Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for North Hempstead
Trash Day
Residential collection is provided 2 to 3 days per week (typically Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday, or Monday/Wednesday/Friday) depending on your garbage district and private carter.
Recycling
Collected once weekly on your neighborhood's designated recycling collection day.
Yard Waste
Collected once per week (commonly on Wednesdays or designated route days) from April through mid-December.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (or after sunset the evening prior)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Garbage and recycling services in North Hempstead are funded and billed through your Town and Special District property taxes rather than a standalone municipal utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Semi-Annually (Included in Property Taxes)
Accepted Methods
Online (ACH e-Check, Credit/Debit Card), Phone, Mail, In-Person, Dropbox
Pro Tip / Discount
Property tax exemptions are available for qualified senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and low-income homeowners via the STAR program and the Receiver of Taxes.
Any standard closed, leak-proof metal or plastic can Bin (Trash)
Residents may set out a maximum of three (3) 32-gallon cans (or equivalent bags) per collection day. Each can or bag must weigh no more than 50 lbs. Trash must be placed at the curb after 5:00 p.m. the night before collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics (#3, #4, #6, #7)
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Heavily soiled paper
- ✓General household rubbish
Clear plastic bags or marked 20-32 gallon bins (preferably Green/Blue) Bin (Recycling)
Items must be separated. Place paper/cardboard in one marked bin (or clear bag) and rinsed metal/glass/plastics in another. Cardboard must be flattened and tied into bundles no larger than 3x3 feet.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (bottles and jugs)
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal and tin cans
- ✓Clean aluminum foil
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and flattened corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Plastic grocery shopping bags
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Aerosol cans
- ✕Light bulbs and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in biodegradable paper lawn bags or loose in 32-gallon barrels. Branches must be tied into manageable bundles no larger than 2 ft by 4 ft. Maximum weight is 50 lbs per container/bundle.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Fallen leaves
- ✓Hedge clippings
- ✓Tree limbs and branches (max 2 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One (1) item per week on your last scheduled pickup day
Placement
Place your single bulk item at the curb no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the night before your Friday or Saturday collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (chairs, tables, sofas)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Rugs and carpeting (cut into 4-foot lengths, tied, max 3 rolls)
- ✓ Refrigerators (doors must be completely removed)
- ✓ Washing machines and dishwashers
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials (toilets, sinks, cabinets)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Paint cans
One bulk item per week is included in your standard district sanitation taxes. Special pickups consisting of two or more items require calling your private carter to arrange and will incur an additional out-of-pocket fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular garbage pickup falls on a legal holiday, it will be skipped and collected on your NEXT regular scheduled garbage collection day. Crews do not push collections forward by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
If your recycling or yard waste pickup falls on a holiday (usually Wednesday), it is typically collected on your next scheduled garbage day, or in some districts, on the Friday of that same week.
The Sunday Resident Drop-Off facility is also closed on holiday weekends such as Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayCurbside DIY yard waste collection resumes the first week of April. Residents are permitted to place out yard waste on their designated collection day (typically Wednesday), provided it is in paper bags or unlined 32-gallon cans.
Winter
JanuarySpecial Christmas tree collection takes place during the first two weeks of January on your regular yard waste collection day. Ensure all ornaments, lights, and stands are completely removed before placing the tree at the curb.
Winter
December - MarchDuring periods of snow, residents are legally required to shovel a clear path to the location of their garbage receptacles to ensure the safety of the sanitation workers. Collection may be suspended during severe weather events.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating North Hempstead's Independent Garbage Districts
Unlike unified municipal systems, the Town of North Hempstead utilizes a unique district-based approach for residential waste. The region is divided into various special garbage districts and incorporated villages—such as Carle Place, Albertson, and New Hyde Park—each contracting with private haulers. However, the overarching Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMA) enforces baseline rules that every neighborhood must follow. To find your exact pickup days, residents must identify their specific district via the town's 311 portal, as schedules vary dramatically from one block to the next.
Receptacle Rules and Weight Restrictions
To ensure uniform safety standards across all private carters, SWMA mandates strict size limits for all residential waste bins. Homeowners are permitted to use standard metal or heavy-grade plastic trash cans, provided they do not exceed a 32-gallon capacity. Just as importantly, no single container or individual sealed trash bag may weigh more than 50 pounds. Crews are legally permitted to bypass overweight bins to prevent occupational injuries. While set-out times can vary slightly by village, placing your compliant cans at the curb by 6:00 AM on the day of service is the universally accepted best practice.
The S.T.O.P. Program and E-Waste Disposal
The town takes the disposal of hazardous materials exceptionally seriously. North Hempstead hosts several S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) events annually, allowing locals to safely discard items like anti-freeze, aerosol cans, and lithium batteries. For electronic waste—such as outdated televisions, computers, and printers—residents can visit the town's residential drop-off facility located on West Shore Road in Port Washington. This facility operates on a regular weekly schedule, giving locals a convenient, legal alternative to leaving toxic electronics on the curb.
Handling Organic Yard Debris
From early spring through mid-December, yard waste collection is a major priority for the town. Landscaping debris must be handled entirely separately from regular refuse. Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds must go into biodegradable paper lawn bags or standard 32-gallon open containers. The town strictly prohibits placing organics in plastic bags. For tree trimmings and thick branches, homeowners must cut the wood into lengths no longer than four feet and tie them into bundles weighing 50 pounds or less.
Dual-Stream Recycling Guidelines
North Hempstead remains committed to a rigorous dual-stream recycling process to minimize landfill waste. This requires homeowners to actively separate their materials into two distinct categories. One pickup day focuses solely on mixed paper and flattened corrugated cardboard. A separate day is designated for commingled glass, metal cans, and plastics numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Contamination is a primary concern for the SWMA, so rinsing all food jars and keeping recyclables completely loose—never bagged—is mandatory for collection.
Drop-off Facilities
Solid Waste Management Authority Transfer Station (Sunday Resident Drop-Off)
999 West Shore Road, Roslyn, NY 11576
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out my specific garbage days in North Hempstead?
Because the town is divided into various independent garbage districts and villages, you must enter your address into the North Hempstead 311 online portal to determine your exact pickup schedule and local hauler.
What is the maximum allowed weight for a trash can?
Town ordinances dictate that no single trash receptacle or tied plastic bag may weigh more than 50 pounds. Cans must also be 32 gallons or smaller in volume.
Where can I throw away hazardous chemicals like old paint?
Hazardous chemicals cannot go in normal trash. Residents must bring these materials to one of the town's scheduled S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) events held throughout the year.