Overview of Waste Collection Service

WM Trash and Recycling Guidelines & Calendar

  1. WM Waste Collection Calendar - South Fayette (PDF)
  2. 2026 WM Collection Calendar and Recycling Guide - South Fayette (PDF)

WM Videos about Automated Trash Collection

96-gallon trash cart with wheels

Pictured: Automated trash pickup comes with a wheeled cart like this.

Automated Trash Collection

In 2024, South Fayette Township residents began receiving automated trash collection service. Automated recycling already has been in effect.

Every household (in single-family homes and residential buildings with four or fewer units) received one wheeled cart for automated trash pickup. The carts were delivered to each home.

The township pays for standard waste collection services directly through tax revenue; residents are not billed directly.

Garbage Carts & Guidelines

  • A 96-gallon wheeled cart is provided free of charge to each home.
    • Residents have the option to change to a smaller cart (64-gallon or 32-gallon).
      • 96-gallon tote holds approximately 7-8 tall kitchen bags (44" tall x 27" wide x 35" deep)
      • 64-gallon tote holds approximately 4-5 tall kitchen bags (44" tall x 24" wide x 24" deep)
      • 32-gallon tote holds approximately 2-3 tall kitchen bags (slightly larger than 39" tall x 19" wide x 24" deep)
    • A household can rent an additional 96-gallon trash cart for a yearly fee to cover the additional cost of collecting and disposing of that additional waste. The annual fee, which was $110 in 2024, increases 7% for each year through 2028.
    • To order an additional cart, call WM at 1-800-866-4460 and say “SERVICE CHANGE” to the phone system prompt. You will be directed to an agent to place your order and pay for your cart.
    • Personal, store-bought cans, bins or carts are not permitted.
  • Carts are picked up by a truck with an automated arm.
  • All trash must fit inside the cart. Trash outside the cart will not be collected.

Oversize (Bulk) Items

Collection of oversize items, called bulk items, occurs on regularly scheduled pickup days during the second full week of each month (WM starts each week with Monday)

  • Bulk items include furniture, appliances, and other oversize items.
  • Bulk does not include any amount of loose trash bags / extra regular trash bags.
  • Bulk items are limited to 2 per month, per household.
  • 2 bulk items per month can be placed at curb, outside the cart, during the designated monthly bulk collection day.

Recycling

If you are moving into a newly built home, call 1-800-866-4460 and WM (Waste Management) will deliver a recycling cart to your residence.

Every eligible residence receives one 64-gallon recycling cart for free. The bin stays with the home if you move. It is green with a yellow lid and has the SF township logo on it.

Additional recycling carts

  • If you need to purchase an additional recycling cart, you must pay an annual fee to WM, which was $93 in 2024 and increases 7% increase each following year through 2028. The additional cart has the WM logo (not SF). This fee pays for the additional service, not the cart itself.
  • To order an additional cart, call WM at 1-800-866-4460 and say “SERVICE CHANGE” to the phone system prompt. You will be directed to an agent to place your order and pay for your cart.

Yard & Leaf Waste

  • Special, designated collections of leaf and yard waste are held periodically, using biodegradable paper bags placed at the curb (same as the current procedure).
  • Outside of these special collections, yard waste is treated like any other trash and must be bagged and placed in the garbage cart.
  • Yard waste is prohibited in recycling carts.

WM Contract

In September 2023, the township approved a contract with WM (Waste Management) for the years 2024 to 2028. There was no option for trash collection to remain exactly the same as it has been in past years.

Waste haulers had provided bids for collection services in 19 communities, including South Fayette, through the South Hills Area Council of Governments. WM, the existing hauler in South Fayette, was the lowest of only two bids submitted and therefore earned the 5-year contract.

Survey Results

South Fayette received and reviewed more than 1,100 responses to an online public survey about trash collection services. Township staff has been working with WM to address issues and concerns that residents shared.

  • 51% preferred automated collection
  • 40% preferred manual collection
  • 9% were unsure

The majority—60%—said they would not be willing to pay higher taxes for manual collection. Another 34% said they would pay more, and 6% were unsure. The township selected the automated option after reviewing resident feedback and cost scenarios.