Vogel Disposal will stop collecting recyclables in several townships after pickups scheduled for the week beginning Jan. 20.

The decision to curb recycling pickup for Vogel customers in Donegal, Oakland and Concord townships — as well as Chicora — stems from low participation rates, according to the company.

Even though recycling in those townships is not mandated locally or by the state, Vogel began offering the service five years ago, said Doug Vogel of Vogel Disposal.

“We decided to offer it five years ago and it never really took off. We had some residents do it. We had a 25 percent participation rate,” Vogel said. “When we started, we thought we would get a better participation rate, but it didn’t happen.”

The amount of recyclables collected in those areas wasn’t enough to justify the labor and fuel expense incurred in collecting the items, Vogel said, adding that only 200 customers participated across the three townships.

“I had to make the decision to do that. I’m spending way too much money,” Vogel said.

While the state mandates recycling for communities with populations of 5,000 or more, none of the townships or the county mandates recycling, he said.

Vogel went on to explain that more residents would participate if recycling was mandated.

“If it becomes mandatory, that’s a different story,” Vogel said.

He said the company hasn’t received any complaints.

Vogel customers in those townships should place their recyclable materials with their regular garbage for collection.

The company notified customers, but not Concord Township, said Candi Nassy, chairwoman of the board of supervisors.

“I don’t think it was very professional of them not to notify the township,” Nassy said. She said she was notified because she is a Vogel customer. Township residents can select their own garbage collection company.

No residents have contacted the township since the notifications were mailed out earlier this month and the supervisors haven’t had a meeting since then, she said.

The township will lose the little revenue it received from the recycling program.

“That’s just one more avenue of income we won’t have to work with,” Nassy said.

In Chicora, one of the affected communities, no residents have contacted the borough office about the service termination, officials said.

Officials from Donegal and Oakland townships couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.