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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Completely Unbagged
Never place your bi-weekly recycling inside plastic grocery bags or black trash bags. Flexible plastic film wraps around the mechanical sorting gears at the recycling facility and causes severe damage to the machinery.
Leave Grass Clippings on Your Lawn
The Town of Brighton Highway Department strictly refuses to collect grass clippings. Using a mulching mower to leave clippings on your yard provides free nitrogen to your soil and saves space in municipal compost trucks.
Ensure Trash Fits Completely Inside the Toter
Excess trash bags left on the ground next to your official WM toter will be ignored. The automated trucks are designed to lift the toters; they will not manually load overflow bags left on the pavement.
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.
About Brighton Waste Management
The Consolidated Refuse District Transformation
In early 2023, the Town of Brighton streamlined its sanitation services by merging 65 separate neighborhood collection zones into a single, town-wide Consolidated Refuse District. Through this municipal initiative, Waste Management (WM) now acts as the primary hauler for regular household garbage, bulk item pickup, and bi-weekly single-stream recycling for the vast majority of town residents.
Strict Limits on Grass Clippings and Plastic Bags
When managing your yard in Brighton, it is critical to know that the town Highway Department no longer collects grass clippings. Homeowners are actively encouraged to practice 'grasscycling' by leaving clippings on the lawn to naturally fertilize the soil. Furthermore, town crews will permanently bypass any yard debris packed in plastic grocery or garbage bags; only biodegradable brown paper lawn bags or rigid, unlidded refuse containers are permitted for curbside brush and leaves.
Scheduling Your Free Bulk and Tire Collection
While bulk waste is collected on the same day as your regular weekly trash, Brighton requires you to actively schedule the pickup in advance with Waste Management. Residents are permitted a 'reasonable amount' of up to two cubic yards of bulk household items per week at no extra charge. Surprisingly, this municipal contract also includes the free curbside disposal of up to four automotive tires per household annually, provided you call WM ahead of time to coordinate the special handling.
Navigating the Town-Issued Toter Ordinance
To combat neighborhood clutter, deter local wildlife, and streamline automated truck routes, Brighton enforces strict rules regarding curbside containers. All household garbage and recyclables must fit entirely inside your town-issued WM toters with the lids firmly closed. Any loose trash bags, cardboard boxes, or personal garbage cans placed next to the official toters will be completely ignored by the sanitation workers.
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
Does the town collect grass clippings?
No, the Town of Brighton Highway Department does not pick up grass clippings. The town encourages residents to recycle clippings back into the lawn using a mulching mower, which acts as a free fertilizer and improves soil health.
How do I throw away an old couch or mattress in Brighton?
If you live within the Consolidated Refuse District, Waste Management will pick up bulk items like furniture on your regular trash day. However, you must schedule this in advance by calling WM Customer Service at (800) 964-8988. You are allowed up to 2 cubic yards of bulk waste for free each week.
Can I put my autumn leaves in plastic garbage bags?
Absolutely not. The town strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags for yard debris. Leaves and brush must be placed in brown paper lawn bags or left in a designated, unlidded empty refuse container for the Highway Department to collect.
What happens if my trash doesn't fit in the provided toter?
Waste Management will only collect household trash that fits completely inside your designated WM toter with the lid firmly closed. Anything left in bags or personal cans outside the toter will be ignored. For large cleanouts or excess waste, you must proactively schedule a bulk pickup with WM.