April through August

Why: To collect cinders and debris from the roadway and to keep salt and cinders from entering the storm sewer system. Sweeping winter debris helps keep the waters of the Commonwealth clean. Township sweepers will sweep at the curb line first, then come back later and sweep leaf debris as the trees come into bloom.

The Township provides leaf collection during the fall season, beginning the first day after Columbus Day through the first Friday of December, unless snow falls prior to the scheduled end date.

Residents should place their leaves in the street along the curb line. Placing leaves in uniform sized rows along the curb instead of large piles, expedites the collection process because the units can continue to move forward as they are collect the leaves. Big piles of leaves are more time consuming to collect. Piles that are too close to parked cars cannot be collected because the units cannot reach the piles.

The crews will continue to rotate throughout the Township during the collection period. Specific collection dates cannot be set due to unforeseen weather conditions, equipment breakdowns and staffing levels. If heavy rains are predicted, we suggest you wait until after the storm passes to put your leaves in the street. Leaf piles could prevent the flow of storm water and clog storm drains which can lead to flooding.

Important Leaf Collection Notes:

1. Place leaves in uniform sized rows along the curb line. Large piles take longer to collect.
2. Do not park on top of leaf piles – the leaves can’t be collected and it may start a fire.
3. Only put leaves in the piles – branches, bricks, and other junk damages the equipment and cause delays in the collection schedule.
4. Attention Cul-de-sac Residents – in order for the unites to reach the leaf piles, cars need to be parked in the driveways.

In accordance with Chapter 10 Part 4 of the Township of Spring Codification of Ordinances, Ordinance 306 states that the yard waste collection facility is intended for Township of Spring residents only. Non-residents, Commercial landscapers, lawn mowing companies and similar entities shall be prohibited from using the Collection Facilities. Only yard residuals shall be accepted at the Collection Facility. No other recyclable material, rubbish, trash, waste or garbage is accepted at the Facility. Yard waste residuals shall be placed in the proper locations as indicated by the posted yard waste signs. No bags or containers are to be left at the site. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate the ordinance, shall upon conviction, be subject to a penalty of not less than $100.00 and not more than $600.00. For your reference, below is link to a copy of Ordinance 306 Titled Yard Residuals. Should you have any questions pertaining to the Yard Waste Collection Facility Ordinance, please contact the Director of Public Works, Craig Conrad or the Township Manager, John Groller at 610-678-5393.

The Township of Spring Yard Waste Recycling Sites are located on Yerger Boulevard near State Hill Road and on Goose Lane near Sage Drive. Operating hours are 6 am to 9 pm, May 1st through September 30th and 6 am to 7 pm from October 1st to April 30th.

Goose Lane & Yerger Boulevard Yard Waste Site

(Note: you must submit both “Rules and Regulations” and “Registration Form” documents)

• Rules and Regulations / Reglas y Regulaciones
• Registration Form / Formulario de Registro
• Ordinance 457 – Yard Waste Site

Addresses of the Yard Wastes Sites

Note: Please be aware that GPS systems such as Google Maps may navigate you to the general area where the sites are located.

• Goose Lane (South-side of the field across Shiloh Hills Park and Shiloh Hills Elementary School, in between Sage Drive and Penny Drive)
  • 126 Goose Ln, Reading, PA 19608 (Satellite Picture) (Click for Directions)
• Yerger Boulevard (Directly behind the Spring Meadow, where Giant and Mavis are located)
  • 1035 Yerger Blvd, Reading, PA 19609 (Satellite Picture) (Click for Directions)

This service is intended for Spring Township residents ONLY.

Ordinance 306, Section 43, REGULATIONS

Please remove grass clippings from plastic bags before dumping. No plastic bags are to be left at the site. If you must bag your grass for transport, please use paper bags as the paper bags will compost. Only yard residuals will be accepted at the collection facilities. No other type of recyclable material, rubbish, trash, waste or garbage is accepted. Hours of collection shall be 6:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m., May 1 through September 30 and 6:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m., October 1 through April 30.

