Personal bags or barrels Bin (Trash)
Trash is charged by volume at the Transfer Site. It costs $2.00 per 30-gallon bag and $4.00 per 55-gallon bag. Payment must be made using a pre-purchased Transfer Site ticket.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Styrofoam
Designated Drop-Off Bins Bin (Recycling)
Recycling drop-off is free. All materials must be properly separated into their respective containers. Rinse all food residue from plastics, glass, and metal, and flatten all cardboard boxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1-#7 (bottles, containers, tubs)
- ✓Clear and colored glass food jars and bottles
- ✓Tin cans, aluminum cans, and foil
- ✓Corrugated cardboard, cereal boxes, and paper bags
- ✓Junk mail, office paper, and newspaper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Styrofoam (even if labeled with a recycling number)
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Window glass, mirrors, and broken panes
- ✕Ceramics, clay pots, and dishes
- ✕Light bulbs
- ✕Hardcover books
Yard Waste Bin
Accepted at no charge. Any bagged leaves must be emptied directly into the organics container; you cannot leave plastic bags in the yard waste pile.
Accepted Items
- ✓Fallen leaves
- ✓Live plants and garden debris
- ✓Loose brush
- ✓Organic yard waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
During regular Transfer Site hours
Placement
Transport large items directly to the Transfer Site at 26506 US Route 11 during open hours (Tue/Thu 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-2pm). You must have sufficient value on your punch ticket to cover the fees.
Accepted
- ✓ Recliners and oversized chairs
- ✓ Couches
- ✓ Scrap metal (free)
- ✓ Appliances without refrigerants (free)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Mattresses
- ✕ Box springs
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (unless properly evacuated by a professional)
Fees are $6.00 for a recliner or oversized chair and $10.00 for a couch. Clean scrap metal and non-freon appliances are accepted at no charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The Transfer Site normally operates only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. If a major town-observed holiday falls on one of these operating days, the facility will be closed.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste drop-off follows the standard facility operating hours and is inaccessible when the transfer site is closed for holidays.
Because the facility is already closed on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, holidays falling on those days (like Columbus Day or MLK Day) will not impact normal operating hours.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove Hardcovers from Books
Hardcover books cannot be placed in the mixed paper recycling bin. If you wish to recycle them, you must manually rip off and discard the rigid covers into the regular trash before recycling the interior paper pages.
Trash All Styrofoam
Even if expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) is stamped with a recycling symbol, the Town of LeRay does not accept it in the plastics bin. Throw all Styrofoam cups, takeout containers, and packaging into your paid household trash.
Keep Window Glass and Ceramics Out
Glass recycling is strictly limited to clear and colored food and beverage bottles. Never toss drinking glasses, window panes, mirrors, or clay pots into the glass bins, as their melting points differ and will ruin the batch.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
April to AugustThe Transfer Site is busiest during spring cleanups. Take advantage of the free scrap metal and white goods drop-off for appliances like washers and dryers, provided they do not contain refrigerants.
Fall
September to NovemberDuring autumn leaf drop, residents can bring endless amounts of leaves to the Transfer Site for free, provided they are emptied loose into the organics container and not left in bags.
Winter
December to MarchWinter storms in Jefferson County can occasionally disrupt transfer station operations or travel safety along US Route 11. Call the site operator at (315) 629-1550 to confirm open hours during severe lake-effect snow events.
About Le Ray Waste Management
Pre-Purchased Punch Ticket System for Household Trash
In the Town of LeRay, residents utilizing the municipal transfer site cannot pay with cash, checks, or credit cards at the gate. Instead, you must pre-purchase Transfer Site Tickets exclusively from the Town Clerk's Office. Available in $10, $20, and $30 denominations, these punch cards are presented to the site operator, who will deduct the appropriate value for your waste load based on bag size or furniture type.
Free Electronics and Battery Recycling
While many municipalities charge heavy fees for e-waste, the Town of LeRay currently accepts electronic equipment and batteries completely free of charge. This is made possible through a special grant from the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC). Dedicated containers are provided on-site for televisions, computers, monitors, gaming consoles, and various rechargeable batteries.
Strict Prohibitions on Mattresses and Tires
Before loading up a truck with basement or garage cleanout debris, be aware that the LeRay Transfer Site strictly prohibits tires, mattresses, and box springs. Attempting to dump these will result in a rejection by the site operator. Residents must transport these specific items directly to the Jefferson County Transfer Station on NYS Route 12, which handles difficult bulky items for the wider region.
Free Yard Waste Drop-Off with Bag Restrictions
Homeowners managing seasonal landscaping can drop off leaves, brush, plants, and other organic yard waste at the LeRay Transfer Site at no cost. However, there is a strict rule against plastic contamination. If you transport your leaves or grass clippings in bags, you must manually empty the bags into the designated organic container and take the empty bags back home or throw them in the paid household trash.
Drop-off Facilities
Jefferson County Transfer Station
27138 NYS Route 12, Watertown, NY 13601
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of old electronics in the Town of LeRay?
Thanks to a regional grant, residents can drop off electronics like TVs, computers, gaming consoles, and batteries at the Transfer Site completely free of charge. There are dedicated containers for e-waste and batteries on-site.
Where do I throw away an old mattress?
The LeRay Transfer Site strictly prohibits mattresses, box springs, and tires. You must haul these specific items to the Jefferson County Transfer Station on Route 12 in Watertown.
Do I have to pay to recycle cardboard or scrap metal at the Transfer Site?
No. Proper recycling—including flattened cardboard, #1-#7 plastics, glass jars, tin cans, and clean scrap metal or white goods (without refrigerants)—is accepted at the LeRay Transfer Site at absolutely no charge.