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
!Contamination Tips
Banish Plastic Grocery Bags
Never place your recyclables inside standard opaque plastic grocery or garbage bags. If you prefer to bag your recyclables instead of using a bin, town regulations strictly require the use of 30-55 gallon CLEAR plastic bags.
Keep Greasy Pizza Boxes Out
While clean corrugated cardboard is perfectly acceptable, cardboard saturated with grease, cheese, or food residue ruins the recycling batch. Throw soiled pizza boxes into your regular household garbage.
Caps Off and Rinsed Out
Before tossing #1 and #2 plastic bottles or glass jars into your recycling bin, you must remove the caps (discard them in the regular trash) and thoroughly rinse the containers to remove any sticky food or beverage residue.
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.
About North Hempstead Waste Management
Navigating North Hempstead's Garbage District System
Solid waste collection in the Town of North Hempstead is uniquely structured. The town's Department of Solid Waste Management oversees five town-administered garbage districts, utilizing private carters like Meadow Carting and Jamaica Ash to perform the actual curbside pickups. Because each district and incorporated village may employ a different private carter, specific collection days vary by neighborhood, though the overarching rules set by the town apply universally.
The S.T.O.P. Program for Hazardous Household Materials
Keeping toxic chemicals out of local landfills and incinerators is a top priority. North Hempstead manages this through its S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) events. Residents cannot place items like latex paint, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), rechargeable lithium batteries, e-waste, or expired pharmaceuticals on the curb. Instead, these must be held and safely disposed of at designated S.T.O.P. collection days scheduled throughout the year.
Strict Regulations for Yard Waste and Commercial Landscapers
Curbside yard waste collection runs seasonally from the first week of April through the second week of December, typically on Wednesdays. However, the town enforces a strict rule regarding who generates the waste: municipal crews will only collect 'DIY' yard debris generated by the homeowner. By law, commercial landscapers are required to haul away any grass, leaves, or branches they create during their paid services.
Sunday Resident Drop-Off Facility in Roslyn
When curbside limits aren't enough, residents can utilize the Sunday Resident Drop-Off at the Solid Waste Management Authority Transfer Station located at 999 West Shore Road in Roslyn. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays (excluding holidays), this facility accepts recyclables for free. For non-hazardous refuse, furniture, and DIY construction debris, residents must pay a fee based on vehicle size, ranging from $11 for a car to $45 for a van, payable only by credit or debit card.
Stringent Plastic Recycling Guidelines
North Hempstead requires residents to be meticulous with their plastics. Only plastics clearly marked with the #1 or #2 recycling symbol—such as water bottles and detergent jugs—are accepted in curbside bins. Number 5 plastics are accepted only at the resident drop-off location, while plastics numbered 3, 4, 6, and 7 (including styrofoam and plastic bags) are strictly prohibited from the recycling stream and must be thrown in the regular garbage.
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
Will the Town of North Hempstead pick up yard waste left by my landscaper?
No. Local ordinances strictly dictate that commercial landscapers are legally required to remove and haul away any yard waste they generate during their work. The town will only collect DIY yard waste generated personally by the homeowner.
What happens if a holiday falls on my garbage day?
Unlike some municipalities that push the schedule back by one day, North Hempstead simply skips that day. If your trash day is Monday and it's Memorial Day, your garbage will not be picked up until your next regularly scheduled collection day (e.g., Wednesday or Thursday).
Can I throw out an old rug with my regular garbage?
Yes, but it must be prepared correctly and counts as your one weekly bulk item. Rugs and padding must be cut into lengths of four feet or less, securely tied into rolls, and weigh no more than 50 pounds. You can place up to three rolls out on your Friday or Saturday bulk collection day.
Where can I safely dispose of an old television or computer in North Hempstead?
Electronic waste cannot be placed on the curb with your regular garbage. You must hold onto your electronics and bring them to one of the town's designated S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) or E-Cycling events hosted periodically throughout the year.