Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Brighton
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood refuse district zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Yard debris is collected weekly by the Town Highway Department from mid-April through October according to neighborhood zone, followed by bulk leaf collection in the fall.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
For properties in the Consolidated Refuse District, refuse and recycling service is billed as a special district charge on your annual town property tax bill. Bulk item pickup is available on Mondays when scheduled in advance.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person
Town-issued WM Toter Bin (Trash)
Place the toter at the curb no earlier than the day prior to collection, and have it out by 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. All items must fit completely inside with the lid closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household solid waste
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small, non-hazardous household debris
Town-issued WM Recycling Toter Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected bi-weekly on your designated trash day. Items must remain completely loose inside the toter; never bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed office paper and mail
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Clean metal cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Household hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Small amounts must be broken down and placed in brown paper yard bags or an unlidded, empty refuse container. The Highway Department does not collect loose piles of small debris or grass clippings.
Accepted Items
- ✓Autumn leaves
- ✓Small brush and twigs
- ✓Branches (tied or containerized)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular trash day (Requires advance scheduling).
Placement
Bulk items must be properly containerized or tied. Loose material that is scattered or requires an inordinate amount of time to collect will be left at the curb.
Accepted
- ✓ Kitchen appliances
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Moving boxes
- ✓ Bundled carpet (cut into 4-foot lengths)
- ✓ Up to 4 automotive tires per year (special request)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and solvents
- ✕ Wet paint
- ✕ Bug sprays
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Excessive construction debris
Amounts exceeding 2 cubic yards incur a $10.00 charge per excess cubic yard, billed directly to the resident. Items of unusual weight like concrete or brick require a special cost estimate.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, Waste Management will delay your collection of both refuse and recyclables by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Monday pickups move to Tuesday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard debris pickup conducted by the Highway Department may experience slight schedule variations during holiday weeks.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your standard collection schedule usually remains unaffected.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
April - SeptemberThe Highway Department collects yard debris Monday through Thursday across different zones. Small amounts of branches must be broken down and containerized [1.2.1]. The town does not collect loose piles of small debris.
Fall
October - DecemberComprehensive leaf collection begins. Brighton encourages residents to mulch their leaves in place or use them to insulate home compost bins, but the town will provide scheduled leaf vacuuming in designated areas.
Winter
December - MarchEnsure your toters are accessible during snowstorms and are not placed on top of snowbanks. During heavy accumulation, the Highway Department shifts its primary focus to extensive sidewalk and road snow removal.
Local Tips & Community Info
Municipal Refuse Districts and Carts
In the Town of Brighton, residential garbage is primarily managed through designated refuse districts serviced by contracted waste haulers, most notably Waste Management (WM). Homes within these organized districts are typically provided with a standardized 96-gallon roll cart for their weekly refuse. To ensure your household waste is successfully collected, carts must be wheeled out to the street by 7:00 AM on your specific collection morning. Make sure the wheels are positioned directly against the curb, and keep the bin at least three feet away from parked cars, mailboxes, and utility poles so the automated trucks can grab it safely.
Recycling Protocols and Restricted Items
Keeping recyclable materials out of local landfills is a major community priority. Residents are expected to place loose, clean recyclables—such as aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, glass bottles, and paper—directly into their designated recycling bins. All food containers should be rinsed free of residue. Importantly, you should never bag your recyclables in plastic grocery sacks, as these soft plastics severely damage the sorting equipment at regional recycling centers. Items like motor oil bottles, medical waste, and styrofoam are also explicitly prohibited from the curbside recycling program.
Spring and Summer Yard Debris Pickup
Starting in mid-April and running through the end of October, the Brighton Highway Department conducts weekly neighborhood sweeps to collect yard debris. Homeowners must place loose twigs, weeds, and garden waste into reusable containers or biodegradable paper yard bags, ensuring each container weighs no more than 50 pounds. For larger branches and brush, you must neatly stack the limbs parallel to the roadway, and they cannot exceed eight feet in length. Be aware that the town strictly refuses to collect grass clippings, sod, or dirt piles at the curb.
Autumn Leaf Sweeps and Winter Prep
When November arrives, the Highway Department transitions its focus from routine brush pickup to massive leaf collection operations. Because the volume of fallen leaves is immense, the town cannot maintain a strict weekly schedule during this period. Instead, crews rotate through designated residential zones, aiming to complete all leaf vacuuming by mid-December before the snowplows need to be deployed. Residents are urged to rake their leaves into long piles just behind the curb, being exceptionally careful not to block storm drains or create traffic hazards in the street.
Holiday Scheduling and Missed Pickups
When a major national holiday lands on a standard weekday, the garbage and recycling collection schedule is pushed back by one full day for the rest of the week. For instance, a Thursday holiday means Thursday routes are collected on Friday, and Friday routes move to Saturday. Weekend holidays do not impact the schedule. If you properly placed your bins at the curb by the 7:00 AM deadline and your street was still missed, you should promptly report the oversight by calling the town offices directly at 585-784-5224 to arrange a recovery route.
Drop-off Facilities
Monroe County ecopark
10 Avion Drive, Rochester, NY 14624
Materials Accepted
Brighton Highway Department Drop-off
1941 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules for putting out branches and brush in Brighton?
Brush and tree limbs must be cut to a maximum of eight feet in length and stacked neatly parallel to the edge of the road. Any loose garden debris must be placed in paper bags or dedicated containers weighing under 50 pounds.
Can I put my grass clippings out for town collection?
No, the Brighton Highway Department explicitly prohibits the curbside collection of grass clippings, dirt, and heavy sod. Residents are encouraged to mulch grass clippings back into their lawns.
Who do I contact if my trash cart is broken or was missed?
If your 96-gallon refuse cart requires maintenance, or if your garbage was completely missed during a routine collection day, you should contact the Town of Brighton at 585-784-5224 for assistance.