Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lancaster
New York municipal refuse is collected weekly on designated neighborhood days. Recycling is often collected on specific days depending on the borough or county.
State Mandate
Strictly separate e-waste. Electronics are banned from regular trash.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Refuse and recycling collection fees are funded through an annual Refuse District assessment included on your Town/County property tax bill.
Billing Cycle
Annual (Included in Property Taxes)
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Black body with Black lid (65 or 95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the cart with the lid tightly closed. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with handles facing the house and 3 feet of clearance on all sides. Overflow requires an Extra Capacity Sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Black body with Red lid Bin (Recycling)
Collected every other week. Recyclables must be clean and loose inside the cart (never bagged). Cardboard can be cut into 3' x 3' squares, tied, and stacked neatly next to the recycling cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Paper and mail
- ✓Clear and clean glass bottles/jars
- ✓Plastic tubs and containers
- ✓Metal cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam (foam)
- ✕Waxed boxboard
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Yard debris
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed at the curb LOOSE. Do not put yard waste in bags, cans, or any type of container. Branches must be piled neatly with the cut ends facing the street. Collected continually by the Highway Dept.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and branches (under 8 feet long and 6 inches diameter)
- ✓Shrubs and roots
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Monthly (Second full week of the month)
Placement
Place your allowed three bulk items neatly at the curb no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before your scheduled collection, keeping them clear of your WM carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household furnishings
- ✓ Appliances (Freon must be professionally removed with a certification sticker attached)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Televisions and electronics
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, sod, concrete, or rock
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Bulk collection is included in the town refuse program. Excess bulk generated by large clean-outs requires renting a private dumpster or utilizing the Bagster program.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all Waste Management collections for that day and the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Highway Department yard waste collections operate on a continuous, weather-dependent basis and are generally paused during severe winter weather or town holidays.
If a major holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to the weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring / Summer
April - SeptemberThe Town Highway Department operates its hi-lift machinery almost daily to scoop up loose yard waste. Ensure your loose grass clippings and brush piles do not block the roadway or obstruct storm drains during heavy spring rains.
Fall
October - DecemberDuring peak leaf collection season, leaves must be piled in a long row at the curbside, not in the street. Remember, Lancaster strictly prohibits the use of bags for autumn leaves.
Winter
December - MarchDuring severe Erie County lake-effect snowstorms, garbage collection may be delayed. Ensure your black and red-lidded carts are placed in a shoveled-out area, not balanced on top of snowbanks or hidden behind plows.
Local Tips & Community Info
Town of Lancaster Refuse Collection Framework
Preserving the charm of Lancaster requires a coordinated effort between residents and the local Highway Department. The town employs an automated collection system for household garbage, requiring every property to utilize the officially issued wheeled carts. To ensure a smooth pickup process, your municipal refuse cart must be wheeled to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your assigned service day. However, local ordinances stipulate that carts should not be placed street-side before 5:00 p.m. the prior evening. Always face the cart's opening toward the street with at least three feet of clearance from vehicles and mailboxes.
Mandatory Recycling Guidelines for Erie County
Lancaster strictly adheres to Erie County's environmental mandates by providing single-stream recycling to all single-family homes. Your designated recycling cart is meant exclusively for rinsed plastics, metal cans, glass bottles, and broken-down cardboard. One of the most frequent reasons a recycling bin gets tagged and rejected is the presence of plastic bags or tangled cords. Never place your recyclables inside grocery bags; they must be tossed loosely into the cart to allow for safe processing at the regional sorting facility.
Large Item and Bulk Waste Rules
Disposing of oversized rubbish does not require a special trip to a landfill. Lancaster allows residents to place one bulk item—such as an old couch, a wooden dresser, or a rolled-up carpet—out for collection each week alongside normal trash. However, specific sanitary rules apply. If you are discarding a mattress or box spring, New York State health regulations mandate that it must be entirely encased in a heavy-duty plastic bag before it reaches the curb. Unwrapped mattresses will be left behind.
E-Waste Drop-Off at Pavement Road
Keeping toxic components out of the local soil is a top priority. Consequently, electronic waste like broken flat-screen televisions, outdated desktop computers, and old cell phones are legally banned from curbside disposal. Fortunately, Lancaster residents have exclusive access to the Highway Department facility located at 525 Pavement Road. You can bring your e-waste directly to this site during normal business hours. Be prepared to show your driver's license or a recent utility bill as proof of town residency.
Yard Debris and Autumn Leaf Management
Seasonal landscaping generates a significant amount of organic waste. From spring through fall, residents can dispose of grass clippings and light brush by placing them in biodegradable paper lawn bags or open, reusable containers clearly marked for yard waste. Plastic garbage bags are strictly forbidden for yard debris. During the autumn months, the town deploys a fleet of vacuum trucks to collect loose leaves raked to the edge of the property line. Remember to keep leaf piles free of rocks and sticks, which can severely damage the vacuum equipment.
Navigating Holiday Schedule Shifts
The sanitation calendar in Lancaster shifts predictably around major national holidays, including Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. If a recognized holiday lands on a weekday, all refuse and recycling routes for that day and the remainder of the week are delayed by exactly 24 hours. Friday collections will subsequently take place on Saturday. The town website publishes a comprehensive annual calendar that visually maps out these delay weeks to help residents plan accordingly.
Drop-off Facilities
Hazman Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
177 Wales Ave, Tonawanda, NY 14150
Materials Accepted
Sunnking Electronics Recycling
Various drop-off locations (Visit sunnking.com/dropoff)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I allowed to put my mattress out with the regular garbage?
Yes, you can discard one bulk item per week, but all mattresses and box springs must be securely wrapped in a plastic mattress bag to prevent bed bug transmission.
Where can I drop off an old television set in Lancaster?
Televisions and other electronic waste must be brought to the Lancaster Highway Department drop-off location at 525 Pavement Road during operational hours.
Can I use plastic garbage bags for my fall leaves?
No. Yard waste must be placed in compostable paper bags or open, reusable containers. Loose leaves can also be raked to the curb during the scheduled autumn vacuuming season.