Ordinance 306, Section 44, PENALTIES

Penalties: Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction, be subject to a Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or no more than Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) plus costs of prosecution. Each day of a violation shall constitute a separate offense.

Free mulch for township residents.

Township residents may get mulch from Yerger Blvd yard waste site. You must have a township issued key card to take advantage of this self-service mulch for your gardening needs.

Update: the mulch has been relocated near the brush drop-off.

The Maintenance Staff will begin salting and cindering operations as soon as deemed necessary. Once the snow/ice accumulates to approximately four (4) inches or more, the snow-plowing operations will begin. Many factors, including but not limited to short and long range weather forecasts, current road conditions, time of day and available equipment and materials, are considered when making the decisions regarding winter road maintenance.

As Mother Nature reminded all of us last year, there isn’t always a warming or melting period in between snow storms. In order to snow removal, provide space for these additional snow falls, the staff will make every attempt to plow open the roads from curb to curb in residential areas and back to the edges of the roads in rural areas. Vehicles that are parked on the streets or in cul-de-sacs prevent us from being able to do this. As additional snow falls and freezes on these rows of snow, they become impossible to move, grow larger and restrict the travel lanes. Whenever possible, please park vehicles in your driveway.

“Beet Juice” is a process coming from Sugar Beets, not the common red beets you might grow in your garden. Is a combination of de-sugared beet juice and sodium chloride brine. This solution is a ready-to-use, eco-friendly, all-natural treatment that will be sprayed directly on the road salt as it is dispensed from the Trucks salt spreader.

The beet-juice/brine combination reduces the bounce and scatter of the salt as it hits the roadway which should reduce the amount of salt that is needed. It will also reduce the amount of corrosion to the Township’s equipment and to traveling vehicles. By adding this solution to the road salt, it increases the salt’s efficiency because the solution’s freeze point is minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a dark brown color and has an odor and although it will change the color of the salt, it won’t stain equipment or vehicles. Beet juice is primarily used in the mid-west and is now making its start here on the East coast.

During storms, please keep children, pets and yourself out of the streets. Sledding in the streets is dangerous for everyone.

Our staff works long hours to clear the roads in a timely manner and to keep the traveling public safe. We appreciate your cooperation.

Additional information can be found in our Winter Storm Maintenance page

RESIDENTS ONLY!

Christmas trees WILL NOT be picked up at curbside.
Final drop-off date for trees will be January 31st.

Deposit trees at the following locations:

• Yerger Boulevard
• Goose Lane

Prior to digging up a Township Street, the applicant shall first apply to the Township of Spring for a Road Occupancy Permit. Please complete the application. Be sure to include the required sketch showing location and work details and the extent of the excavation. Please submit 3 copies of the required application and sketch to the Township Secretary. Fees are required upon application submittal. The fee is $ 250.00 per cut. Please see Street Occupancy and Excavations Ordinance for additional information and requirements.

• Road Occupancy Application
• Street Occupancy & Excavations Ordinance

Click here to review Penn DOT’s Curb Marking Guidance.

Map

Sewer backups can be caused by several problems such as tree roots, paper towels, flushable wipes, grease build ups, feminine products, toys, etc. The Township would like to remind all residents and businesses to avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper and human waste.

Single use wipes including diaper wipes, cleaning wipes, and paper towels, cannot be safely flushed, even if they are labeled “flushable” or “biodegradable”. Other than non-flushable items include things like:

• diapers
• disposable toilet brushes or scrubs
• feminine hygiene products
• kitty litter
• disposable gloves
• dental floss
• cotton swabs

These products do not break down like toilet paper and can clog the system very quickly. Flushing items that are not meant to be flushed can cause damage to your own sewer pipes, the Township’s sewer lines, and the treatment facilities that could lead to very costly repairs.

Refrain from disposing of food scraps, grease, fat, or oils down any drain. Over time the fat, oil, and grease will solidify inside the sewer pipes that carry the wastewater to the sewer plants. This can restrict the flow and eventually cause sewer backups.

