Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Binghamton
Trash Day
Collection runs Tuesday through Friday depending on neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash (Tuesday through Friday).
Yard Waste
Every Monday from March through early December.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening prior)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Binghamton utilizes a pay-as-you-throw blue bag system for residential trash collection, while water and sewer utilities are billed separately on a 4-month cycle.
Billing Cycle
Tri-annually (every 4 months)
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person, Payment Kiosk
Blue (Official City Bags) Bin (Trash)
All household garbage MUST be placed in official City of Binghamton blue bags. If placed in a garbage can (max 33 gallons, max 60 lbs), the trash inside must still be in a blue bag. Garbage bags placed for collection must weigh no more than 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Clothing
- ✓Broken down Styrofoam
Yellow / Green (City-issued bin) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be clean and placed together in an official Broome County recycling bin. Do not bag recyclables in plastic grocery bags, as they tangle the sorting machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and newspaper
- ✓Brown paper bags
- ✓Clear, green, brown, and blue glass jars
- ✓Tin and steel cans
- ✓Aluminum cans and foil
Do NOT Include
- ✕Blueprints or carbon paper
- ✕Wax-covered cardboard
- ✕Tissues and paper towels
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Ceramics
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Collected every Monday. Branches must be bundled with string (max 4 ft long, max 4 inches diameter, max 50 lbs). Leaves and grass must be in open 33-gallon containers or compostable paper bags. No plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Flowers
- ✓Tree parts and shrubbery
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Non-metal) / By Appointment (Metal/Appliances)
Placement
Bulk items should be placed at the curb the evening preceding the normal garbage collection day, but no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated day.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and bed frames
- ✓ Bundled lumber (under 5 ft / 50 lbs)
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Refrigerators (must call to schedule)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Masonry (brick, concrete, tile)
- ✕ Electronics and batteries
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid paint
- ✕ Automotive parts
Standard non-metal bulk items are collected without stickers. Check with DPW for potential fees or restrictions associated with specific appliances or excessive construction debris volumes.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Binghamton sanitation routes are typically delayed by one day if a major holiday falls on a weekday, shifting collection schedules through Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Monday yard waste pickups are adjusted if a listed holiday falls on that Monday. Crews will collect the yard waste on Tuesday; leave it at the curb if it is not picked up immediately.
Contact the DPW Dispatch at (607) 772-7020 if you are unsure of a holiday schedule adjustment.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring / Summer
March - AugustYard waste collection begins the first Monday in March [3.1.2]. Raking leaves, grass clippings, or debris directly into the street or along the curb line is strictly prohibited, as it causes severe clogs in the city's storm drains during spring rains.
Fall
September - NovemberDuring autumn leaf season, ensure you are using compostable paper yard bags or standard 33-gallon open-top containers. The city enforces a strict limit of 8 containers or bags per property per week for Monday collections.
Winter
December - FebruaryLake-effect snows and Nor'easters can bury curbside waste. Keep your blue bags and recycling bins clearly visible and avoid placing them in the street or on top of snowbanks where municipal snowplows might strike them.
Local Tips & Community Info
Binghamton's Pay-As-You-Throw Blue Bag Program
Instead of standard monthly sanitation fees, the City of Binghamton utilizes a unique Pay-As-You-Throw model managed by the Department of Public Works (DPW). Under this system, residents must purchase and use official blue City of Binghamton refuse bags for all standard household garbage. You can buy these authorized bags in small, medium, or large sleeves at local grocery stores or directly from the City Treasurer’s office. Even if you place your trash inside a personal garbage can to deter pests, the waste inside that container must still be enclosed in an official blue bag. The maximum weight for any single bag or 33-gallon can is strictly set at 50 pounds.
Curbside Collection Timings and Zones
Depending on your specific neighborhood, normal garbage and recycling routes operate between Tuesday and Friday. To ensure your waste is processed without issue, you must stage your blue bags and recycling bins at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. The local ordinance prohibits leaving items out too early; you may only place your receptacles curbside starting at 6:00 p.m. the night before pickup. Adhering to these strict timeframes keeps Binghamton’s sidewalks clear and prevents nighttime scavenging by urban wildlife.
Single-Stream Recycling Protocols
Working in coordination with Broome County, Binghamton provides specialized yellow or green bins for residential single-stream recycling. You can mix your clean cardboard, newspaper, glass jars, aluminum foils, and steel cans right in the same container. However, do not pack your recyclables into plastic grocery bags, as the thin plastic film causes massive jams at the regional sorting facility. Items like broken ceramics, drinking glasses, windowpanes, and wax-coated cardboard are prohibited from the recycling stream and belong in your blue trash bags.
Monday Yard Waste Procedures
From early March through December, DPW crews dedicate Mondays entirely to collecting organic yard debris. Homeowners must use compostable paper yard bags or open-top 33-gallon containers, as any grass or leaves packed in plastic bags will be left behind. There is a firm limit of eight bags or containers per property each week. If you are trimming trees, brush and branches must be chopped to under four feet long, tied securely with twine or rope (no metal wire), and weigh less than 50 pounds. Never rake leaves directly into the road, as it clogs the storm water drains.
Discarding Bulky Furniture and White Goods
Getting rid of a worn-out couch or broken bed frame is straightforward in Binghamton. Standard non-metal bulk furniture, which the city categorizes as heavy trash, can simply be placed out alongside your blue bags on your normal collection day without needing any special disposal stickers. However, large metal appliances—often called white goods—like refrigerators, washing machines, and water heaters require a scheduled pickup. You must call the DPW Dispatch line at (607) 772-7020 to arrange a specific metal collection appointment.
Drop-off Facilities
Broome County Landfill
286 Knapp Rd, Binghamton, NY 13905
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to buy special bags for my garbage in Binghamton?
Yes. Binghamton mandates a Pay-As-You-Throw system. All normal household trash must be sealed inside official City of Binghamton blue bags, which are sold in sleeves of five at local retailers.
How do I throw out an old television or computer?
Electronic waste is legally banned from curbside pickup in New York state. You cannot put electronics in blue bags or at the curb. They must be transported to a specialized e-waste recycler or the Broome County Landfill.
Is there a limit on how much yard waste I can put out?
Yes. During the Monday yard waste collection season, the city strictly enforces a maximum limit of eight paper yard bags or open-top containers per property per week.