bag or brush bundle must stay within the City’s weight and size rules.
- Bundles should be no longer than 4 feet.
- Yard-waste bags and bundles must not exceed 30 pounds.
- Keep garbage, litter, rocks, bricks, animal waste and soil out.
- Follow the City’s scheduled seasonal curbside yard-waste collection dates.
Bag pickup and yard-waste disposal are different tasks
You may obtain City yard-waste bags at the drop-off center, but the actual yard-waste material normally follows the City’s seasonal collection program or another approved yard-waste facility.
What to Do With Items the City Drop-Off Center Does Not Take
850 New Holland Ave. should not be treated as a universal recycling facility. Lancaster County has separate systems for hazardous waste, batteries, electronics, bulky waste and other special materials.
| Material | 850 New Holland? | Better official route |
|---|---|---|
| Rechargeable batteries | Not on City drop-off list | LCSWMA Household Hazardous Waste Facility |
| Computers / TVs / electronics | Not on City drop-off list | LCSWMA electronics / HHW facility |
| Paint / chemicals / fuels | No normal recycling route | LCSWMA Household Hazardous Waste Facility |
| Large appliances | Separate City program | White-goods collection or LCSWMA facility |
| Construction debris | No | LCSWMA Transfer Station or approved disposal route |
| Polystyrene foam #6 | Separate route | Dart Container route listed in City’s 2026 guide |
| Yard waste | Not a normal recyclable drop-off item | City seasonal yard-waste program |
Batteries, Electronics and Household Hazardous Waste
LCSWMA’s current Household Hazardous Waste Facility is at 1299 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17603. It handles batteries, electronics and household hazardous waste for Lancaster County residents.
The current published hours are Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM and Saturday, 7:00 AM–11:00 AM. LCSWMA states that Lancaster County residents can bring household hazardous materials there for free.
Never put rechargeable batteries in ordinary trash or recycling
Lancaster’s 2026 guidance specifically warns that rechargeable batteries from phones, laptops, tablets, toys and tools can start fires when placed in trash or recycling equipment.
Household hazardous waste
Paint, chemicals and similar household materials need the designated HHW route.
Batteries
Use the proper battery route rather than placing rechargeable batteries into recycling.
Electronics
Computers, monitors and TVs need Lancaster County’s electronics route.
Polystyrene Foam / “Styrofoam” Has a Separate Lancaster Route
The City’s 2026 recycling guide identifies Dart Container, 110 Pitney Road, Lancaster, PA 17602 as a drop-off route for qualifying #6 polystyrene foam.
The guide lists examples such as foam cups and takeout containers, egg cartons, ice chests, rinsed meat trays and protective packaging foam marked with #6.
- Look for #6 polystyrene foam.
- Rinse or wipe food containers clean.
- Remove lids and straws.
- Remove tape and labels from the foam.
- Place foam in a see-through bag as directed by the City guide.
- Do not include packing peanuts under the listed Dart program.
Verify Dart’s current acceptance before making a special trip
The City identifies this route in its 2026 newsletter, but private receiving requirements and operating conditions can change.
Large Appliances and White Goods
Large appliances do not belong in the ordinary New Holland Avenue recyclable-material containers. Lancaster’s 2026 calendar provides a separate white-goods collection process.
The calendar says white-goods or large-appliance collection normally occurs on the third Friday of each month, with a June exception shown in the collection calendar. A $15 tag is required and is obtained through the Treasury Office at 39 W. Chestnut St.
Check the collection calendar before buying a tag
Dates and collection rules can change by calendar year, so use the current City calendar rather than relying on a previous year’s pickup date.
Business and Non-Residential Recycling in Lancaster
Recycling requirements extend beyond single-family households. Lancaster’s 2026 guidance states that recycling is mandatory for residents as well as commercial, industrial, institutional and municipal establishments.
Businesses generating household-like quantities may be eligible for the City’s residential-contract collection program. Larger commercial operations generally work with permitted private collectors.
Small household-like business
Call the Solid Waste Hotline at 717-291-4744 to ask whether the City’s opt-in collection program fits your waste volume and material types.
Larger business operation
Use a permitted waste and recycling collector and confirm which source-separated recyclables your service handles.
Snow, Ice and Missed Curbside Collection
Winter weather can affect Lancaster’s curbside trash and recycling even when it does not change the published drop-off-center schedule. The City’s 2026 guidance warns that icy streets, plowable snow and snow banks can interfere with collection.
