Any (Must be covered) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed in covered rigid plastic or metal containers. No individual container may weigh more than 75 lbs. Any loose plastic bags must be placed inside a container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Small bundled scrap wood (under 3ft/25 lbs)
- ✓Double-bagged small deceased animals
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loosely in town-issued blue bins. Bagged recyclables will not be collected by the hauling trucks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper and mail
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Ceramics
- ✕Window glass
Yard Waste Bin
Weekly brush pickup is handled by Chuck-It Haulers or the Highway Dept. No plastic bags or plastic pots are allowed. Residents can also drop debris at the Oak Orchard Road site.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Tree branches
- ✓Stumps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By request or monthly drop-off
Placement
Unaccepted bulk items mistakenly left at the curb must be removed by 6:00 p.m. on collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Iron
- ✓ Bicycles
- ✓ Fencing
- ✓ Washers
- ✓ Dryers
- ✓ Dishwashers
- ✓ Electronics (at drop-off)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Freon-containing appliances
- ✕ Household garbage in bulk
- ✕ Curbside bulk without a private agreement
Drop-off at the Central Disposal Facility is free for residents. Scheduling a curbside bulk pickup directly with the hauler requires a separate, additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If the holiday falls on a weekday, collection is delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there is no delay to the collection schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Brush collection also follows a one-day delay if your regular pickup day falls on or after the observed holiday.
Superior Waste recognizes six major holidays. All other holidays remain on the regular pickup schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Banish the Bags
Never bag your recyclables. OCRRA sorting facilities cannot process plastic bags, so all cardboard, plastics, and glass must remain loose inside your blue bin. Plastic grocery bags should be returned to local retail drop-offs.
Beware of Tanglers
Cords, strings of holiday lights, and garden hoses might look like recyclable plastic or metal, but they wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling center. Always throw these in your standard trash.
No Batteries in the Blue Bin
Lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries pose a severe fire risk if crushed in a recycling truck. Use designated OCRRA drop-off locations for hazardous household waste rather than tossing them curbside.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - DecemberHighway leaf collection generally begins at the end of October. Loose and bagged leaves are collected roadside until snow accumulation requires the trucks to pivot to winter plowing duties.
Winter
December - MarchHeavy upstate snows can bury blue bins and trash cans. Keep your bins clearly visible and set back slightly from the road's edge so Town of Clay snowplows do not accidentally strike them.
Spring / Summer
April - NovemberThe Oak Orchard Road Yard Waste Recycling Center reopens on the second Saturday of each month. It is the perfect time to drop off early spring pruning brush or storm-downed branches without paying extra fees.
About Clay Waste Management
Comprehensive Waste & Recycling Services in Clay, NY
Managing household waste in the Town of Clay relies heavily on adhering to guidelines established by the local government and its primary refuse hauler, Superior Waste Removal. As the most populous suburb in Onondaga County, Clay requires residents to utilize rigid, covered metal or plastic containers for regular garbage to prevent litter and deter wildlife. With specific collection days divided across eight distinct town districts, checking the local map ensures you never miss a morning pickup.
Navigating OCRRA Recycling Guidelines for Blue Bins
Recycling in Clay operates under the broader Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) framework. All single-stream recyclables must be placed loosely into the official blue bins—meaning absolutely no plastic bags are allowed. Bagged recyclables are strictly prohibited and will be left at the curb. If your blue bin becomes damaged or you are a new resident in town, replacements can easily be procured from the Highway Department offices on State Route 31.
Specialized Yard Waste and Brush Collection
Keeping upstate New York lawns pristine is supported by Clay's seasonal yard debris initiatives. While Chuck-It Haulers manages weekly curbside brush pickup for most districts during the warmer months, residents can also take advantage of the dedicated Yard Waste Recycling Center on Oak Orchard Road. Open every second Saturday from April to November, this facility accepts everything from grass clippings to concrete, provided the materials are not wrapped in plastic.
Bulky Items, Metals, and Electronics Disposal
When it comes to decluttering large household items, Clay's standard curbside service does not accept furniture, appliances, or construction debris. Instead, the town hosts a monthly Central Disposal Facility event at the Highway Garage. Running from May through November, residents can safely drop off metal scraps, non-Freon appliances, and unwanted electronics. For all other bulky furniture or carpet removal, homeowners must negotiate and pay for a direct pickup with a private hauler.
Drop-off Facilities
Central Disposal Facility (Highway Garage)
4483 Route 31, Clay, NY 13041
Materials Accepted
Yard Waste Recycling Center
Oak Orchard Road (One mile east of Henry Clay Blvd), Clay, NY
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a replacement blue recycling bin in the Town of Clay?
You can pick up a new blue bin directly from the Highway Department located at 4483 State Route 31 during their normal business hours (limit one per resident). If you need to throw away an old, cracked bin, leave it out with a sign that says 'TRASH, please take.'
Can I put a couch or mattress on the curb for my regular trash day?
No. Superior Waste Removal does not collect furniture, large appliances, or construction debris as part of the standard weekly service. If left at the curb, it will be ignored and must be removed by 6:00 p.m. You will need to contact the hauler directly for a special paid pickup.
Does the town pick up dead animals found in the road?
The Clay Highway Department will remove large animals like deer from town-owned roads. However, smaller animals (like raccoons or squirrels) are the homeowner's responsibility to safely double-bag and place in the regular trash.
What happens to my trash schedule if a holiday falls on the weekend?
If one of the six major recognized holidays (like New Year's Day or Christmas) falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay to your trash pickup schedule. If it falls on a weekday, collections are pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week.