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Act 101 of 1988, “The Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act,” mandates recycling in municipalities with populations over 10,000 and those with populations between 5,000 and 10,000 that have population densities greater than 300 persons per square mile. At present, 440 of Pennsylvania’s 2,700 municipalities are mandated to recycle and provide curbside collection programs. These municipalities collect leaf waste and at least three materials from a menu of eight materials – steel/tin and aluminum cans, plastics, clear and colored glass, office paper, newspaper and corrugated cardboard from residents. They also provide recycling education and enforce their recycling ordinances.

Pennsylvania has over 1,900 municipalities with access to recycling programs. These programs serve an estimated 94 percent of the state’s population. Of the communities not required to recycle, 617 have curbside programs and 873 have access to drop-off programs.