The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Raystown Lake has officially transitioned most of its recreation areas to a “Pack-It-In, Pack-It-Out” policy, resulting in the removal of public dumpsters across the project’s day-use sites.
The policy, which went into effect on March 25, 2026, marks a significant shift in how the lake manages waste. Officials state the move is a direct response to the chronic and escalating misuse of public disposal bins.
According to Raystown Lake Project Manager Allen Gwinn, the decision followed an intensive monitoring period by park rangers. The results were startling: 80% of the waste found in the lake’s dumpsters was not generated by recreational visitors, but was instead household garbage illegally dumped by local residents and contractors.
“This isn’t a new problem; we’ve been dealing with this for decades,” Gwinn stated in a recent release. “Every dollar we spend hauling off someone’s freezer full of rotting food or a stack of tires is a dollar we’re not spending on maintaining boat launches, restrooms, and trails.”
For those planning a trip to the lake this season, the rules are now straightforward: if you bring it, you take it home. Visitors at boat launches, picnic areas, and trails must bring their own trash bags and dispose of all refuse—including food waste, packaging, and fishing line—off-site.
Dumpsters will remain available to registered reservation holders at Seven Points, Nancy’s Camp, and Susquehannock Campgrounds, as well as the Seven Points Beach.
Rangers will be closely monitoring these remaining sites. Individuals caught disposing of household waste in campground dumpsters will face citations and enforcement actions.
The USACE suggests that visitors pivot to reusable solutions to make the transition easier:
Use reusable water bottles (refill stations are available at the Visitor Center and Seven Points shelters).
Pack food in reusable containers to minimize single-use plastics and wrappers.
Double-wrap pet waste before placing it in your personal vehicle for the trip home.
By eliminating the high cost of hauling private household trash, the Army Corps hopes to redirect hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars back into improving the facilities that define the Raystown experience.
