Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Auburn
New York municipal refuse is collected weekly on designated neighborhood days. Recycling is often collected on specific days depending on the borough or county.
State Mandate
Strictly separate e-waste. Electronics are banned from regular trash.
Any standard color or clear plastic bags Bin (Trash)
Limit of 5 containers or clear bags per household per week. Maximum 35 gallons and 50 lbs per container. Black bags and cardboard boxes are strictly prohibited for trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable materials
Any color, must be labeled with large 'R' Bin (Recycling)
Must follow the bi-weekly schedule separating cardboard from other recyclables. Bins must be 35 gallons or less, under 50 lbs, and clearly marked with an 'R'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (Week A)
- ✓Newspaper and mixed paper (Week B)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (Week B)
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (Week B)
- ✓Metal cans (Week B)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Black garbage bags
- ✕Syringes
- ✕Fluorescent light bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
Collected on Mondays only. Must be properly bagged, containerized, or tied in bundles. Loose debris will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small brush
- ✓Twigs and branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment only (pre-paid).
Placement
Once pre-paid, you will receive specific instructions on how and when to place the item curbside (typically the night before your regular trash day).
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Tables and dressers
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Refrigerators
- ✓ Large household appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid waste
- ✕ Fluorescent light bulbs
- ✕ Syringes and medical waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
Fees range from $10.00 to $55.00 per item depending on size. Items placed at the curb without prior payment will be collected by the city and billed to the property owner at a much higher penalty rate.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major city-observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling routes typically shift by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Since yard waste is specifically scheduled for Mondays, holidays falling on a Monday will push yard waste collection and subsequent trash routes back by one day.
Residents should place bins out after 5:00 PM the night before or before 7:00 AM on the day of their adjusted holiday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ban on Black Bags and Cardboard Boxes
The City of Auburn explicitly bans the use of opaque black garbage bags. All bagged household trash must be in clear bags so crews can ensure hazardous materials and recyclables are not hidden inside. Never use a cardboard box as a makeshift trash can.
Label Your Recycling Bins Clearly
Because residents use their own receptacles, the sanitation crews need a way to distinguish your recycling from your trash. Paint or stick a large, visible letter 'R' on the side of your recycling containers to guarantee they are serviced correctly.
Crush Your Plastics
To save space in your bin and the collection trucks, always crush your plastic milk jugs, water bottles, and other containers before tossing them in. Remember that only plastics numbered 1 through 7 are accepted in Auburn's curbside program.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryAfter the holidays, you can recycle your natural Christmas tree through the Cayuga County Trade-a-Tree program. The Soil and Water Conservation District chips the tree into mulch and rewards participants with a certificate for a free conifer seedling to plant in the spring.
Spring & Summer
April to AugustCayuga County periodically hosts special drop-off events during the warmer months, including dedicated tire collection days to prevent mosquito breeding, as well as household hazardous waste drop-off events. Check the county website for exact dates and pre-registration details.
Autumn
October to NovemberDuring peak leaf-falling season, continue to place your bagged or containerized leaves out for the standard Monday yard waste collection routes. Avoid blowing loose leaves directly into the street, as they can clog storm drains and create flooding hazards.
About Auburn Waste Management
Auburn's Streamline Refuse Collection Guidelines
The City of Auburn manages curbside trash collection through the Department of Public Works' Streamline Refuse Collection program. To maintain a clean community in Cayuga County, residents are permitted to place up to five 35-gallon containers or clear plastic bags at the curb each week. Each container must weigh no more than 50 pounds. Importantly, the city strictly prohibits the use of black garbage bags and cardboard boxes as trash receptacles; all waste must be easily visible in clear bags or securely placed in approved metal or plastic bins.
Navigating the Bi-Weekly Alternating Recycling Schedule
Auburn utilizes a distinct bi-weekly alternating schedule for its residential recycling program to ensure materials remain uncontaminated. Rather than mixing everything together, residents must follow the calendar to separate cardboard from other recyclables. Cardboard is collected on its own dedicated week, while the alternating week is reserved for newspapers, glass bottles, #1 through #7 plastics, and metal cans. To ensure successful pickup, your recycling bins must be clearly marked with a large letter 'R' to distinguish them from standard trash.
Year-Round Monday Yard Waste Collection
Keeping your lawn tidy is simple thanks to Auburn's dedicated Monday yard waste collection routes. While regular trash is picked up Tuesday through Friday, yard waste—including grass clippings, leaves, and small brush—is collected every Monday throughout the entire year. To guarantee your yard debris is collected by the public works crews, all organic materials must be neatly bagged in approved yard bags, tied in manageable bundles, or placed in rigid, open-top containers.
Pre-Paid Bulk and Appliance Disposal Process
When discarding large furniture or major appliances, Auburn residents must utilize the city's mandatory pre-paid bulk item service. Items like couches, dressers, mattresses, and refrigerators cannot simply be left at the curb. Instead, you must pre-arrange the pickup and pay a fee ranging from $10 to $55 depending on the item's size. Payments are processed online or in person at the City Treasurer's office at Memorial City Hall. Setting out unauthorized bulk items will result in mandatory removal at a significantly higher penalty rate.
Using the City of Auburn Transfer Station
For residents undertaking cleanouts who prefer to haul their own excess waste, the City of Auburn Transfer Station on North Division Street offers a convenient drop-off solution. Facility access requires purchasing an annual resident decal for $20. When dumping, residents pay a gate tipping fee of $100 per ton, with a minimum charge of $3.60 per visit. The transfer station operates Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM, and city code mandates that all incoming vehicle loads must be fully covered and secured with a tarpaulin.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Auburn Transfer Station
311 North Division Street, Auburn, NY 13021
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fee to use the Auburn transfer station to dump my own trash?
City residents must purchase an annual decal for $20. Once you have the decal, the gate tipping fee for disposing of waste at the transfer station is $100 per ton, with a minimum charge of $3.60 per visit. Non-residents must pay $120 for their annual decal.
How does the bi-weekly recycling schedule work in Auburn?
Auburn requires residents to separate cardboard from other recyclables. Cardboard is collected exclusively on one week, and the following week is dedicated to all other recyclables (newspaper, glass, plastic #1-7, and metal). You must check the city calendar to know which material is being collected each week.
Are there limits to how much curbside trash I can throw away each week?
Yes. The city enforces a strict limit of five approved refuse containers or clear plastic bags per household per week. Each container or bag cannot exceed 35 gallons in volume and must weigh less than 50 pounds when full. Black garbage bags are not allowed.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch in Auburn?
You cannot simply put bulk items out with your weekly garbage. You must pre-arrange and pre-pay for a bulk pickup either online through the city's website or in person at the City Treasurer's office (24 South Street). Fees range from $10 to $55 per item. If you place bulk waste at the curb without paying, the city will remove it and charge you a higher penalty fee.