Frequently Asked Questions

Bulk trash pickup occurs on the last Wednesday of each month.  Residents are entitiled to one free pick up per year.  Additional pickups are $30 each.  Pickups on days other than the last Wednesday of the month can be arranged by calling 610-566-5210 x249 and are $30.  To schedule call 610-566-5210 x249.

General Parking Permits and Residential Parking Permits can be purchased online only at mediaborough.cmrpay.com

Residential Parking permits can be applied for if you reside on a street that is designated a residential parking area as identified in the Borough Code Chapter 211. Details on applying for a Residential Parking Permit can be found on the borough website.

Residential Parking Stickers are not available online and can be purchased at Borough Hall during regular business hours.

The building permit applications for the Borough of Media can be found on the Permits page.

Find more information on when a permit is required.

Trash is collected twice weekly.

• East side of Jackson Street - Monday and Thursday.
• West side of Jackson Street - Tuesday and Friday.

Place trash curbside after 6 pm the night before collection; bring containers in by 9 pm collection day.

For a complete list of upcoming Media Borough recreation events, please visit the Borough Calendar.

Certificate of Occupancy Application (PDF)

Certificate of Occupancy Procedures (PDF)

Certificate of Occupancy Criteria (PDF)

Inspections - Call 610-566-5210 ext 249 to schedule Certificate of Occupancy inspections

Ordinance 723 of the Borough of Media requires the Code Enforcement Department to compile a list of all tenants that rent or lease property from landlords or property managers. Furthermore, all tenant changes during the year must also be reported to the Borough. 

If you have any questions, please contact Media Borough at 610-566-5210, ext. 249 or visit the Code Enforcement page of the website.

The pickup empties your bucket into the Borough compost truck each week.  You can rinse your empty bucket out with a hose.  You can also line it with a paper grocery bag if you wish.  Most people keep a small (2-quart or so) container at their sink and empty it into the yellow program bucket, which they leave outside.  Smells are not noticeable if you empty your indoor container on a daily basis.  Your inside container should have a tight lid to prevent fruit flies in the summer.

No. They do not have time to. Use a paper bag as a liner instead.

Screw top lids rule!

Some participants have found success using a Screw Top Bucket Lid, available from the Home Depot website and other places.

As long as it is in a bucket.

Yes! Curbside Compost includes both yard waste and food scraps. We ask that you put your yard waste in a recycled paper yard waste bag (available at Deals and other hardware-type stores). Please do not overfill yard bags. Do not use plastic trash bags or plastic bag liners for yard waste. Sticks / branches are accepted provided they are no wider than four inches in diameter and no longer than four feet. Sticks / branches larger than 2 inches in diameter cannot be placed inside the bags and must be bundled separately.

Flies and bugs may increase in the summer for some people. Tips:  Keep the lid on at all times.  Keep the contents as cool and dry as possible. Store the bucket outside in a shady place.  Occasionally add shredded paper or dry yard waste.  Line the bucket with a paper grocery bag.  Rinse out the bucket every week after Public Works empties it.

No appointment is needed. Simply place your tree where your trash is normally picked up and the Public Works Department will be along to remove it.

The Public Works Department picks up trees five days a week throughout the month of January.

There is no set schedule for the Christmas tree schedule. They are picked up all throughout January.

Please look at the following link, which lists the food scraps acceptable in the program on the What Can I Compost page.

A small amount of dairy is fine.  Thanks for asking first!

Yes, spent potting soil is fine.

Yes, pits and seeds (peach, avocado, olive, etc.) are fine. Not all composting is the same. Our compost naturally gets to very high temperatures for long periods of time making seeds in the pile not viable. Everything gets broken down. Backyard piles normally can't achieve this which is likely why you thought you couldn't put them in. Again, not all composting methods, maintenance and mixes are the same, so thanks for asking first!

Yes, throw those seeds in the bucket!  They are fine.

