Any standard 32-gallon pail Bin (Trash)
Use 32-gallon pails or plastic bags. Unlimited quantity allowed, but each must weigh 50 lbs or less. Pails cannot have attached lids or bungee cords. Place at the curb by 6:00 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Kitchen waste
- ✓Bathroom waste
- ✓Non-recyclable household items
CURBY can or standard bin with recycling sticker Bin (Recycling)
Alternating Wednesdays. Paper/cardboard one week; plastic/metal the next. Must be placed loose in the bin. No plastic bags allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, #5
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Empty aerosol cans
- ✓Paper, newspaper, junk mail
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Glass
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Milk or juice cartons
- ✕Soiled cardboard
- ✕Motor oil containers
Yard Waste Bin
Max 50 items (bags/bundles) per week. Bags/containers under 50 lbs. Bundles max 4' x 2' x 2'. Place at curb on Sunday night before collection week. NO GRASS CLIPPINGS.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Acorns and weeds
- ✓Twigs and branches (up to 6 inches diameter)
- ✓Pine cones and needles
- ✓Hedge clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your second garbage collection day (Thursday or Friday).
Placement
Place up to 4 bulk items next to your household garbage prior to 6:00 AM on your Thursday or Friday collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches (without recliners)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (dismantled)
- ✓ Carpet and rugs (cut to 6-foot lengths, rolled & tied)
- ✓ Solid wood doors (cut in half)
- ✓ Small DIY construction debris (under 50 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Major contractor-generated renovation debris
- ✕ Commercial tires
- ✕ Dirt, sand, or logs
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Bulk collection is included in municipal services up to the 4-item limit. Scrap metal, TVs, and sofa beds require a free scheduled pickup by calling 631-451-TOWN.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection is canceled on designated holidays marked on the town's recycling calendar.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is collected on a specialized weekly schedule (Sunday night put-outs) rather than a specific holiday-dependent weekday.
Brookhaven does not offer next-day makeup collection. If your garbage day is canceled due to a holiday, you must hold your waste until your next scheduled collection day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose
Never place your recyclables in plastic bags. Brookhaven requires all plastic, metal, and paper to be placed loosely inside your recycling bin or CURBY can. Bagged recyclables will be left at the curb.
Glass is No Longer Recycled Curbside
Do not place glass bottles or jars in your Wednesday recycling bin. Brookhaven removed glass from its single-stream program. Instead, bring glass to a designated town drop-off location or throw it in the regular trash.
Grass Clippings Are Prohibited
Grass clippings are strictly forbidden from the town's yard waste collection program. If you include grass in your yard waste bags, they will not be collected. The town encourages "grasscycling" by leaving clippings on your lawn.
Seasonal Information
Summer
July - AugustDuring extreme heat waves, the Town of Brookhaven may adjust sanitation collection schedules to protect workers. When a heat advisory is issued, ensure your bins are at the curb by 5:00 AM instead of 6:00 AM.
Winter
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected during a designated yard waste week in mid-January. Trees over 6 feet tall must be cut in half, and all decorations, lights, tinsel, and stands must be completely removed.
Fall
October - DecemberDuring peak leaf season, residents can also bring loose leaves or leaves packed in paper bags directly to the Manorville Compost Facility or the Solid Waste Management Facility free of charge.
About Brookhaven Waste Management
Navigating Brookhaven's Twice-a-Week Garbage Routes
In the Town of Brookhaven, residential garbage is picked up twice a week depending on your designated zone—either on a Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday schedule. Residents are permitted to place an unlimited number of 32-gallon trash cans or plastic bags at the curb. However, strict weight limits apply: each container must weigh no more than 50 pounds. Be sure to avoid using cans with attached lids or bungee cords, as carters will not service them.
Dual-Stream Alternating Recycling on Wednesdays
Every Wednesday is universally dedicated to recycling across Brookhaven. The town utilizes an alternating dual-stream format. One week, residents set out paper and flattened cardboard. The following Wednesday is reserved for plastics (numbers 1, 2, and 5), metal cans, and aluminum foil. To participate in the CURB (Clean Up Recycle Brookhaven) program, all recyclables must be placed loose in a bin or a town-issued CURBY can—plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Sunday Night Yard Waste Protocol
Unlike regular trash collection, Brookhaven collects yard waste during 20 specific weeks throughout the year. Residents are instructed to place branches, leaves, and twigs at the curb on the Sunday night before the designated collection week. The town allows up to 50 yard-waste items (bags or bundles) per household. A critical rule to remember is that Brookhaven does not accept grass clippings in its yard waste program.
Managing Up to Four Bulk Items Weekly
Brookhaven offers a generous bulk waste policy, allowing residents to place up to four large items at the curb every week. These items are collected exclusively on your second garbage day (Thursday or Friday). Acceptable items include couches, tables, and rolled carpets (cut to 6-foot lengths). If you put out more than four items, you risk receiving a violation.
Special Handling for Electronics, TVs, and Scrap Metal
Certain difficult-to-handle items require intervention directly from a Town Crew rather than your standard carter. If you need to dispose of a television, sofa bed with a metal frame, or large scrap metal, you cannot just leave it at the curb. Residents must call the town hotline at (631) 451-TOWN to schedule a specialized pickup for these specific materials.
Drop-off Facilities
Town Solid Waste Management Facility (Landfill)
350 Horseblock Road, Brookhaven, NY 11719
Materials Accepted
Manorville Compost Facility
Papermill Road, Manorville, NY 11949
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the carter leave my garbage can at the curb?
If your garbage was left behind, it likely violated town rules. Common reasons include: the pail weighed more than 50 pounds, it had an attached lid or bungee cords, it was larger than 32 gallons, or you placed it out after 6:00 AM.
How do I get rid of an old television or a sofa bed with a metal frame?
These items cannot be left out for regular bulk collection. You must schedule a special pickup by a Town Crew by calling (631) 451-TOWN.
Can I put grass clippings in my yard waste bags?
No. The Town of Brookhaven strictly prohibits grass clippings in yard waste collections. Residents are encouraged to leave grass clippings on their lawn (grasscycling) to return nutrients to the soil.
What happens if a holiday falls on my garbage day?
Because Brookhaven operates on split routes, carters do not perform next-day makeup collections for holidays. If a holiday falls on your collection day, it is canceled, and you must hold your garbage until your next scheduled pickup day.