Tamaqua residents are advised of some changes to garbage collection.

Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said at Tuesday’s council meeting that trash placed in drums, such as an oil drum, will no longer be collected.

“Some people have been putting out garbage in a 50-gallon drum,” Steigerwalt said, “and they don’t want to pick those up anymore because of safety reasons.”

Steigerwalt said that the drums weren’t permitted under the contract the borough held with Tamaqua Transfer, but despite that, it seemed that trash was being collected from them. Casella Waste Systems recently purchased Tamaqua Transfer and took over the contract with the borough.

“They’re enforcing it,” Steigerwalt said.

Jay Stidham, director of public works, said the weight limit on garbage is 50 pounds, and containers should be no larger than 35 gallons.

Resident Linda Miller asked if garbage cans had to have lids. She said she had heard that the trash hauler was confiscating certain types of garbage cans.

Councilman Ron Bowman said the claims were part of a false post on Facebook.

He said the post noted that certain types of trash receptacles, including the “old” recycling containers issued to residents, would be removed by the hauler.

“It says on Facebook, ‘Don’t put them out because they’re going to take them away,’ ” Bowman said.

He said the social media claims are untrue and that residents may still use the containers.

Steigerwalt added that anyone who travels to the Tamaqua Transfer station must wear safety equipment.

“If they enter the fenced in area, the actual drop-off site, they have to have a hard hat and a safety vest,” Steigerwalt said. “It is for safety reasons.”