Let's go with all paper or compostable tea bags and coffee filters that are acceptable for our composting method regardless of color or bleach.  If you don't think it will rot or you see plastic-like material, then no thank you. (Consider switching to unbleached and non-plastic beverage materials).

Yes, you can compost plain white paper napkins and paper towels in small quantities if they are soiled with food and cannot go into recycling.  But if they are not soiled, best to do it through the regular recycling program.

Our compost farm loves pizza boxes.  The more the merrier.  Don’t try to cram them into your yellow bucket, though.  You can either stack them next to your bucket or put them in your yard waste bag.

Nut cheese, if it is entirely plant-based, is fine.

Yes. Tofu is permissible.

Yes, in small amounts.

Yes, but real cork only.

Compostable takeout containers are fine for collection.  Break them up if you need to for space in the bucket, but otherwise, it is not necessary.

Bread can have pb&j on it. Mayo and other oils are also ok.

Sure, but no wrappers.

Yes (but no wrappers)!

Yes, they are fine.

Already on their way to being composted. Absolutely!

Yes!

Yes, it is fine for our composting.  The high-temperature compost process used at Kitchen Harvest would kill any possible E. coli present.

Thank you!  We appreciate folks trying to peel off the plastic ones.  Shiny paper one's compost okay.  But, yes, we do occasionally end up with a few stickers here and there in our finished compost because they are small enough to get through our screen too.

Yes, hair is okay.

Yes, but not the floral foam.

Yes, you can. Thanks for asking first!

One hundred % cotton and cardboard Q-tips and cotton balls can be tossed into your compost bin and will get broken down by microorganisms and bacteria just like everything else.

Yes.  If it says 100% biodegradable or compostable, it is okay with Kitchen Harvest.

Trader Joe's says their Pop-Up Sponges are compostable. For other sponges, if they are really cellulose - i.e., made from wood pulp, they are fine. But If you are not sure, don't throw them in.

If the box says they are fully compostable, then yes, they are fine.

First, it’s good for the environment. Reducing environmental impact is a core value of our residents [and your customers]. Additionally, the Media Borough ordinance has required businesses to recycle since 1987. (Borough Code 241-37)

Conversations with trash haulers indicate that adding recycling should not add much to your bill. If your hauler wants to significantly increase your bill to add recycling don't be shy about negotiating the price - or find another hauler - or partner with other businesses.

Yes. That is the law. It will not take much to include recycling in your operating procedures.

Post the list where it can be easily seen. Provide a recycling bin next to each trash bin. Make employees aware of the recycling requirements. Please view the list on the Media Borough Business Recycling Poster (PDF).

Other businesses in Media have found that it takes only a little effort to meet the requirements of Media Borough’s recycling ordinance.

Make copies of the Media Borough Business Recycling Poster (PDF), give it to each employee, and post them in each office. Provide a labeled recycling bin of equal size next to each waste basket in your office. Contact your trash hauler to add recycling pick-up.

Other businesses have made arrangements to share a dumpster. Many hauler trucks are equipped to work with 96-gallon Toters - large, lidded plastic bins on wheels. They can squeeze into small spaces and larger businesses can use two or three.

All haulers operating in Media are required to provide recycling for all of their Media clients.

Yes, however, we ask you to refrain from using tape on the walls.  Absolutely no glitter, sparkles, or confetti.

Yes, we provide the tables and chairs and set the room up to your specifications. You may not use your own tables and chairs.

No, we only provide tables and chairs.

Yes, alcohol can be served, however, it cannot be sold.

Yes. If a caterer will be cooking on premises then additional insurance and information are needed from the caterer.  If the caterer is only using sternos to keep the food warm, then this information is not needed.

Depending on availability, any time between 10am and 10pm.  Each rental is limited to 4 hours.

Yes, a certificate of liability for a minimum of $100,000 naming Media Borough as additional insured is required. You should contact your homeowner's insurance agent or an event insurance company.

10% of the rental fee is required to hold the date. A $500 security deposit and a $250 cleaning deposit are required.

