Radioactive Materials Impacting Waste Hauling In Northampton

NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA — The Northampton Township Police Department is urging residents to avoid disposing radioactive materials in the residential waste stream.

Over the last three months, Casella Waste Systems (Whitetail Disposal) has lost the use of four of its trucks - each sidelined for more than a week - due to the improper disposal of radioactive material into the residential waste stream.

And police said another incident was reported on Monday in the township.

It happens when radioactive material is mistakenly placed in the household trash. When this occurs, trucks must be taken out of service for extended periods to ensure safety, resulting in delays, costly repairs, and unnecessary risk, police said.

“We want to remind all residents that radioactive materials are strictly prohibited from disposal with regular household trash. These items cannot be managed through standard waste collection due to the serious safety hazards they create,” police said.

In some cases, police said the materials may be coming from individuals undergoing chemotherapy treatments, where certain medical by-products can register as radioactive.

“While these situations are usually low-level, they still cause trucks to be flagged, pulled from service, and quarantined. Even small amounts create significant disruption,” police said.

If you or someone in your household may have materials of concern, contact your healthcare provider or local waste authority for proper disposal options.