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1. Does Peters Township have a burning ordinance?

Yes, Peters Township has a burning ordinance that regulates all outside fires in the township. Click here to view the full version of the burning ordinance.

2. Can I burn leaves?

No. Per the burning ordinance, leaves and leaf waste are prohibited from being burnt within the township.  Click here to view the full version of the burning ordinance.

3. Does it matter when I burn?

Yes, it does! Open burning is permitted Wednesday through Saturday during the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.  Click here to view the full version of the burning ordinance.

4. Can I have a recreational fire?

Yes, recreational fires or "campfires" are allowed outside of the burning ordinance hours and are for the enjoyment of those in attendance. Recreational fires must be attended at all times and should have a water source nearby in order to control and maintain the fire. The prohibited materials, as stated in the burning ordinance are still applicable. If you would like to notify the department that you will be having a recreational burn, please contact us at 724-941-4176.  Click here to view the full version of the burning ordinance.

5. What materials are prohibited from burning?

No fire shall contain any garbage, leaves, leaf waste, grass clippings, any material made of or coated with rubber, plastic, or petroleum-based materials and shall not contain any flammable or combustible liquids. This includes construction materials and lumber.  Click here to view the full version of the burning ordinance.

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1. Where is Fire Station #1 located?

245 East McMurray Road
McMurray, PA  15317

2. Is the fire department staffed?

Yes! The Peters Township Fire Department maintains 24/7/365 staffing with a combination of professionally trained volunteer & career firefighters. More information about our operations can be found in our ABOUT US section. 

3. Why does a fire truck respond to a medical emergency?

The Peters Township Fire Department is a Pennsylvania Department of Health certified Advanced Life Support (ALS) Quick Response Service (QRS). This means that our department is licensed and trained with EMTs and Paramedics to respond to medical emergencies. The department operates three (3) ALS vehicles that are equipped with nearly everything in an ambulance, the only difference is that we can not transport a patient to the hospital.

Some instances when the fire department is dispatched to medical emergencies:

• Critical calls: instances where the patient's condition is severe enough that additional medical personnel are needed to provide adequate medical care such as cardiac arrests, loss of consciousness, and traumatic emergencies
• Proximity: often times a fire apparatus may be closer to a medical emergency; minutes matter, and the quicker medical attention can be rendered to a patient, the better the outcome
• Ambulance availability: when Peters Township VFW's ambulances are unavailable and an ambulance must respond from another community, the fire department is dispatched to begin patient care prior to the arrival of the transport ambulance

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1. What is my pickup day?

Click here to view the garbage and recycling pickup schedule.  Pickup occurs weekly.

2. Which holidays delay my garbage and recycling collection?

Our Garbage webpage details which holidays will cause a delay in garbage and recycling collection.

3. What time does my garbage/recycling have to be placed out?

Garbage and recycling must be placed curbside by 6:00 AM of your scheduled day.  It should be placed out no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before your scheduled pickup day.

4. I have larger item to throw away, will Waste Management take it?

Click on our Bulk Items webpage to learn about what larger items Waste Management will pick up.

5. My garbage or recycling cart is broken. What do I do?

If your garbage or recycling cart breaks, please contact the Peters Township Municipal Building at 724-941-4180.  The carts are maintained by Waste Management.  The Township will arrange to have Waste Management fix or replace either your garbage or recycling cart.

6. How do I recycle electronics?

Click on our Electronics and Household Hazardous Waste to learn how to properly dispose of these items.

7. How do I recycle household hazardous waste?

Click on our Electronics and Household Hazardous Waste to learn how to properly dispose of these items.

8. How do I recycle glass?

Glass is not able to be recycled through our curbside recycling program.  However, residents can recycling glass by using our glass recycling drop-off container.  Click on the Glass Recycling Container webpage to learn more!

9. How do I recycle large amounts of cardboard?

Residents can recycle cardboard by placing it in their recycling cart for weekly pickup.

If you wish to recycle larger amounts of cardboard, click on the Cardboard Compactor webpage to learn about our compactor.

10. I am a new resident. How do I start garbage service?

New Residents

New residents should contact Jordan Tax Service (724-731-2300) to set up garbage/recycling billing for their property.  Each property should have one garbage cart and one recycling cart.  If you are missing a garbage or recycling cart, call the Municipal Building (724-941-4180).

11. What if I have more garbage than fits in the cart?

Waste Management has agreed that, for the duration of our current 5-year contract, they will collect an unlimited amount of garbage placed beside these full carts in plastic garbage bags or additional garbage cans. 

Peters Township is not selling additional Township garbage containers at this time.  Residents may purchase a Waste Management trash container directly from Waste Management by calling 1-800-866-4460.  Waste Management encourages residents to purchase additional containers from the directly.  Residents may also use their own trash containers or bag trash; however, if a non-Peters Township or non-Waste Management container is damaged during pickup, they will not be repaired or replaced.

