Blue (64-gallon) Bin (Trash)
All regular trash must be bagged and placed inside the blue 64-gallon cart. Carts must be placed at the curb the night before your scheduled collection day. Do not use the green cart for trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Up to 3 bulk items or extra bags outside the cart
Green (96-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected bi-weekly. Do not bag recyclables; place them loose in the green cart. If you have extra recycling, you can place it in a cardboard box next to the green cart (no limit on extra recycling).
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and mail
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum, steel, tin)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Aerosol cans
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Clothing
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Diapers
- ✕Hardcover books
Yard Waste Bin
There is no separate yard waste collection. Leaves and brush must be bagged and placed next to your blue trash cart, counting toward your weekly limit of three extra bags or bulk items.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged leaves
- ✓Small yard debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Up to 3 items)
Placement
Place your allowed bulk items neatly next to your blue 64-gallon cart on your normal collection day, ensuring they do not block the automated truck's access to the carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household items
- ✓ Extra bags of garbage
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Concrete
- ✕ Electronic waste
- ✕ Flammable liquids
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Medical waste
The first three items per week are free. Additional items require Refuse Tags, which can be purchased from the city for $5.00 per tag (each tag allows two extra items).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major recognized holiday falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week are typically delayed by one day. Weekend holidays usually do not disrupt the weekday schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Since yard waste is collected concurrently with standard trash, it is subject to the exact same one-day holiday delay.
Always refer to the official City of Niagara Falls or Casella annual mailer to confirm exact schedule shifts around major holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Recyclables
While all regular garbage must be bagged in your blue cart, recyclables must remain loose. Do not put plastic shopping bags in the green cart, as they jam the mechanical sorters. Take plastic bags back to local grocery store drop-offs.
No Electronics or Batteries in Carts
E-waste, aerosol cans, and batteries cannot go in your curbside bins. They pose severe fire risks to the automated collection trucks and must be taken to specialized Niagara County drop-off sites.
Keep Leaves Out of the Street
The Department of Public Works prohibits raking leaves or yard debris into the streets. All leaves must be bagged and placed at the curb alongside your regular trash to prevent clogged storm drains and localized flooding.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - NovemberDuring autumn, be prepared to manage heavy leaf falls. Remember to bag your leaves and place them out on your regular trash day, ensuring they do not exceed your 3-item weekly limit without purchasing extra refuse tags.
Winter
December - MarchKeep bins clear of snow banks and avoid placing them in the roadway where city snowplows might strike them. Shovel a flat spot on the curb or driveway apron so the automated truck arm can safely grab the carts.
Spring / Summer
April - SeptemberFor significant spring yard cleanups or home renovations, if you generate more than three bulk items or bags, you can purchase $5 Refuse Tags from the city to cover up to two additional items per tag.
About Niagara Falls Waste Management
Comprehensive Solid Waste Management in Niagara Falls, NY
Navigating trash and recycling in the City of Niagara Falls involves a structured municipal program managed by the Department of Public Works. Residents are issued a blue 64-gallon cart for weekly household garbage and a green 96-gallon cart for bi-weekly single-stream recycling. The automated collection system requires all regular garbage to be bagged within the blue cart, while recyclables must remain loose to ensure they are processed correctly at the materials recovery facility.
Generous Weekly Allowances for Bulk Items and Extra Trash
One of the standout features of the Niagara Falls sanitation program is the weekly bulk allowance. Without needing to call ahead or schedule a special pickup, residents can place up to three bulk items or three extra bags of trash next to their blue cart every week. This makes managing household cleanouts or seasonal decluttering highly convenient. For residents needing to dispose of more than the three-item limit, official Refuse Tags can be purchased from the city for $5.00, which covers two additional items at the curb.
Managing Yard Debris Without Dedicated Collection
Unlike some neighboring municipalities, the City of Niagara Falls no longer operates a separate, dedicated yard waste fleet. Instead, grass clippings, small brush, and seasonal leaves must be bagged and treated as part of your standard weekly refuse. These bags count towards your weekly allowance of three extra items placed outside the blue cart. The Department of Public Works strictly prohibits raking leaves directly into the streets, as it clogs municipal storm drains and creates hazards during heavy upstate New York rainfalls.
Navigating E-Waste and Hazardous Materials
Because electronic waste and hazardous chemicals are banned from New York State landfills, Niagara Falls residents must take care not to place items like televisions, computers, wet paint, or batteries in their curbside carts. The city partners with Niagara County's environmental initiatives to handle these dangerous materials safely. Residents are encouraged to visit the county's Rethink Your Waste portal to register for specialized household hazardous waste drop-off events hosted periodically throughout the year.
Drop-off Facilities
Niagara County Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Various event locations across Niagara County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put extra garbage bags next to my cart if it's full?
Yes. The City of Niagara Falls allows residents to place up to three (3) extra bags or bulk items next to their blue trash cart every week at no additional charge. If you have more than three, you must purchase a $5 Refuse Tag from the city.
What should I do if I have a lot of extra recycling?
There is no limit on extra recycling in Niagara Falls! If your 96-gallon green cart is full, you can simply place your extra loose recyclables in a cardboard box next to your cart on your scheduled bi-weekly recycling collection day.
Does the city pick up yard waste separately?
No. There is no longer a separate yard waste collection program. You must bag your leaves, grass clippings, and yard debris. These bags will count towards your weekly limit of three extra items placed next to the trash cart.
How do I get rid of an old TV, computer, or car tires?
Electronic waste and tires are strictly prohibited from curbside pickup. You must take televisions and computers to a Niagara County collection event (rethinkyourwaste.com). Tires should be taken to a local scrap yard or tire shop.