Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Bethlehem
Trash Day
The Town of Bethlehem does not provide municipal curbside trash collection. Residents contract with a permitted private hauler of their choice or bring household trash to the Town Rupert Road Transfer Station.
Recycling
Curbside single-stream recycling is collected by your private hauler according to your contracted service day, or items can be dropped off at the Town Rupert Road Transfer Station.
Yard Waste
Collected year-round Monday through Friday by the Town Highway Department according to a designated street schedule, along with dedicated spring cleanup and loose fall leaf pickups.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Town utility bills cover water and sewer services quarterly. Trash and recycling services are contracted and billed separately through private haulers.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Bank Draft), Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Varies by private hauler Bin (Trash)
Curbside trash pickup is entirely managed by permitted private haulers. All guidelines, including bin placement times and container types, are determined by your specific subscription.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household solid waste
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Varies by private hauler Bin (Recycling)
Private haulers utilize single-stream recycling, meaning all accepted recyclables go into one bin. Do not use plastic bags unless specifically instructed by your private hauler.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed paper (newspapers, magazines, mail)
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Plastic containers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Food scraps
Yard Waste Bin
Place yard waste curbside in biodegradable paper bags or reusable open containers. Branches must be cut to a maximum of 4 feet, stacked neatly, and no more than 3 feet tall.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush and branches (max 4 feet long)
- ✓Yard trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies by private hauler or via self-haul to the Transfer Station.
Placement
Bulky items should be placed at the curb only on the morning of your pre-arranged pickup appointment to prevent neighborhood code violations.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Refrigerators
- ✓ Mattresses
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Electronics (take to Transfer Station)
- ✕ Wet paint
- ✕ Liquid chemicals
Extra fees apply for curbside bulk pickups through your private hauler. Alternatively, many bulky items are accepted at the Rupert Road Transfer Station for an applicable municipal drop-off fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Because trash collection is completely managed by independent private companies, holiday delay schedules vary. Generally, if a major holiday falls on a weekday, service is pushed back one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Town-operated yard waste pickup and the Transfer Station will observe standard municipal holiday closures. Always check the town website for exact date changes.
You must contact your contracted hauler (e.g., County Waste, Waste Management, Twin Bridges) directly to confirm their exact holiday policies.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilThe town holds an annual Spring Cleanup week (typically mid-April). Residents can dispose of yard waste, brush, wood fencing, and waste lumber at the curbside. All materials must be placed neatly at the edge of the property without obstructing the roadway.
Fall
October - NovemberBethlehem conducts an extensive Fall Leaf Pickup program. Leaves must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or piled strictly according to the Highway Department's guidelines to prevent dangerous storm drain blockages.
Year-Round
January - DecemberThe Rupert Road Transfer Station operates year-round to accept household garbage, dual-stream recycling, and electronic waste for residents who choose to self-haul their debris rather than paying a private company.
Local Tips & Community Info
Private Haulers and Municipal Drop-Off Options
Unlike some neighboring municipalities in Albany County, the Town of Bethlehem does not dispatch a municipal fleet for curbside garbage collection. Instead, residents have the flexibility to contract directly with licensed private carting companies for their weekly sanitation needs. Because the service is privatized, your specific pickup day, container size limits, and holiday schedule delays will be determined exclusively by the hauler you select. Homeowners are advised to place their bins out early on their designated morning to ensure seamless neighborhood service.
Accessing the Rupert Road Transfer Station
For residents who prefer a hands-on approach to waste management, the town operates the Rupert Road Transfer Station. To gain entry, you must purchase an annual resident permit from the Department of Public Works (DPW). Rather than paying per visit, the facility utilizes a prepaid punch card system for disposing of standard household trash and bulky items. These punch cards can be conveniently purchased at Town Hall or directly at the Transfer Station scale house.
Sorting Single-Stream Recyclables
Bethlehem is committed to reducing landfill waste by providing a robust recycling center at the Rupert Road facility. The town operates a single-stream system, allowing residents with a valid permit to drop off mixed plastics, glass jars, and metal cans into a unified compactor. Corrugated cardboard must be broken down and flattened. It is critical that all recyclable materials remain loose; soft plastic grocery bags cause severe mechanical issues at regional sorting plants and are strictly prohibited.
Highway Department Yard Brush Collection
While standard refuse is privatized, the Bethlehem Highway Department takes charge of seasonal yard debris. During the spring cleanup period, crews sweep through residential neighborhoods to collect piled brush and yard waste. Homeowners must place grass clippings and small twigs inside biodegradable paper lawn bags. Larger branches must be securely tied with twine, cut to a maximum of four feet in length, and neatly stacked parallel to the roadway to facilitate safe loading.
Autumn Leaf Vacuuming Protocol
As the harsh New York winter approaches, the Highway Department transitions to intense loose-leaf vacuuming operations. Beginning in late October, residents are permitted to rake fallen leaves directly to the edge of their lawns. However, leaves must never be piled in the street, as this blocks storm drains and creates a slipping hazard for vehicles. The town rotates through collection zones continually until the first significant snowfall forces the deployment of the salt trucks.
Biannual Household Hazardous Waste Days
Toxic materials such as oil-based paints, chemical solvents, and old pool cleaners must never be discarded in your regular trash. To protect the local aquifer, the Town of Bethlehem hosts specific Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off events twice a year. Pre-registration is typically required for these events to manage traffic flow. During these designated weekends, residents can safely surrender their dangerous household chemicals and outdated electronics for specialized, environmentally compliant processing.
Drop-off Facilities
Rupert Road Transfer Station
144 Rupert Road, Bethlehem, NY 12161
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Town of Bethlehem pick up regular household trash?
No, the town does not provide curbside garbage collection. Residents must either hire a private waste hauling company or utilize the Rupert Road Transfer Station.
Where can I buy a punch card for the Rupert Road facility?
Punch cards for waste disposal can be purchased at the Town Hall Receiver of Taxes office, the DPW main office, or directly at the Transfer Station.
How should I package my branches for town collection?
Branches must be cut to lengths of four feet or less, bundled tightly with natural twine, and placed neatly by the curb during the designated spring brush pickup schedule.