• To reduce plastic pollution
• To reduce plastic litter
• To reduce plastic waste
• Our neighbor states, New York, New Jersey and Delaware, have single-use plastic bag laws; some of our neighboring municipalities have already enacted ordinances:
  • West Goshen
  • Haverford
  • West Chester
  • Narberth
  • Philadelphia
• Media residents are concerned about environmental issues and want to be part of the solution

In 2021, the Media Borough Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) began researching a single-use plastic bag and straw ordinance to recommend to Borough Council. They looked at similar ordinances elsewhere, talked with representatives from Penn Environment and Clean Air Council, and sponsored a Zoom meeting with other Delaware County EAC's. They reached out to the Media Business Authority (MBA) for feedback and began a conversation with Borough Council members about an ordinance. In April 2022, the EAC and MBA held a focus group and an information session for local business and restaurants.

• Single-use plastic bags, made of synthetic or plastic material, that are provided by a Commercial Establishment to a customer at or around the point of sale
• Any bags created through a "blown film extrusion" process
• Bio-based plastic bags: "bio-based" or "compostable" plastic is still partially composed of fossil-based plastic and contains similar amounts of toxicity

Any single-use plastic straw or drink stirrer provided by a business with beverages, including but not limited to coffee, cocktails, fountain sodas and juices. It does not include packaged beverages prepared and packaged outside of the Borough.

• Litter and Costs: Plastic bags and straws are a main source of litter in the Borough. They are hazardous to drainage and sewer systems and creeks, and they clog up recycling sorting facilities-all of which drive up costs for the Borough.
• Health Hazards: Plastics contain toxic chemicals, which pose risks to ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Single-use plastics are non-biodegradable products that do not undergo biological decomposition and break down into microparticles over time leaking into our soil and waterways. A 2021 PennEnvironment study found microplastic contamination in all of Delaware County's creeks. Microplastics are emerging as a serious health crisis as scientists understand their lasting impact on human health.
• Climate Change: The entire lifecycle of plastics - from pre-production to disposal - expose people and ecosystems to toxic chemicals. Plastics are created using fossil fuels which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Items used for a few minutes of convenience pollute the environment for hundreds of years.

Reusable bags are the best choice: No bag option is without impact. The goal is to reduce waste by encouraging customers to bring their reusable bags.

• Reusable bags are bags that are specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuses. Cotton, jute or other renewable fibers are the best choice.
• Paper Bags that meet the ordinance requirements - with at least 40% recycled content and labeled "recyclable" or "recycled content" - may be provided. Businesses may charge customers a minimum of $0.10 bag fee for paper bags.

A minimum $0.10 bag fee or more may be retained by businesses if they choose. The purpose of the fee is twofold: it supports businesses by off-setting the added cost of paper bags and secondly it encourages consumers to bring their own bag, which is the goal of this ordinance.

Once enforcement of the ordinance begins on July 1, 2023, a Commercial Establishment that violates or fails to comply with any of the ordinance requirements will receive an initial written warning notice. Further violations will entail fines as follows:

• Fine of $50 for a 1st offense
• Fine of $100 for a 2nd offense
• Fine of $300 for a 3rd or any subsequent offense

Yes! Media Borough is developing a sustainability incentive program to recognize our local businesses that go above and beyond to reduce waste and improve sustainability. Stay tuned for more details.

Media Borough is developing resources and marketing materials that will be made available online and distributed in print to educate the community and support businesses throughout implementation.

You can reduce your plastic use in many other ways:

• Buy produce fresh food without plastic packaging
• Use nylon or string bags to hold your produce purchases rather than plastic produce bags
• Buy in bulk when you can and bring your own containers
• If you eat out and expect to need a 'doggie bag', bring your own containers to put your unfinished meals in

The more of these habits you learn, the more ways you'll find to keep reducing single-use plastics from your life! The planet will thank you!

