Town-issued 95-gallon tote Bin (Trash)
Available by 6:00 AM on collection day. All garbage must first be tied in plastic bags before being placed into the tote with the lid closed securely. Carts must be within 4 feet of the road with arrows facing the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Standard household refuse
Town-issued 65-gallon tote Bin (Recycling)
Mandatory single-stream collection by 6:00 AM. Items must be placed loosely in the container. Absolutely no plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Paper and newspaper
- ✓Glass bottles
- ✓Tin and aluminum cans
- ✓Plastics (1-7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Construction materials
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard
Yard Waste Bin
The town code permits organic yard waste to be composted on residential property in a nuisance-free manner. Large debris must be managed privately or handled at designated county drop-off events.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two times per calendar year
Placement
Call AAA Carting at least two weeks before your desired date. Items should be placed curbside on the designated weekday of your flex-pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Bulky household items
- ✓ Large non-hazardous debris
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Industrial materials
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Electronics/E-waste
Included at no additional cost as part of the municipal solid waste program, up to the four-cubic-yard maximum limit.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There is no collection on the four major observed holidays. Services are generally shifted forward to accommodate the holiday closure.
Yard Waste Exception
N/A
For specific daily shifts (e.g., Monday routes moving to Wednesday), refer to the annual municipal refuse guide distributed by the Town of Carmel.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Unbagged
Never bundle your cans or paper in plastic garbage bags. The sorting facility requires materials to be loose so they don't jam up the single-stream recycling machinery.
Skip the Construction Debris
AAA Carting will not collect industrial refuse, drywall, lumber, or contractor waste. Do not hide these heavy materials inside your 95-gallon tote.
Rinse Out Food Residue
Food particles left inside glass jars or plastic containers can ruin an entire batch of paper recyclables. Give your items a quick rinse before tossing them in the 65-gallon bin.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to MarchDuring snowfall, bins must be placed at least 3 feet off the edge of the road in a cleared spot on your driveway. Placing them in the street or on snowbanks obstructs town plows.
Spring
April to MaySpring cleaning is a great time to utilize your first flex bulk pickup. Call two weeks ahead to clear out mattresses, old furniture, or broken appliances.
Autumn
September to NovemberInstead of throwing away leaves, consider on-site composting. The Town of Carmel encourages turning seasonal yard trimmings into natural fertilizer for your property.
About Carmel Waste Management
Carmel's Refuse Overhaul & Standardized Totes
The Town of Carmel utilizes a structured municipal contract with AAA Carting to handle residential garbage and recycling. Instead of navigating a patchwork of private haulers, residents enjoy twice-weekly refuse collection and once-a-week single-stream recycling. To keep neighborhoods clean and collections efficient, households must exclusively use the town-issued 95-gallon refuse totes and 65-gallon recycling totes. Garbage left in personal pails or tossed on the curb uncontainerized will simply be left behind.
Navigating Curbside Rules and Upstate Weather
Proper cart placement is critical. Bins need to face the street with arrows pointing toward the road and sit at least four feet from vehicles, telephone poles, and other bins. When winter weather rolls into Putnam County, snowplows require extra clearance. Carmel officials mandate that residents pull their totes back at least three feet from the edge of the pavement, resting them in a cleared driveway space rather than on top of snowbanks or in the street.
Mandatory Single-Stream Recycling
Recycling isn't just highly encouraged in Carmel; it is required by local law. The single-stream system simplifies the process, allowing residents to mix plastics 1 through 7, glass bottles, metal cans, and paper all into the same 65-gallon tote. However, it is imperative to keep recyclables loose. Do not bag your recycling in plastic bags, as these wrap around and damage sorting equipment at the processing facility.
The Two-Pickup Flex Bulk Program
Rather than a town-wide clean-up week that easily gets missed, Carmel offers an intuitive 'flex-pickup' system. Every residential property is entitled to two customized bulk pickups between February and mid-December each year. Residents must call AAA Carting at least two weeks in advance to lock in a weekday schedule for up to four cubic yards of bulky household items.
Premium Driveway Collection Services
For those with long driveways or physical limitations preventing them from hauling 95-gallon totes to the street, a premium 'driveway service' is available. For an additional annual fee paid quarterly directly to AAA Carting, crews will retrieve your bins from your property. Just keep in mind that the driveway must remain fully cleared of ice, snow, and blocking vehicles on collection day, or the crew won't be able to provide the service.
Drop-off Facilities
Putnam County Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Organized events at various county locations (check Putnam County Dept of Health)
Materials Accepted
Carmel Town Hall Medication Drop Box
60 McAlpin Ave, Mahopac, NY 10541
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my trash in my own garbage cans in Carmel?
No. All regular household refuse must be placed in the town-provided 95-gallon totes. Garbage placed in personal pails or unapproved bins will be left uncollected.
How does Carmel's flex bulk pickup work?
Residents receive two curbside bulk pickups each year. You must call AAA Carting at 845-628-5000 at least two weeks in advance to select your weekday pickup date.
What should I do with my bins when it snows?
Keep bins completely out of the roadway so plows can pass. They must be set at least three feet back from the edge of the street in a shoveled section of your driveway.
Can I pay extra to have the trash collectors come up my driveway?
Yes. Residents can arrange for driveway service for an additional annual fee (around $660) paid to the carter. However, the driveway must be cleared of all snow, ice, and parked vehicles on pickup day.