Brown Tote Bin (Trash)
All refuse must fit completely inside the closed brown tote. No extra bags, boxes, or personal cans will be serviced. Overfilling or placing items on the ground will lead to uncollected trash and potential municipal fines.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Broken ceramics
Blue Tote / Yellow-Lidded Tote Bin (Recycling)
Items must be sorted based on the alternating dual-stream schedule. Never bag your recyclables. Cardboard must be flattened, and all food residue must be rinsed from plastic and glass containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics, glass, and metal cans (Blue Week)
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper (Yellow Week)
- ✓Mail, magazines, and paper bags (Yellow Week)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Biodegradable packing peanuts
- ✕Hardcover books (unless cover is removed)
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Organic debris must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or dedicated open containers—never inside the brown refuse tote. Branches must not exceed 4 feet in length and 3 inches in diameter, and they must be tied into manageable bundles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Fallen leaves
- ✓Garden debris
- ✓Small chipped branches
- ✓Tree prunings and shrubs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment
Placement
Do not drag bulk items or appliances to the curb without first calling DPW dispatch to pay any required fees and lock in an authorized pickup date.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and bulky furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Refrigerators, A/C units, and dehumidifiers
- ✓ Televisions and electronics
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (chemicals, oil, paint)
- ✕ Unpermitted construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Liquid latex or oil-based paints
Curbside rates include $25 for a mattress or couch, and $35 for freon appliances. Residents can save money by driving these items to the Transfer Station, which charges lower drop-off rates (e.g., $15 for furniture).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The Department of Public Works suspends collection operations on major observed holidays. When a holiday falls on your standard trash day, collections for that day and the remainder of the workweek will generally be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Friday yard waste collections may be suspended or shifted depending on the week's holiday schedule, so check the official DPW calendar for alternating week disruptions.
Always refer to the exact DPW calendar matrix for specific holiday shifts, as minor holidays may affect administrative offices but not direct field routing.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Stream
Never put your recycling in plastic garbage or grocery bags. Plastic film wraps around the sorting gears at the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency facility, causing massive equipment jams and forcing entire loads into the landfill.
Manage Hardcover Books Correctly
Whole hardcover books cannot be tossed directly into the yellow paper recycling tote. You must manually rip off the rigid cover and place it in the brown trash tote, while the interior paper pages can be safely recycled.
Trash All Styrofoam and Peanuts
Expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) and biodegradable packing peanuts are entirely prohibited from Kingston's recycling bins. Bag them securely and place them in your standard brown refuse tote.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
April to NovemberCurbside yard waste and brush collection activates in mid-April. Depending on your designated trash day, yard waste is collected on specific Fridays alternating with the city's paper/cardboard recycling schedule.
Fall
October to NovemberHeavy leaf drop requires strict adherence to bagging rules. Leaves must be packed into biodegradable paper yard bags or open rigid bins. Sweeping leaves into the public roadway is a code violation.
Winter
JanuaryDPW crews perform targeted Christmas tree collections strictly during the month of January. You must completely strip the tree of all ornaments, tinsel, wires, metal stands, and plastic transport bags before leaving it at the curb.
About Kingston Waste Management
Strict One-Tote Limit to Promote Waste Reduction
The City of Kingston enforces a highly regulated refuse policy designed to maximize landfill diversion and encourage composting. Every eligible property is assigned exactly one municipal brown tote for weekly household garbage. Public Works crews will strictly reject any overflowing refuse or loose bags placed alongside the designated bin, which can result in code enforcement fines. Homeowners who continuously generate excess waste must formally request and purchase an additional brown tote for a steep annual fee of $450.
Alternating Dual-Stream Recycling Weeks
Rather than mixing all recyclables together, Kingston utilizes a dual-stream collection schedule that alternates every week to preserve material quality. Glass, rigid plastics, and metal containers are picked up during 'Blue Shaded' weeks on the municipal calendar. Paper products, such as junk mail, softcover books, and corrugated cardboard, are exclusively collected on the opposite 'Yellow Shaded' weeks. Residents must adhere strictly to these rotating weeks to ensure successful pickup.
Kingston Organics Food Scrap Diversion
In an aggressive push toward sustainability, Kingston has launched a multi-phase organics composting program. Phase 1 established multiple free drop-off kiosks around the city where registered residents can deposit food scraps. Moving into Phase 2, the Department of Public Works offers targeted curbside food scrap collection. Participating households receive a specialized 5-gallon bucket to isolate organic waste, directly reducing the volume of heavy, wet garbage in their standard brown refuse totes.
Curbside Appliance and Electronics Fees vs. Transfer Station Savings
Getting rid of bulky electronics, air conditioners, or large furniture in Kingston requires careful planning. While the Department of Public Works does offer curbside bulk collection, almost all items incur a specific permit fee (for example, a $35 charge for freon-containing appliances or $25 for a mattress). Residents are encouraged to save money by hauling these items directly to the UCRRA Transfer Station on Flatbush Road, where the drop-off disposal rates are significantly discounted compared to curbside convenience fees.
Monthly Free Metal Pickup
Despite the strict fee schedule for most bulky waste, Kingston offers an excellent incentive for recycling scrap metal. On the last Friday of every single month, DPW crews will retrieve large metal items, completely free of charge, directly from the curb. However, this service is entirely by appointment. Residents must contact the DPW dispatch hotline ahead of time to get their address placed on the special routing list.
Drop-off Facilities
UCRRA Kingston Transfer Station & MRF
999 Flatbush Road, Kingston, NY 12401
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I have more trash than will fit inside my brown Kingston tote?
The city strictly enforces a limit of one brown refuse tote per property [2.3.1]. If you generate excess waste, any bags left on top of or next to the bin will not be collected. Homeowners who need extra capacity must formally request an additional tote and pay a $450 annual fee.
How does Kingston's alternating recycling schedule work?
Kingston uses a dual-stream system to keep materials clean. Glass, plastics, and metal cans are collected on 'Blue Shaded' weeks on the DPW calendar. The following week is 'Yellow Shaded,' meaning only mixed paper, mail, and flattened cardboard will be collected.
How can I dispose of an old refrigerator or air conditioner in Kingston?
You must schedule a pickup with the Department of Public Works. The city charges a $35 curbside fee for items containing freon like refrigerators and A/C units. Alternatively, you can drop the appliance off yourself at the Flatbush Road Transfer Station for a reduced fee of $25. If placing a fridge curbside, you must completely remove the doors for child safety.
Is there a free way to dispose of scrap metal or large metal appliances?
Yes! The City of Kingston provides a completely free curbside metal collection on the last Friday of every month. However, you cannot simply leave items out; you must call DPW dispatch at 845-338-2114 beforehand to secure an appointment for your address.