Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for East Hampton
Trash Day
The Town of East Hampton does not provide municipal curbside trash collection. Residents either self-haul household garbage to the East Hampton Recycling Center or Montauk Transfer Station (open Thursday–Tuesday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM; closed Wednesdays) using a town permit, or contract directly with a private licensed carter.
Recycling
Self-haul recyclables to the East Hampton Recycling Center or Montauk Transfer Station (Thursday–Tuesday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM), or arrange collection with an independent private hauler.
Yard Waste
Brush, grass clippings, and leaves may be dropped off at the East Hampton Recycling Center with a valid permit. (East Hampton Village also provides an annual curbside leaf pickup program from mid-October through mid-December).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (if contracted with a private carter), or visit transfer facilities from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Since the town does not offer municipal curbside pickup, residents pay an annual transfer station permit fee through the Town Clerk or subscribe directly to a local private waste hauling company.
Billing Cycle
Annual (Permit Fee) or direct billing through private waste carters
Accepted Methods
Credit Card, Check, Cash, In-Person, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Seniors aged 65 and older qualify for a discounted primary residential recycling permit ($55.00 instead of standard rate).
Resident's Own Containers or Bags Bin (Trash)
If self-hauling, all household trash must be securely contained and brought to the non-recyclable disposal area. Your vehicle must display a valid Town Recycling Permit sticker. If using a private hauler, follow their specific container rules.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Milk cartons
- ✓Styrofoam and packaging peanuts
- ✓Plastic bags
- ✓Plastics #3 through #7
Separated Facility Bins (Self-Haul) or Hauler-Provided Cart Bin (Recycling)
Self-haulers must separate materials into specific facility bins. Plastic bottles must have their caps removed. Glass is collected separately to be crushed for local drainage projects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Mixed paper and dry newspaper
- ✓Tin and aluminum cans
- ✓Plastic bottles (#1 and #2 only)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Milk cartons
- ✕Light bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
Self-haul to the East Hampton Recycling Center. Brush is turned into mulch. Leaves must be emptied from any plastic bags before disposal. Do not mix yard waste with standard household garbage.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush
- ✓Twigs and tree branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Self-haul year-round during operating hours, or on-demand via a private junk removal service.
Placement
Never leave bulk items, furniture, or appliances at the curb unless you have a confirmed, scheduled pickup date with a private commercial hauling company.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and large household items
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Appliances (may require specific facility placement)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor or demolition debris (without a commercial permit)
- ✕ Hazardous waste (outside of designated STOP days)
- ✕ Liquid paints and solvents
Self-hauling certain appliances or oversized items to the town centers may incur specific per-item disposal fees. Private junk removal services will charge their own rates based on volume and weight.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The East Hampton Recycling Center and Montauk Transfer Station are completely closed on these six holidays, and close early at noon on Good Friday. Private curbside hauler schedules will vary independently.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste drop-off and compost pickup are unavailable when the transfer stations are closed for observed holidays.
Because curbside collection is fully privatized in East Hampton, you must contact your specific waste management company directly to find out if your street's pickup day is delayed by major holidays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
MayThe town typically holds its Spring 'Stop Throwing Out Pollutants' (STOP) event on the third Saturday in May at the East Hampton Recycling Center, offering free hazardous waste drop-off for residents.
Fall
OctoberA second STOP hazardous waste collection event is usually hosted on the third Saturday in October at the Montauk Transfer Station.
Year-Round
January - DecemberFree mulch and compost are available for pickup at the Recycling Center for any resident displaying a valid town recycling sticker, subject to weekly limits.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management on the South Fork
Unlike many municipalities that provide universal curbside pickup, the Town of East Hampton operates under a self-haul waste management model. The local government does not deploy municipal garbage trucks to individual neighborhoods. Instead, year-round residents and summer visitors have two primary options: they can hire an independent private carter for weekly curbside collection, or they can personally transport their household waste to the town's designated Recycling Centers located in East Hampton and Montauk. This unique system helps protect the local environment while giving homeowners total control over their sanitation choices.
Resident Facility Permits
If you choose to utilize the municipal drop-off facilities, you are legally required to obtain a Resident Recycling Facility Permit. These permits are issued as vehicle window stickers and must be prominently displayed when entering the gates. You can purchase or renew your annual permit either online through the town clerk's portal or in person at the facility office. Proof of local property ownership or a long-term South Fork lease is mandatory to secure this sticker, ensuring that the disposal sites are exclusively serving actual community members.
The Yellow Bag Program
East Hampton employs a 'Pay-As-You-Throw' system for standard household trash to financially incentivize recycling. Any non-recyclable garbage dropped off at the transfer stations must be securely tied inside official Town of East Hampton Yellow Bags. These specially marked bags can be conveniently purchased in various sizes at local grocery stores, hardware shops, and pharmacies throughout the town. Dumping standard black construction bags or unauthorized grocery sacks into the compactor is strictly prohibited and will be rejected by site attendants.
Source-Separated Recycling Protocols
Unlike the single-stream systems used in neighboring regions, the East Hampton recycling centers require residents to actively sort their materials. When you arrive at the facility, you must separate your items into distinct bins. Corrugated cardboard must be flattened and placed in its own designated hopper. Glass bottles, aluminum cans, and rigidly numbered plastics each have specific drop-off zones. Keeping these streams free of cross-contamination drastically improves the market viability of the recycled commodities and prevents useful materials from being diverted to a landfill.
Handling Brush and Yard Debris
Landscaping is a major part of East Hampton property maintenance, generating substantial amounts of organic waste. Homeowners and private landscapers can bring leaves, branches, and grass clippings to the town's brush drop-off areas. While residential permit holders can drop off a limited amount of yard waste at no extra charge, bringing large trailers filled with heavy logs or massive brush piles will incur a commercial tipping fee based on the total cubic yardage or weight. The town periodically processes this green waste into mulch, which is occasionally made available back to the community.
STOP Days for Hazardous Materials
To safeguard the delicate local aquifer, the town strictly forbids dumping toxic chemicals in the regular trash. East Hampton regularly hosts S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) collection days throughout the year. During these specific events, residents can safely surrender oil-based paints, pool chemicals, pesticides, automotive fluids, and old batteries. Review the town's environmental calendar early in the season to catch these dates, as bringing hazardous materials to the dump on a normal weekday is not permitted.
Drop-off Facilities
East Hampton Recycling Center
260 Springs Fireplace Road, East Hampton, NY 11937
Materials Accepted
Montauk Transfer Station
365 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the town offer free curbside garbage pickup?
No. The Town of East Hampton does not provide municipal curbside trash collection. Residents must either hire a private sanitation company or take their waste to the town recycling centers themselves.
Where do I buy the required yellow garbage bags?
Official Town of East Hampton yellow refuse bags are available for purchase at most local supermarkets, convenience stores, and hardware shops across the South Fork.
How do I get a sticker for the local recycling center?
Annual facility permits can be purchased through the Town Clerk's office or online portal by submitting a valid vehicle registration and proof of East Hampton residency or property ownership.