City-issued Cart Bin (Trash)
Place your city-issued garbage cart at the curb the night before your scheduled collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Soiled paper
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loosely in the blue cart. No plastic bags whatsoever are permitted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic containers #1-7
- ✓Milk and juice cartons
- ✓Metal and aluminum cans
- ✓Glass bottles (clear, green, brown)
- ✓Corrugated cardboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and office paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Straws
- ✕Wire hangers
- ✕Paper soiled with grease or paint
- ✕Tissues and paper towels
Yard Waste Bin
Set out on Sunday evenings starting April 1st. Branches must be bundled in lengths no longer than 3 feet. Do not use city refuse carts for yard waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush
- ✓Small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Annually during Spring Clean-Up Week
Placement
Items must be placed on the curb the Sunday evening prior to your Ward's specific clean-up week.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Freon-free appliances (doors removed)
- ✓ Up to 4 tires off the rim
- ✓ Boxes of smaller household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics and TVs
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Stone and dirt
- ✕ Car parts
- ✕ Hazardous waste and batteries
A bill will be issued for any additional items picked up beyond the strict 12-item limit.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There is no garbage pickup on City holidays. Garbage will be picked up the following day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is typically managed at the beginning of the week based on Sunday set-outs; follow DPW alerts for holiday week modifications.
For recycling, there is a special Saturday recycling pickup for weeks that contain a holiday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep the Blue Carts Bag-Free
Never bag your recyclables. The City of Middletown DPW strictly forbids plastic grocery bags, film plastics, or trash bags in the blue recycling carts.
Detach Doors for Safety
If you are placing an old appliance on the curb during the Annual Spring Clean-Up, you must remove the doors first. This is a city mandate to protect children.
Skip the Carts for Yard Waste
Never use your city-issued garbage or recycling carts to hold yard clippings or leaves. Use designated yard waste receptacles or tie branches into small bundles.
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayThe Annual Spring Clean-Up Week rolls out by Ward, allowing single and two-family homes to dispose of up to 12 bulky items at the curb.
Summer
June - AugustYard waste collection is in full swing. Ensure all brush is cut to 3 feet and bundled properly on the curb by Sunday evening.
Winter
December - MarchDuring heavy Orange County snowfalls, keep your carts clear of snowbanks and do not place them where they will obstruct city snowplows.
About Middletown Waste Management
Municipal Waste Services in Middletown
The City of Middletown Department of Public Works (DPW) provides weekly refuse and recycling collection for its residents. Each eligible property is equipped with specific, city-issued carts—a standard dark cart for household garbage and a blue cart for single-stream recyclables. Residents are asked to set their carts out the night before their scheduled collection day to ensure they aren't missed by early morning routes.
Navigating the Ward-Based Spring Clean-Up
Unlike cities that offer year-round bulk pickups by appointment, Middletown manages large waste via an Annual Spring Clean-Up Week. Occurring generally in April and May, this event is strictly scheduled by Ward. Single and two-family homes can place up to 12 bulky items, including a maximum of four tires off the rim, at the curb the Sunday evening before their Ward's designated week. The city will pick up additional items, but the property owner will be billed for the overage.
Strict Rules for Blue Recycling Carts
Middletown's recycling guidelines are clear and rigorously enforced to prevent processing facility jams. The DPW mandates a zero-tolerance policy for plastic bags in the blue recycling bins. All acceptable items—from #1-#7 plastics and glass bottles to corrugated cardboard—must be placed loosely into the carts. Any paper heavily soiled with food grease, such as used pizza boxes, is considered trash.
Sunday Evening Yard Waste Protocol
Starting on April 1st of each year, Middletown implements a designated yard waste program. Residents are instructed to place their organic debris at the curb on Sunday evenings. A critical rule to remember: brush and branches must be tied in bundles no longer than three feet, and you cannot use your city-issued garbage or blue recycling carts to store or transport yard waste.
Handling Electronic Waste Responsibly
New York State law prohibits leaving electronics on the curb or sidewalk for municipal collection. To accommodate this, the Middletown DPW hosts an Electronic Drop-Off Day—typically on a Saturday in late spring—at the DPW Recycling Center on Monhagen Avenue. Residents can drop off up to five electronic items, though appliances containing Freon, like air conditioners, require a $25 processing fee.
Drop-off Facilities
DPW Recycling Center
76 Monhagen Ave, Middletown, NY 10940
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I throw away large items or furniture in Middletown?
The city does not provide year-round bulk pickup. Instead, you can place up to 12 large items at the curb during your Ward's designated Annual Spring Clean-Up Week, typically in April or May.
Are plastic bags allowed in Middletown's blue recycling carts?
No, plastic bags are strictly prohibited in the blue recycling carts. All recyclable materials must be loose. Items contained in plastic grocery or trash bags will be rejected.
What is the proper way to dispose of yard waste?
Starting April 1st, yard waste should be placed at the curb on Sunday evenings. Branches must be tied together in bundles no longer than 3 feet. Do not use your city-issued garbage or recycling carts for yard debris.
How are garbage and recycling schedules affected by city holidays?
Garbage pickup is suspended on city holidays and is delayed by one day. For recycling routes affected by a holiday, the DPW runs a special Saturday recycling pickup at the end of that week.