Early November is when a lot of Peters Township garages get reshuffled. The mower that limped through its last cut of the season gets pushed to the back, the snow blower that would not start last January gets dragged forward, and somewhere in the corner sits a string trimmer, a half-empty gas can and a leaf blower nobody has used in years. If some of that equipment is done for, now is a good time to get it out before snow and cold make the job harder.
Iron Bear & Co. is a family-owned, local junk removal company, established in 2015 (formerly Richie’s Hauling). We clear garages and sheds across Peters Township, McMurray, Canonsburg and the South Hills, and small-engine equipment is one of the most common things homeowners ask about this time of year.
Why old mowers and snow blowers are tricky to throw away
Lawn mowers, snow blowers, tillers and trimmers are not like a bag of household trash. They are heavy, awkward to lift into a bin, and they usually still hold gasoline and engine oil. Peters Township’s curbside garbage rules list several items that are not collected at the curb, including riding lawn mowers, flammable liquids, propane tanks, automobile parts, tires, construction material, electronics, household hazardous waste and paint. That covers the riding mower outright, plus most of what tends to sit next to it on the garage floor.
Push mowers and snow blowers are not named in that list, but they can still create problems at the curb because of their weight and the fuel and oil inside. If you plan to put any equipment out yourself, check with the township or the hauler first.
What Peters Township residents can do with each item
Riding mowers and lawn tractors
These are excluded from curbside collection in Peters Township, so they need another route. Options include selling or giving away a working machine, trading it in when you buy a new one, taking it to a scrap metal recycler, or having it hauled away.
Push mowers, snow blowers and tillers
Peters Township’s bulk pickup allows two bulk items per month during the first full pickup week, and the township directs residents to Waste Management at 1-800-866-4460 with bulk questions. Call before you set out a small-engine machine to confirm it will be taken and how it should be prepared.
Used motor oil from small engines
The U.S. EPA notes that used oil from lawn mowers and other small engines can be recycled. Drain it into a clean, leak-proof container with a tight lid, and do not mix it with gasoline, antifreeze or solvents, because mixed oil may not be accepted for recycling. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recommends using its RecycleSearch tool to find a used oil collection location and calling ahead to confirm, or contacting the DEP recycling hotline at 1-800-346-4242.
Old gasoline, paint and propane
Leftover gas is a flammable liquid, which Peters Township excludes from curbside garbage. Household hazardous waste and paint for eligible residents go through WM At Your Door at 1-800-449-7587, a home pickup service the township offers at no extra charge. Propane tanks are also excluded from curbside garbage, so ask the supplier or a propane exchange location about taking back an old cylinder.
Battery-powered equipment and chargers
Cordless mowers, blowers and trimmers come with batteries and chargers that count as electronics. Peters Township excludes electronics from curbside garbage and routes them through WM At Your Door as well. For other options, our e-waste removal page explains how we handle electronics.
How to prep equipment before it leaves
- Run the engine dry at the end of its last use, or let the tank sit nearly empty, so there is little fuel left to manage.
- Keep gas cans, oil jugs and chemicals separate from the equipment.
- Pull the spark plug wire before moving a mower by hand, and keep hands clear of blades and augers.
- Clear a path from the garage to the driveway so heavy machines can be rolled out instead of carried.
- Set aside anything you want to keep or sell, such as a newer attachment or spare parts.
When it makes sense to have it hauled
If you have one push mower and a spare weekend afternoon, doing it yourself through the township’s bulk pickup may be enough. Hauling makes more sense when there is a riding mower that cannot go to the curb, when several machines need to go at once, or when the equipment is part of a bigger garage or shed cleanout. It also helps when nobody in the house can safely lift a heavy two-stage snow blower into a truck.
When you book with Iron Bear & Co., tell us what equipment is going and whether there is still fuel or oil in it, and we will let you know how to prepare it. Our team does the lifting and loading, and protects floors and doorways on the way out. Usable items can be donated or recycled where possible. It is the white-glove approach we bring to every job, and we won’t leave your doorstep until you’re satisfied.
If the garage is due for a full reset, our junk removal service handles everything in one visit, and for larger projects we offer dumpster rental. Clearing a whole outbuilding? Our guide to barn and outbuilding cleanouts covers what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
Will Peters Township pick up my riding mower at the curb?
No. Riding lawn mowers are on Peters Township’s list of items not collected curbside. Plan to sell, recycle or have it hauled.
Can I leave gas in the mower when it is picked up?
It is best to run it dry or nearly empty. Tell us about any fuel or oil when you book, and keep gas cans separate.
What do I do with the leftover oil?
Store it in a sealed, leak-proof container without mixing in other fluids, then take it to a used oil collection site. PA DEP’s RecycleSearch tool can help you find one.
Do you serve McMurray and Canonsburg too?
Yes. We serve Peters Township, McMurray, Canonsburg, Upper St. Clair, South Fayette and nearby communities. Call to confirm your address.
Schedule your equipment pickup
Ready to clear out the old mower, snow blower or the whole garage before winter? Call Iron Bear & Co. at (724) 809-3998 or reach us through our contact page for a no-obligation estimate.
Sources: Peters Township, Garbage (curbside, bulk and WM At Your Door); U.S. EPA, Managing, Reusing, and Recycling Used Oil; Pennsylvania DEP, Motor Oil. Program details as of November 2026.