Food establishments would not be allowed to dispense prepared food or beverages to any person in single-use food containers made from foam polystyrene. 

• Includes: beverage cups, bowls, clamshells, plates, trays, and other containers and polystyrene-based packing materials in any form, including peanuts and noodles. 
• Does not include: Food and beverages that have been packaged in expanded polystyrene foam outside the Borough before receipt by a Retail Establishment.

• Carboard and paper containers
• Aluminum containers
• Plastic #1,2, & 5 (non-black containers are best)

The new ordinance amendment will be in effect starting on January 1, 2026. The ordinance amendment will not be fully enforced until July 1, 2026 to allow businesses and restaurants ample time to deplete their current supplies of polystyrene.

This is a part-time position for an elected official with irregular hours. To reach the tax collector, call 484-459-4411. If leaving a message about a tax question, please provide as many details as possible, including the folio (parcel) number.

Township taxes are due by June 1st. Taxpayers receive a discount if taxes are paid before April 1. A penalty of 10% is assessed if payment is made after May 31st. Postmark is accepted as proof of payment.

Tax payments should be mailed to 301 N. Jackson Street, Flr 2, Media, PA 19063.

Checks should be made payable to Borough of Media. Any bills unpaid as of December 31 are referred to the County Tax Claims office for collection.

Yes, see above for link HERE for electronic payment.

Please call the Tax Claims office at the Delaware County Courthouse - 610-891-4282

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania administers a property tax rebate program for senior citizens who meet certain income eligibility requirements. Applications are available in the Borough Administration  Building or at the local district office of your elected state senator or representative. For more information, visit www.revenue.state.pa.us or call 1-888-222-9190.

The borough does not collect school taxes. School Tax Office at csantamaria@rtmsd.org 610-627-6140

The Residential Street Parking Program (RSPP) is designed to give neighborhood residents priority for on-street parking in areas impacted by high parking demand. It helps reduce congestion from non-resident vehicles, such as commuters or visitors to nearby businesses.

Any resident who lives in one of the 3 designated residential parking zones and can provide proof of residency and vehicle registration is eligible. The vehicle must be registered to the resident’s address.

Residents can still park on their existing street or any other eligible street in their zone. There are three zones in the Borough: NW zone (north of Front Street and West of Jackson Street), NE zone (north of Front Street and East of Jackson Street), and the Southern zone (south of Front Street). The residential street parking permit zone map and street list is available on the Borough website: www.mediaborough.com/278/Parking-Permits

You will need:

• Proof of residency (e.g., lease, utility bill)
• Current vehicle registration

You can apply online through the Passport website. Complete the application form and submit the required documentation. A staff member will review your submission and approve or deny your application.

Yes. Effective January 1, 2026 the parking sticker will no longer be valid.

Effective January 1, 2026 the guest parking placards will no longer be valid and you will need to re-apply for a guest parking permit online.

Yes.

• Up to 2 vehicles - $5.00 each annually
• 3 or more vehicles - $15 each annually

Each household is permitted to have one permit for each vehicle registered at their address.

Yes. Temporary visitor permits are available and are good for one week. These may be requested online at www.mediaborough.com/278/Parking-Permits.

Permits allow parking in your designated residential zone only. Parking is still subject to all other restrictions (e.g., street cleaning, snow emergency routes).

No. A permit allows you to park in the zone but does not reserve a specific space or guarantee availability.

Vehicles parked in a residential permit zone without a valid permit may be subject to citation and fines.

Yes. Residential parking permits must be renewed annually. You will receive a reminder before expiration.

You can apply online through the Passport website. Complete the application form and submit the required documentation. A staff member will review your submission and approve or deny your application.

We are revamping the Residential Street Parking Program to ease parking demand by removing old placards and blue stickers from the streets that are no longer valid. In addition, utilizing an online system will make it easier for residents to renew permits annually and easier for the Borough to conduct consistent enforcement.

Contact the Borough Office at 610-566-5210. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.