Any color standard pail Bin (Trash)
Use standard 33-gallon pails with lids and molded handles. No tie-down straps. Max 3 garbage cans per household per collection day. Each can must weigh 50 lbs or less.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable materials
Blue bin or clear plastic bag Bin (Recycling)
Collected weekly on Wednesdays. Alternates between Commingled (glass/metal/plastics in blue bin/clear bag) and Paper/Cardboard (bundled/tied or in brown bags only). Rinse all containers and remove caps/lids.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Flattened plastic bottles
- ✓Newspaper and cardboard (alternating weeks)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Cereal boxes
- ✕Plastic bags for paper
- ✕Drinking glasses
- ✕Window panes
- ✕Light bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
Collected once a week based on 5 zones (YWZ). Use standard 33-gallon cans or biodegradable paper bags. Max 10 items per week, under 50 lbs each. Branches must be tied in bundles under 4 feet long.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree branches (under 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
With regular garbage pickup (1 item of furniture) or by appointment (White Goods)
Placement
For White Goods, call EnCon at (631) 491-3200 by Friday to schedule a pickup for the following Wednesday. Bulk items should be placed within one foot of the curb.
Accepted
- ✓ 1 piece of furniture per pickup
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Rugs (rolled and tied)
- ✓ White goods (appliances, scheduled separately)
- ✓ 1 passenger vehicle tire (Thursday/Friday pickup)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Building materials from major renovations
- ✕ Dirt, sod, and rocks
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Explosives and ammunition
- ✕ Automobile body parts
Standard bulk furniture is collected at no additional charge with regular trash. Major construction debris is not accepted and must be taken to a private transfer station.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
During these 7 holiday weeks, recycling collection moves from Wednesday to your regular garbage day (Thursday or Friday). Garbage service still occurs on all other town-observed holidays not listed here.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is not collected on holidays. If a holiday falls on your yard waste day, it will be skipped until your next scheduled collection day the following week.
Always check the annual Recycling Calendar mailed to your home in late December for the exact schedule adjustments.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Food-Soiled Cardboard Out
Pizza boxes and cereal boxes cannot be recycled in Babylon's curbside program. Grease and food remnants easily contaminate cardboard recycling, so place these items in your regular household garbage.
Never Use Plastic Bags for Paper
On paper and cardboard recycling weeks, do not use plastic bags or your blue recycling bin. Newspapers and cardboard must be bundled with twine or placed in brown paper bags; otherwise, they will be left at the curb.
Prepare Your Plastics and Glass
Remove all caps, lids, and wire rings from glass and plastic containers before placing them in your blue bin or clear plastic bag. Always rinse them thoroughly to prevent contaminating the recycling stream.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
April - May, October - NovemberDuring heavy yard cleanup seasons, remember you are allowed a maximum of 10 items of yard waste per week. Do not allow landscapers to leave excessive bags at your curb, as the town may issue a violation.
Winter
JanuaryThe town provides curbside pickup for Christmas trees during the first two weeks of January. Ensure all ornaments, lights, and stands are completely removed before placing them at the curb.
Year-Round
January - DecemberDue to Babylon's coastal location, always ensure garbage pails are watertight with securely fastened lids to prevent high winds from blowing debris into the Great South Bay and local waterways.
About Babylon Waste Management
Understanding Babylon's Red and Blue Garbage Zones
In the Town of Babylon, residential general garbage is collected twice a week based on specific zones. If you reside in a 'Red Zone' or a Barrier Island Community, your trash is picked up on Mondays and Thursdays. For those in a 'Blue Zone,' expect pickups on Tuesdays and Fridays. Trash service usually begins around 5:00 AM, so residents should place standard 33-gallon bins (max 3 per household) at the curb after 1:00 PM the day prior.
The Alternating Wednesday Recycling System
Babylon operates a unique alternating recycling schedule where all pickups happen on Wednesdays. One week is dedicated exclusively to commingled glass, metal cans, and plastic bottles, which must be placed in a town-issued blue bin or a clear plastic bag. The following Wednesday is reserved for paper and cardboard, which cannot be put in the blue bin—it must be securely bundled with twine or placed in brown paper bags.
Navigating Yard Waste Collection Zones (YWZ)
Unlike regular trash, yard waste is collected on a specific weekday depending on your designated Yard Waste Zone (YWZ 1 through 5). EnCon provides this service year-round. You can place up to 10 items per week at the curb, including leaves and grass in 33-gallon cans or biodegradable bags, and branches tied in 4-foot bundles. Be sure not to mix yard debris with your household garbage.
White Goods and Large Appliance Disposal
Disposing of an old refrigerator or air conditioner in Babylon requires a bit of planning. These items, referred to as 'White Goods,' are collected by EnCon strictly on Wednesdays. Residents must call (631) 491-3200 by Friday to reserve a spot for the following week. For safety, you must remove all doors from refrigerators and freezers before bringing them to the curb.
The West Babylon Residential Recycling Center
If you have waste that cannot be collected curbside, the Residential Recycling Center at 57 Field Street in West Babylon is a critical resource. Open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM, the facility accepts a wide range of materials free of charge, including e-waste, up to 4 passenger tires, car batteries, propane tanks, and waste oil. It's the go-to drop-off site for keeping hazardous materials out of the Great South Bay.
Drop-off Facilities
Town of Babylon Residential Recycling Center
57 Field Street, West Babylon, NY 11704
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my garbage or recycling is missed in Babylon?
If your properly prepared garbage, recycling, or yard waste was not picked up by the end of the day, contact the town's contracted hauler, EnCon Industries, directly at (631) 491-3200 for assistance.
How do I know whether it's paper or plastic recycling week?
The Town of Babylon alternates recycling every Wednesday. You must check the annual Recycling Calendar mailed to your home. On 'bottles and cans' weeks, use your blue bin or clear bags. On 'newspaper' weeks, bundle your paper or place it in brown paper bags.
How can I dispose of an old refrigerator or washing machine?
These appliances are considered 'White Goods' and require a special pickup. You must schedule this by calling EnCon at (631) 491-3200 by the Friday prior to the Wednesday pickup. Remember to remove all doors from refrigerators and freezers before placing them at the curb.
Where can I safely dispose of electronic waste or household chemicals?
E-waste cannot go in your curbside bin. You can drop off electronics, waste oil, and batteries for free at the Residential Recycling Center at 57 Field Street in West Babylon. For hazardous liquids like pesticides and paint, hold onto them for the town's biannual S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) collection events.