January Holiday Refuse and
Recycling Collection Schedule
A refuse and recycling holiday collection schedule will be in effect for December 30th through January 3rd, due to the New Year's Day holiday and also January 20th through 24th, due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
There will be no refuse or recycling collection on Wednesday, January 1st or Monday, January 20th.
2025 LMT Recycling Schedule
Home Burglary Prevention Tips
Did you know that the Lower Merion Township Police Department provides a complimentary Home Security Assessment for its residents?
For more information on how to enroll in this free service, please click the blue button below.
 
 From the Desk of the Chief Fire Officer -
Fireplace Safety
About 22,000 house fires a year start because of fireplace, wood stove or chimney issues—causing an estimated $93 million in residential property loss, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These tips will help keep your home fires burning safely:
- Keep it clean
Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually by a certified professional before you use it. Creosote buildup in chimneys—caused by the byproducts from burning wood—is highly combustible.
- Use dry wood
Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood. Soft, moist wood increases creosote buildup in the chimney. Cardboard boxes and trash also cause heavy creosote buildup.
- Follow the three-foot rule
Keep a three-foot area around the fireplace that’s clear of anything that can burn, such as decorations, toys and furniture, in case an ember flies into the room. Children and pets should not play in this area.
- Shield your room from the fire
Use a metal mesh screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Glass doors shouldn’t be closed while there is a fire in your fireplace because the heat can break the glass. Only a mesh screen or curtain should be used for spark protection.
- Avoid flammable liquids
Never use flammable liquids, such as lighter fluid, kerosene or gasoline, to start or increase a fire because they may cause an explosion.
- Keep a watchful eye
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Check outside
To avoid embers escaping from the chimney and starting a fire outside, cover the chimney opening on the roof with a mesh-screen spark arrester, and remove branches hanging above the chimney.
- Fireplace Ash Safety
🛑 Dispose of Fireplace Ashes Safely! 🛑
After a cozy fire, don’t forget that the ash left behind can be hazardous! Here’s how to handle it with care:
🔥 Extinguish: Allow the fire to burn out completely.
🔥 Cool Down: Always let fireplace ashes cool completely before handling them. This can take up to 48 hours, so be patient!
🔥 Store Ashes in a Metal Container: Use a metal bucket with a tight-fitting metal lid to collect ashes. Never use plastic, paper, or cardboard containers.
🔥 Keep Away from Flammable Materials: Place the ash container on a non-combustible surface, at least ten feet (10') away from your house and any combustible materials, such as wood, paper, or cloth. The ashes should be left in the ash container for a minimum of four days.
🔥 Disposal: Once ashes are completely cooled, dispose of them safely in your outdoor metal trash cart.
🔥 No Dumping in the Yard: Never dump ashes into mulch piles, compost, or yard waste carts - they can still pose a fire risk.
Safety First! Proper ash disposal can help prevent accidental fires and protect your home and community.
Stay safe this season! 🔥
Chief McCoy
Christmas Tree Collection
The Township will begin the collection of trees (which must be placed curbside) during the first two weeks in January, on your regular refuse collection day.
Residents may also dispose of Christmas trees at the Public Works Complex located at 1300 N Woodbine Avenue in Penn Valley, Monday through Friday 8am-3pm and Saturday 9am-2:30pm.
All ornaments, stands and other decorations must be removed.
Bala Cynwyd Library Storytimes
131 Old Lancaster Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Community Development Survey
The Township of Lower Merion, Pennsylvania is in the process of preparing its FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Plan, FY 2025 Annual Action Plan, and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. These plans are required by HUD so the Township will continue to receive its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Federal Government.
The Community Development Block Grant Program supports residents in the township through programs including but not limited to:
- Owner Occupied Residential Rehabilitation Program
- Frist Time Home Buyer Program
- Community Center Programs
- Senior Centers and senior support
- ADA upgrades in buildings and sidewalks
- Victim Support
- Issues of fair housing
- Legal Aid
- Food insecurity
We need your help in order to keep these programs running, and to identify what residents believe to be our greatest needs.
The following questions will be asked regarding Township needs:
- What are the housing needs in the Township?
- What homeless needs have you observed? (more shelters, more housing, rehousing programs, homeless prevention, resources for domestic violence etc.)
- What special needs issues have you observed? (i.e. elderly, disabled, persons with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, substance abuse)
- What community development needs have you observed? (i.e. roads, parks, food access, public safety, clearance/demolition)
- What are the economic development needs in the Township? (i.e. attracting businesses, job training)
- Have you observed any barriers to Fair Housing in the sale or rental of housing?
Click on the blue button below to get to the Township-wide resident questionnaire, that will let us know what residents like you think about these topics.
The Township would appreciate your response by Friday, January 31, 2025. (deadline extended!)
If you have any questions about the CDBG program or the Five-Year planning process, please contact either Emily Crane from the Lower Merion Building and Planning Department at ecrane@lowermerion.org and 610-645-6118.
|
|
|
|
Winter Weather Information and Reminders
Please use the links below to remind yourself of what to do when it snows or if a snow emergency is declared.
FYI- the countdown is on...78 days until spring!
Happy New Year!
 Zoom Update Required
Zoom will be enforcing minimum versions as outlined in their Software Lifecycle Policy on February 1, 2025. Users who are running an end-of-life version after February 1 will be logged out of their Zoom Client (Desktop, Mobile, and VDI) or not be able to join meetings via the Zoom Client until they update at zoom.us/download.
Please note, the Township uses Zoom for its online meetings Committee and Board of Commissioner Meetings.
SEPTA Senior Key Card
Adults age 65+ can travel FREE on all SEPTA transit routes and Regional Rail if their departure and arrival stations are in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the SEPTA Senior Key Card.
Learn more about the SEPTA Senior Fare Program: SEPTA.org/SeniorFareCard
Visit our mature driver webpage to find where you can make an appointment to apply for a card or renew your membership: montgomerycountypa.gov/MatureDriverSafety
SEPTA - iseptaphilly.com
|
