City-issued garbage tote (color varies, typically blue or black) Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be contained entirely within the city-issued tote with the lid closed. Excess household garbage outside the tote is not permitted unless it qualifies as a 2-piece weekly bulk item.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Green Tote Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables in the green tote. If you have extra recycling that won't fit, it can uniquely be placed next to the tote in CLEAR plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1-7
- ✓Plastic lawn furniture
- ✓Paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass food containers and jars
- ✓Metal cans and cookware
Do NOT Include
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Opaque or black plastic bags
Yard Waste Bin
Leaves and grass must be in clear plastic or paper bags. Sticks and branches must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 ft and under 50 lbs. Do not rake leaves into the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush and tree limbs (under 4 feet)
- ✓Green waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (up to 2 items) and Biannual District Sweeps (up to 4 cubic yards).
Placement
For the weekly collection, place up to 2 items next to your tote. For district sweeps, piles up to 12'x3'x3' must be out on the Sunday prior to the collection week.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (stoves, refrigerators, microwaves)
- ✓ Carpet (cut into 4-foot rolled sections)
- ✓ Large toys
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions and computers (E-waste)
- ✕ Tires (requires special drop-off)
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste or wet paint
Weekly limit of 2 items and district sweeps are free. For extra bulk pickup, the 'Pick and Pay' service starts at $150 via 311.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Buffalo operates on a highly unique schedule: garbage and recycling are collected on their regular schedule all year round, EXCEPT for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. There are no delays for Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, or Labor Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same two-holiday delay rule as normal garbage collection.
When Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week are pushed back by one day, concluding on Saturday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Clear Bags Only for Overflow Recycling
If your green recycling tote is full, Buffalo allows you to bag the excess. However, you must use completely clear plastic bags. Do not use black garbage bags, as crews will mistake them for regular trash.
Keep E-Waste Out of the Tote
Never place laptops, TVs, or computer accessories in your garbage or recycling totes. These items cause severe hazards at processing facilities. Take them to the Engineering Garage on Seneca Street instead.
No Loose Leaves in the Street
It is a violation of city ordinance to rake or blow leaves into the public street. All yard waste must be properly bagged in paper or clear plastic bags, or safely bundled if dealing with branches.
Seasonal Information
Winter
JanuaryThe City typically conducts curbside Christmas tree recycling during the first three weeks of January. Place unbagged, decoration-free trees at the curb on your regular garbage day, or bring them to designated drop-off sites.
Fall
October - NovemberDuring peak foliage season, the City operates an intensive six-week leaf collection program. Yard waste is picked up and composted when time allows, but bags must be strictly paper or clear plastic.
Winter
December - MarchBuffalo winters bring significant lake-effect snow. The Streets Department clears over 1,600 lane miles; ensure your garbage and recycling totes are placed in cleared areas behind the curbline, not in the street where plows operate.
About Buffalo Waste Management
Buffalo's Two-Piece Weekly Bulk Benefit
Unlike many municipalities that restrict bulk waste to special appointment days, the City of Buffalo provides a generous weekly allowance. Residents are permitted to place up to two pieces of bulk trash at the curb alongside their standard garbage tote every single week. This means you can seamlessly dispose of a mattress, an old microwave, or a four-foot bundle of yard debris without needing to call ahead or pay extra fees.
District-Wide Spring and Fall Bulk Sweeps
In addition to the weekly bulk allowance, the city organizes massive large bulk waste collections every spring and fall. These sweeps are scheduled sequentially across different Council Districts. During your district's designated week, you can place a pile of up to 4 cubic yards—specifically measuring 12 feet long, 3 feet high, and 3 feet wide—out on the Sunday before collection starts. For waste exceeding this limit, the city offers a 'Pick and Pay' service starting at $150.
East Side Transfer Station Privileges
Owner-occupied properties in Buffalo enjoy a unique disposal privilege at the East Side Transfer Station located at 793 South Ogden Street. Residents can dispose of up to one ton of household waste annually at this facility free of charge. To utilize this benefit, you must present a valid driver's license and a recent utility bill to prove owner-occupancy. Drop-offs are welcomed Monday through Friday during morning and afternoon windows, as well as Saturday mornings.
Flexible Recycling in the Green Tote
Buffalo's recycling program, collected weekly via the municipal green totes, is remarkably flexible. While most cities strictly forbid plastic bags in recycling streams, Buffalo actually allows residents to place excess recyclables in clear plastic bags next to their tote if it overflows. Furthermore, the program accepts unusual items such as rigid plastic lawn furniture, alongside standard glass, metal cans, paper, and flattened cardboard.
Navigating Electronic Waste Disposal
Televisions, computers, and other electronic waste are strictly banned from curbside placement in Buffalo. To keep these hazardous items out of landfills, residents must bring their e-waste to the City Engineering Garage at 1120 Seneca Street, with a limit of five items per year. Recognizing accessibility challenges, the city offers a special exception: senior citizens and disabled residents can call 311 to schedule a specialized home pickup for their electronics.
Drop-off Facilities
East Side Transfer Station
793 South Ogden Street, Buffalo, NY 14206
Materials Accepted
City Engineering Garage
1120 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY 14210
Materials Accepted
Broadway Garage (Tire Drop-off Only)
197 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14204
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my garbage pickup get delayed on Thanksgiving or Labor Day in Buffalo?
No. The City of Buffalo runs its garbage and recycling routes on all holidays throughout the year except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If those two holidays fall on a weekday, collection is delayed by one day.
What if I have more than two bulk items to throw away?
If you have more than your weekly 2-item limit, you can either wait for your Council District's designated Spring/Fall Large Bulk Waste Collection week (allowing up to 4 cubic yards) or call 311 to arrange a 'Pick and Pay' pickup starting at $150.
How do I dispose of a television or computer in Buffalo?
E-waste is not allowed at the curb. Residents must bring televisions, computers, and peripherals to the City Engineering Garage at 1120 Seneca Street. A limit of 5 items per year applies. Senior citizens or disabled residents can call 311 to arrange a special pickup.
Can I throw away excess recycling that won't fit in my Green Tote?
Yes. While many cities ban plastic bags in the recycling stream, Buffalo uniquely permits residents to place excess recyclables in clear plastic bags next to the green tote on collection day.