12. What if I have more recycling than fits in the cart?

All recycling must be in your recycling container.  Recyclable material outside your container will not be collected by the recycling truck.  If you have large amounts of cardboard, the Township does have a cardboard compactor available for residents and small businesses to use.  

At this time, the Township only issues one recycling cart per residence.  Additional containers are not available for purchase.

13. May I exchange my garbage or recycling cart for a different size cart?

Peters Township is only offering one size container for garbage and one size container for recycling.  The cart sizes were chosen after studying similar programs in other suburban Pittsburgh communities.

14. Where do I place my carts on my scheduled pickup day?

Trash and recycling containers should both be placed curbside by 6:00 AM on your scheduled pickup day.  Carts may first be placed out after 6:00 PM the day before your scheduled day.

Carts should be placed 3 feet away from each other, 3 feet away from additional trash, and 3 feet away from other obstacles (poles, cars, etc.)

15. Who owns my garbage and recycling carts?

The garbage and recycling carts are owned by Peters Township.  The purchase of the carts was funded through residents’ garbage and recycling fees.  If you sell your home, the cart is to remain at the house for use by the new homeowner. 

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1. What is the Earned Income Tax?

The Earned Income Tax  is 1% on the earned income of all Peters Township residents, regardless of where they work.

2. Who is the Earned Income Tax Collector for Peters Township?

Keystone Collections Group is the local earned income tax collector for all Washington County municipalities and school districts including Peters Township. Your employer is required by Pennsylvania state law to withhold earned in for all employees. Check your most recent pay stub and verify that the Earned Income Tax is being withheld. If it is not being withheld, immediately contact your payroll department to have this corrected. Paul Lauer, Peters Township Manager, can be contacted at 724-941-4180 to assist you or your employers payroll department with any questions or concerns. Failure to withhold taxes by employers can result in fines, as well as, penalty and interest being levied.

To be able to correctly administer the collection of the Earned Income Tax, each employee is required to complete and return to the employer a new tax form called the Certificate of Residency (PDF). The form is analogous to the W-4 form required by the IRS. Do not return the Certificate of Residency form to Keystone Collection Group, but rather complete and return the form to your employer.

Contact Information

Keystone Collection
546 Wendel Road
Irwin, PA 15642
Phone: 724-978-0300
Keystone Collection Website

3. What if I am self-employed?

If you are self-employed or if you have earnings reported on Form 1099, report your income and pay your tax quarterly. Please go to Keystone Collection, select "Taxpayer Resources" and choose e-File. If you prefer to file by mail, you may alternatively contact Keystone by telephone at 724-978-2860 to obtain quarterly forms. Self-employed taxpayers must file and pay Earned Income Tax every quarter, either online or by mail, to avoid penalty and interest.

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1. What is the Local Services Tax?

The Local Services tax is $52 a year for everyone who works in Peters Township, including self-employed persons. Individuals who earn less than $12,000 per year are exempt from the tax. The combined rate for Peters Township and the Peters Township School District is $52 annually. Of this amount, $47 is levied by Peters Township and $5 is levied by the Peters Township School District

An individual working in Peters Township and subject to the Local Services Tax shall pay a pro rata share of the tax each payroll period. The pro rata share of the tax to be paid each payroll period shall be determined by dividing $52, the combined rate of the Local Services Tax, by the number of payroll periods established by the employer for the calendar year. For example, if an employer has 26 pay periods in a year, $2 ($52 per 26 periods) shall be deducted from each and every pay. Each individual shall pay no more than $52 in Local Services Tax in a calendar year, irrespective of the number of areas within which a person may be employed.

2. Who is the Local Services Tax Collector?

Keystone Collection
546 Wendel Road
Irwin, PA 15642
Phone: 724-978-0300
Keystone Collection Website

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1. Who is the Real Estate Tax Collector for the Township?

Jordan Tax Service
102 Rahway Road
McMurray, PA 15317
Phone: 724-731-2321
Jordan Tax Service Website

2. When are my Real Estate Taxes Due?

Peters Township Property Taxes are issued by March 7th every year. Residents will receive a 2% discount if the taxes are paid by June 7. Between June 8th and August 7th, property taxes are due at face value. After August 7th, there is a 10% penalty for late taxes. If property taxes are not paid by January 1st of the following year, the taxes will be turned over to the Washington County Tax Claim Bureau for collection.

Peters Township School District Property Taxes are issued by July 1 every year. Residents will receive a 2% discount if the taxes are paid by August 31. Between August 31 and October 31, property taxes are due at face value. After October 31, there is a 10% penalty for late taxes. If property taxes are not paid by January 1 of the following year, the taxes will be turned over to the Washington County Tax Claim Bureau for collection.