Town-issued garbage tote (Green or Dark color) Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be in the town-issued tote, which has a strict 150-pound maximum weight limit. The trash tote handle MUST face the street. Do not overload or leave the lid open.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Winter yard waste (in plastic bags after Nov 15)
Town-issued recycling tote (Blue) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loose in the tote without bags (except shredded paper). The recycling tote handle MUST face your house. Keep 3 feet of clearance around the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam coolers and cups
- ✕Clothing and blankets
- ✕Aerosol cans and propane tanks
Yard Waste Bin
From mid-April to mid-November, use open unlined cans or biodegradable bags (max 40 lbs, limit 6 per week). Do not use plastic bags during compost season. Branches must be tied into 4-foot, 40-lb bundles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and small brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular garbage day (Notification required for metal/electronics)
Placement
Set items out alongside your totes no earlier than 3:00 PM the day before pickup. All carpets, padding, and pool liners must be cut to 4 feet, rolled, and tied.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (MUST be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Toilets (MUST be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Rolled carpets (Max 4 feet long, 40 lbs, limit 6 rolls)
- ✓ Appliances and electronics (Requires online notification)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction debris
- ✕ Landscape timbers and railroad ties
- ✕ Pallets and firewood
- ✕ Tree stumps
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
Bulk collection is a free service for residents, provided strict weight restrictions and weekly limits (e.g., maximum 6 bundles of DIY debris) are honored.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
In Cheektowaga, trash pickup happens daily except for Christmas and New Year's Day. During the weeks of these two holidays, collection is delayed by exactly one day for the entire week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection continues as normal throughout the summer, as most summer and fall holidays do not disrupt Cheektowaga's schedule.
Unlike many municipalities, Cheektowaga does not typically delay pickup for Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, or Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The Shredded Paper Exception
While Cheektowaga’s recycling program requires all items to be placed loosely in your bin without plastic bags, there is one strict exception: shredded paper. Clean shredded paper must be sealed inside a clear plastic bag before going into the recycling tote.
Sleeper Sofa Prep
You can throw out an old couch on your regular garbage day, but if it is a sleeper sofa, you must physically unbolt and remove the heavy metal fold-out bed frame before placing it on the curb.
No Loose Branches
Never leave a tangled pile of brush on your lawn. All branches must be cut to four feet or less, bundled with twine, and weigh under 40 pounds, with a maximum of six bundles permitted per week.
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayThe town's dedicated composting program begins around April 15th. Start using unlined trash cans or biodegradable paper bags for your grass clippings—plastic bags are strictly banned during this season.
Fall
October - NovemberAutumn leaf collection is handled by the Highway Department. Rake leaves into the right-of-way (the grassy area near the curb), but never directly into the street, as this blocks storm drains.
Winter
December - MarchAfter November 15th, the town halts its composting program. Any late-season yard debris or winter brush must be put into heavy-duty plastic bags and placed inside your normal household garbage tote.
About Cheektowaga Waste Management
Mastering Cheektowaga's Unique Tote Placement Rules
In Cheektowaga, sanitation crews rely on highly specific cart orientations to operate their automated collection trucks safely and efficiently. When rolling your bins to the curb between 3:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day, pay close attention to the handles. Your trash tote handle must face the street, while your recycling tote handle needs to face your house. Failing to follow this alignment, or putting bins out too early, violates town ordinances and can result in a skipped pickup or a municipal fine.
Strict Plastic Wrapping Rules for Bulk Items
Getting rid of old bedding and bathroom fixtures requires a quick trip to the hardware store for heavy-duty plastic. The Town of Cheektowaga strictly mandates that all mattresses, box springs, and toilets must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic before they are placed on the curb. Unwrapped mattresses or fixtures pose sanitary hazards to municipal workers and will be left behind on your regular collection day.
Handling DIY Construction and Remodeling Debris
If you are tackling a weekend home renovation, you can dispose of the resulting waste curbside—with strict limitations. Materials like drywall, plasterboard, paneling, and shingles generated by a resident (not a hired contractor) must be cut into four-foot sections. These pieces must be securely tied into bundles weighing no more than 40 pounds. The town strictly limits this collection to six bundles or two totes per week.
The Mid-November Yard Waste Shift
Cheektowaga operates a dedicated yard waste composting program from roughly April 15th through November 15th each year. During these warmer months, grass clippings and leaves must go into open containers or biodegradable paper bags. However, once the composting season ends in mid-November, the rules completely flip. Winter yard waste must be placed in heavy-duty plastic bags and thrown directly into your regular garbage tote.
Drop-off Facilities
Erie County Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Events
Rotating locations across Erie County (Call 716-858-6800 to confirm)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What size garbage totes does the Town of Cheektowaga use?
The town utilizes standard municipal garbage totes with a maximum weight limit of 150 pounds. If you need more capacity, you can purchase an additional 95-gallon tote for $75 or a 65-gallon tote for $70 by calling the Sanitation Department.
Do I need to schedule an appointment for bulk trash pickup?
For standard wooden furniture and wrapped mattresses, no appointment is needed—just leave them out on your regular garbage day. However, if you are disposing of metal items, appliances, or electronics, you must submit an online Notification of Metal Pick-Up form beforehand.
Which way should my garbage totes face on the curb?
Cheektowaga enforces strict cart positioning to allow mechanical trucks to lift them. Your trash tote handle must face the street, while your recycling tote handle must face your house. Keep the bins at least three feet apart from each other.
Why wasn't my old toilet picked up by the sanitation crew?
The Town of Cheektowaga has a strict sanitation policy regarding bathroom fixtures and bedding. Toilets, mattresses, and box springs must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic before they are placed on the curb for health and safety reasons.