Resident-provided standard cans or heavy-duty bags Bin (Trash)
Trash cans must not exceed 45 gallons in volume. No single can or bag may weigh more than 75 pounds. Place at the curb prior to 5:00 a.m. on collection day, but no earlier than 7:00 p.m. the night before.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Town-issued Orange Recycling Bin Bin (Recycling)
Do not mix newsprint/paper with glass and plastics; they must be kept separated within or next to the orange bin. Rinse all food containers. Never use plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- ✓Clear and colored glass bottles
- ✓Plastics with recycling symbols #1 or #2
- ✓Newspapers and magazines (bundled or in paper bags)
- ✓Flattened and bundled cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Ceramics, lightbulbs, and mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
Collected on Wednesdays only. Maximum of 25 bags per week. Bags/bundles must not exceed 75 lbs. Branches must be tied in bundles no larger than 2' x 2' x 4'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and branches
- ✓Tree stumps and logs (bundled)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment (Special Pick-Up)
Placement
State law requires that all doors must be completely removed from refrigerators and freezers before they are placed at the curb to safeguard neighborhood children.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, desks, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be in sealed plastic bags)
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Carpeting (cut, rolled, and tied into 4-foot lengths)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions, computers, and electronics (E-waste)
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals and wet paint
- ✕ Oil storage tanks (unless cleaned and cut in half)
- ✕ Construction contractor debris
Standard Special Pick-Ups for large household items are included in your sanitation taxes, but requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a Monday, the normal Monday/Thursday pickup shifts to Tuesday/Thursday, and the Tuesday/Friday pickup shifts to Wednesday/Friday. The Wednesday yard waste collection is typically canceled.
Yard Waste Exception
During holiday weeks, Wednesday yard waste pickup is almost always suspended to allow sanitation crews to make up for missed household garbage collections.
During Thanksgiving week, Monday/Thursday routes are collected on Monday ONLY, and Tuesday/Friday routes are collected on Tuesday ONLY. Normal yard waste is collected on Wednesday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Orange Bin
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery bags, and do not put loose plastic film in your orange recycling bin. Plastic bags jam the sorting gears at the recycling facility and will cause your bin to be rejected at the curb.
Separate Your Paper from Plastics
The Town of Hempstead requires a degree of source separation. Do not throw loose newspapers directly in with your glass and plastic bottles. Newspapers and magazines must be neatly bundled with twine or placed inside a brown paper bag next to or on top of your orange bin.
Box Up Broken Glass
For the safety of the sanitation workers, broken glass (such as window panes or shattered mirrors) must never be placed loosely in garbage bags. It must be sealed inside a cardboard box, taped shut, and clearly labeled 'BROKEN GLASS'.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
April - AugustThe town's S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) events typically begin in April at various town parks. This is the optimal time to safely dispose of spring cleaning chemicals, pool chlorine, and old lawn fertilizers.
Autumn
September - NovemberHeavy leaf drop occurs during these months. Ensure all leaves are bagged (up to 25 bags per week). Raking leaves directly into the municipal street is strictly prohibited as it creates slip hazards and clogs storm drains.
Winter
December - JanuaryChristmas trees and holiday wreaths are collected as yard waste on a specifically designated Wednesday in early January. Ensure all lights, tinsel, and ornaments are entirely removed before placing the tree at the curb.
About Hempstead Waste Management
Navigating the Town of Hempstead's Sanitation Districts
Because the Town of Hempstead is the largest township in the United States, its waste management system is uniquely decentralized. The overarching Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department directly manages garbage and recycling for several hamlets and unincorporated areas (like Bellmore, Levittown, and Merrick) within special sanitation districts. However, many incorporated villages within the town boundaries operate their own independent DPWs or contract privately. Residents should always verify their specific district before placing waste curbside, as schedules can vary between a Monday/Thursday route and a Tuesday/Friday route.
The S.T.O.P. and E-Cycling Programs
To protect Long Island's fragile groundwater, the Town of Hempstead strictly bans hazardous chemicals and electronics from regular curbside pickup. Instead, the town operates the highly successful S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program. Throughout the year, the town hosts weekend drop-off events at various municipal parks, such as Eisenhower Park and Newbridge Road Park, where residents can safely dispose of pesticides, oil-based paints, and antifreeze. E-cycling and shredding events are also hosted in tandem to responsibly process old computers, televisions, and sensitive documents.
Mandatory Bedbug-Proof Encasements
In response to national public health concerns regarding bedbugs, the Town of Hempstead enforces a strict bedding collection policy. Any resident disposing of a mattress or box spring must completely seal the item inside a certified bedbug-proof plastic encasement bag before placing it at the curb. Sanitation workers are instructed to leave unsealed mattresses behind. Heavy-duty plastic delivery bags are acceptable, provided they are thoroughly taped shut and completely airtight.
Wednesdays Are for Yard Waste
In the Town of Hempstead, Wednesdays are exclusively dedicated to yard waste collection. Sanitation crews will collect a generous maximum of 25 bags of grass clippings or leaves per household each week, provided no single bag exceeds 75 pounds. Branches and tree limbs must be cut and securely bundled to a maximum size of 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet. During weeks with major Monday or Tuesday holidays, the Wednesday yard waste pickup is typically suspended to allow crews to catch up on the delayed household garbage routes.
The Merrick Homeowner Disposal Area
For residents undertaking weekend DIY projects or those who simply miss their scheduled pickup, the Town of Hempstead operates a Homeowner Disposal Area located at 1600 Merrick Road in Merrick. This facility is open seven days a week (Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). It provides a convenient, centralized location for homeowners to drop off excess household trash, yard waste, and certain bulk items without waiting for a special curbside appointment.
Drop-off Facilities
Town of Hempstead Homeowner Disposal Area
1600 Merrick Road, Merrick, NY 11566
Materials Accepted
Town of Hempstead S.T.O.P. & E-Cycling Events
Various Town Parks (e.g., Eisenhower Park, Newbridge Road Park)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away an old mattress in the Town of Hempstead?
You must call the Sanitation Department at 516-378-4210 to schedule a Special Pick-Up. Before placing it at the curb, the mattress or box spring MUST be completely sealed inside a bedbug-proof plastic encasement bag, per town health regulations.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and household chemicals?
Hazardous materials cannot be placed in your regular trash. You must bring them to one of the town's S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) collection events, which are held on select weekends at various town parks throughout the year.
What is the yard waste limit per week?
Yard waste is collected exclusively on Wednesdays. The Town of Hempstead allows a generous limit of up to 25 bags of grass clippings or leaves per household per week, provided no single bag weighs more than 75 pounds.
Can I put my old television out for bulk garbage collection?
No, electronic waste is strictly banned from curbside bulk collection. You must hold onto your old televisions and computers and drop them off at a designated Town of Hempstead E-Cycling event.