Before snow
If the recycling container is not full, consider holding recycling until conditions improve.
Missed collection
Contact the Solid Waste Hotline at 717-291-4744 for service help.
Drop-off trip
Check City notices before driving during significant winter weather.
Lancaster Recycling Center Map and Directions
The dedicated City facility page lists the Recycling Drop-Off Center at 850 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603.
Official Sources for Final Verification
Official address, facility hours, phone number and accepted materials. City of Lancaster Recycling Rules
Big 4 curbside guidance, drop-off materials and free recycling-bin information. 2026 Lancaster Trash & Recycling Calendar
Preparation details, drop-off guidance, batteries, yard waste, foam, white goods and holiday information. LCSWMA Recycling
Lancaster County Big 4 recycling rules and special-waste facility information. LCSWMA Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Official battery, electronics and household hazardous waste drop-off details.
Lancaster Recycling Center FAQs
Where is Lancaster Recycling Center?
The City of Lancaster Recycling Drop-Off Center is at 850 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603.
What are Lancaster Recycling Center hours?
The City’s dedicated facility page lists Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and the third Saturday of each month from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Is Lancaster Recycling Center open every Saturday?
No. Regular Saturday access is limited to the third Saturday of each month from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Is Lancaster Recycling Center open Sunday?
No regular Sunday drop-off hours are listed on the City’s dedicated Recycling Drop-Off Center page.
What items are accepted at 850 New Holland Ave.?
The City’s list includes mixed office paper, newspaper, magazines, corrugated cardboard, chipboard, softcover and hardcover books, shredded paper, plastic bottles and jugs with a neck, steel/tin/aluminum cans and glass bottles and jars.
Can I bring shredded paper?
Yes. Shredded paper is accepted. Lancaster’s 2026 guidance tells users to bring it bagged or contained and notes that the center does not shred documents.
Can I recycle books at Lancaster Recycling Center?
Yes. Softcover and hardcover books are on the official accepted-material list. The 2026 guide also lists phonebooks.
What are Lancaster County’s Big 4 recyclables?
The Big 4 are corrugated cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs with a neck, metal food and beverage cans, and glass bottles and jars.
Can I bring electronics or batteries to the City drop-off center?
Electronics and batteries are not part of the normal 850 New Holland Ave. accepted list. Lancaster County residents can use LCSWMA’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 1299 Harrisburg Pike for batteries, electronics and household hazardous waste.
Can I get a free recycling bin at the center?
Yes. The City says Lancaster City residents can pick up free recycling bins at the Recycling Drop-Off Center during listed hours.
Can I get free yard-waste bags there?
Yes. Lancaster City residents can obtain complimentary paper yard-waste bags at 850 New Holland Ave. Yard waste itself follows a separate City collection program.
Is the Lancaster Recycling Drop-Off Center self-service?
Yes. The City’s 2026 recycling guidance says staff are on site but the facility is designed to be self-service. Sort materials before arrival.
Is Recycling-Centre.org the official Lancaster recycling website?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide. The City of Lancaster and LCSWMA control official recycling rules, hours, closures and material requirements.
Before-You-Go Checklist
- Confirm that you mean Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Use 850 New Holland Ave. for the City Recycling Drop-Off Center.
- Visit Monday–Friday from 7 AM–4 PM or the third Saturday from 7 AM–11 AM.
- Check for temporary closure or holiday notices.
- Sort paper categories before leaving home.
- Flatten corrugated cardboard.
- Bag shredded paper.
- Empty and rinse bottles, jars and cans.
- Do not add random plastic items to bottles-and-jugs recycling.
- Plan to unload your own sorted materials.
- Use LCSWMA for batteries, electronics and household hazardous waste.
- Use the separate City route for white goods, yard waste and other special materials.
The Easiest Lancaster Drop-Off Starts With Sorting at Home
For normal accepted recyclables, go to 850 New Holland Ave. during the City’s listed weekday or third-Saturday hours. Sort paper types, flatten cardboard, contain shredded paper and rinse accepted containers before arriving.
Do not treat the center as a universal waste facility. Rechargeable batteries, electronics, household chemicals, large appliances, foam and yard waste all have separate Lancaster-area routes.
Independent information guide: Recycling-Centre.org is not the City of Lancaster, Penn Waste or Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority. Official hours, temporary closures, holiday impacts, accepted materials and special-waste programs can change, so verify final details with the City or LCSWMA before a special trip.