To help your sewer flow better, make sure your outside sewer trap is available and clear of debris. Also, make a mental note of where your trap is located. This way if you have a sewer issue during the winter months, it is easier to locate under the snow and ice.

If your residency or commercial property is experiencing a sewer backup, you should take the following steps:

1. Contact a certified plumber to help find where the problem is located.
2. If the plumber finds that the issue past the curb and out at the main, then please contact the Township so that crews can investigate further.
3. If the plumber finds that the issue is within the property lines, please continue to work with the plumber to resolve that issue.

POLICY ON SEWER LATERAL BLOCKAGES AND REPAIRS

This is Township of Spring’s Policy on how to handle sewer lateral blockages and/or breaks in a sewer lateral. The sewer lateral is the pipe coming from your home that conveys your wastewater to the Township’s sanitary sewer main.

In the event of a blocked sewer lateral, the property owner is required to have the entire sewer lateral cleared of obstructions from the house to the Township’s sanitary sewer main. This can be done by either snaking or jetting the line by a professional plumber.

In the event of a damaged or broken sewer lateral, the property owner is responsible for repairing or replacing any damage to the sewer lateral from the house to the front of the curbline/ edge of roadway. If the Township’s sanitary sewer main is not located within the roadway, property owner’s responsibility will begin at the edge of the easement. The Township of Spring is responsible for any damage from the front of the curbline/edge of roadway or easement, whichever applies, to the Township’s sanitary sewer main. It is the property owner’s burden to establish the location of the blockage or required repair.  The property owner may satisfy this burden of proof by providing either a statement from a professional plumber or a video from a professional plumber’s sewer camera showing the blockage, damage and/or break and its location. Once the location of the problem is clearly determined, the party responsible shall promptly commence the necessary work, after securing the proper permits and scheduling the work.

Spring Township Wastewater Treatment Plant

FOG is the unwanted byproduct of food preparation. It comes from a variety of food sources such as butter, meats, sauces, milk products, plant oils, dressing, and gravies. FOG usually is found in a liquid from when heated and then becomes solid or semisolid when cooled. As we clean and rinse our dishes as well as prepare food, we accumulate FOG which likely finds its way down the drains. FOG as it hardens attaches to the sides of our sewer pipes and slows down the flow through our lateral sewer lines in our homes and businesses to the main sewer lines in the street. Ultimately the pipes will clog and back up resulting in a messy and costly cleanup. FOG that finds its way into the main sewer lines can create an even larger blockage and damage to multiple properties with a resulting increased cost to sewer services provided to the community. In addition, to sewer line backups, FOG can result in environmental and compliance issues if not managed correctly. To mitigate and control the amount of FOG entering the sanitary sewer system, the Township of Spring has enhanced its FOG Program. The Township of Spring FOG Program is designed to reduce and eliminate the amount of fats, oils and grease residual entering the sanitary sewer system from sewer serviced food handling businesses. Through the implementation of a specific FOG Ordinance, education, best management practices and an inspection program, the Township of Spring is committed to controlling FOG at the source.

FOG is not only generated in businesses but also in our own homes. How can homeowners help with the battle against FOG? Consider these helpful hints to eliminate fats, oils, and greases from finding their way to your drains:

• Dry Clean Up – using paper towels or absorbent material and put it in the trash
• Can It Up – deposit your excess food grease into a container, allow it to cool and harden, then throw it in the trash
• Use It Up – reuse your food grease for cooking and flavor; add a small amount to dog and cat food to help with coat shine
• Light It Up – can be used as oil lamp fuel
• Condition – mixture of used cooking oil and vinegar to polish and restore wood
• Be Creative – make bird food suet cakes by mixing residual food grease with bird seed
• Clean Up – use to make lye soaps; check out the internet for instructions
• Compost – add to your garden compost pile to enhance composting process and feed worms (vegetable oils only)