Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Hamburg
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday on assigned neighborhood routes serviced by Modern Disposal Services.
Recycling
Collected every other week (alternating Week A/Week B) on your scheduled trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Curbside brush is collected by the Highway Department from March through November across 4 monthly zones (must be curbside by 6:00 AM Monday of your zone's week). Bagged leaves are picked up during the fall.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside refuse and recycling services are managed under the town refuse district and billed directly on your annual Town and County property tax bill.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In Person, Drop Box
95-gallon Modern Disposal Trash Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash MUST be bagged before being placed in the cart. The lid must close completely. Place at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food packaging and waste
- ✓Bagged grass clippings
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and styrofoam
95-gallon Modern Disposal Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables (except shredded paper). Items must be placed loose in the cart. Collection is bi-weekly according to the Week A/B schedule.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic jugs and bottles with small openings
- ✓Metal and tin cans
- ✓Flattened cardboard and pizza boxes (no grease)
- ✓Newspaper and junk mail
- ✓Shredded paper (only if inside a clear plastic bag)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Ceramics or window glass
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
Collected by Highway Dept. Leaves must be in Kraft paper bags. Branches max 3'x3'x8', all stems facing the roadway. Grass clippings are banned from brush piles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush and tree branches
- ✓Christmas trees (in January)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Every other month (Second full week)
Placement
Place your 4 designated items alongside your regular trash cart at the street's edge by 6:00 a.m. Keep bulk items clear of the automated cart paths.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and bedding
- ✓ Hot water tanks
- ✓ Rolled carpet
- ✓ White goods (stoves, dishwashers, microwaves)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Air conditioners (Freon items)
- ✕ Refrigerators containing Freon
- ✕ Electronics and televisions
- ✕ Items exceeding 60 lbs that cannot be lifted by two workers
- ✕ Contractor debris
The 4-item bi-monthly collection is included in municipal services. For massive home cleanouts, residents must privately rent a dumpster or hire an independent junk removal firm.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Modern Disposal is closed on Sundays and major holidays. If an observed holiday falls on or before your normal collection day, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Highway Department brush collections may experience delays or suspensions during holiday weeks as crews are repurposed for public works maintenance.
Refer to the Modern Disposal 2026 Collection Service Calendar mailed to residents to verify specific holiday shift dates.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
March - AugustHighway Department brush collection runs on a rotating four-week zone schedule. Do not mix any metal, wire, or garbage into your brush piles, as these materials will destroy the town's chipper blades and lead to service denial.
Autumn
September - NovemberDuring fall leaf pickup, residents must only use recyclable Kraft paper lawn and leaf bags available at local supermarkets or hardware stores. Plastic bags filled with leaves will absolutely not be collected.
Winter
December - FebruaryStandard brush collection is paused for winter snow operations. However, town crews conduct a special Christmas tree pickup throughout the month of January. Ensure all lights and ornaments are completely removed.
Local Tips & Community Info
Standardized Refuse Collection in Hamburg
Household sanitation in the Town of Hamburg operates through an automated cart-based program designed to keep local streets clean and efficient. Every residential parcel is equipped with distinct, heavy-duty wheeled totes designated for either general rubbish or recyclable materials. To guarantee service, homeowners must position their carts at the edge of the driveway by 7:00 AM on their scheduled neighborhood collection day. It is highly advised to point the metal lifting bar toward the street and ensure a clearance radius of at least three feet around each container. Carts buried in winter snowbanks or blocked by parked vehicles run a high risk of being bypassed by the automated trucks.
Erie County Recycling Protocols
Environmental sustainability is a major focus for Western New York, and Hamburg actively participates in Erie County’s single-stream recycling initiatives. Your designated recycling tote is the proper receptacle for clean cardboard, mixed paper, glass jars, and rigid plastic containers. Residents are required to flatten all corrugated boxes to maximize tote capacity. A critical rule to remember is that plastic grocery films and garbage bags are universally banned from the recycling stream. Wrapping recyclables in plastic ruins the mechanical sorting equipment at the processing center, so all items must remain loose inside the bin.
Disposing of Furniture and Large Items
Replacing old furniture or mattresses does not require a complicated disposal process in Hamburg. The town's refuse contract allows residents to set out exactly one oversized bulk item per week alongside their standard garbage tote. Acceptable pieces include a single couch, a dining table, or a rolled-up rug. If you are throwing away a mattress, public health regulations dictate that it must be completely encased in a sealed plastic bag. Appliances containing refrigerants, such as freezers or dehumidifiers, are not eligible for standard bulk pickup until a certified technician has removed the Freon and tagged the appliance.
Yard Waste and Brush Management
The Hamburg Highway Department takes charge of seasonal organic debris to keep neighborhood storm systems functioning properly. Tree branches, lawn clippings, and fallen leaves are collected on specific schedules that vary by the time of year. Residents must pack all loose yard waste into biodegradable paper bags or place it in reusable bins without lids. If you are clearing brush, the branches must be chopped into segments measuring four feet or shorter and bundled tightly. Dirt, rocks, and contractor-generated landscaping debris will not be removed by town crews.
E-Waste and Hazardous Material Drop-Offs
State laws firmly prohibit the disposal of electronic waste in standard landfills. Consequently, items like flat-screen televisions, computer towers, and outdated monitors cannot be left on the curb. Hamburg locals must safely transport these electronics to designated town e-waste recycling events or bring them to authorized Erie County hazardous waste drop-off locations. Similarly, chemicals, pesticides, and wet oil-based paints require specialized handling and must be diverted away from your household garbage tote.
Impact of Lake Effect Snow and Holidays
Western New York is notorious for severe winter weather, and heavy lake effect snowstorms can occasionally delay sanitation routes to prioritize road plowing. During a standard week, federally recognized holidays such as Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Christmas will also shift the collection calendar. If a holiday lands on a Monday, all subsequent pickups for the entire week will occur one day later than usual. The Town of Hamburg regularly updates its social media feeds and official website to notify residents of any weather or holiday-related service alterations.
Drop-off Facilities
HazMan Household Hazardous Waste Facility
177 Wales Ave, Tonawanda, NY 14150
Materials Accepted
SunnKing Electronics Drop-Off Events
Various Erie County Locations
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I request a repair for a broken garbage tote in Hamburg?
If your municipal refuse or recycling cart has a cracked base, a missing lid, or broken wheels, you should contact the Hamburg town clerk's office or the contracted waste hauler directly to request a free repair or replacement.
Can I leave a television at the curb for bulk pickup?
No. Televisions and computer monitors are classified as e-waste under New York State law. They must be driven to a certified electronic recycling facility or brought to a town-sponsored drop-off event.
What should I do if the plow blocked my trash bin with snow?
Residents are responsible for clearing a small path or shelf at the end of their driveway during winter months. Bins placed on top of high snowbanks cannot be reached by the truck's mechanical lifting arms.