Varies by private hauler Bin (Trash)
Since the Town does not provide municipal collection, residents must contract directly with a licensed private hauler and strictly follow their specific bin placement rules and limits.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam egg cartons
- ✓Clamshell berry containers
- ✓Broken glass and ceramics
Blue (Standard OCRRA bin or hauler-provided cart) Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. Place all items loose in the bin. Ignore the recycling numbers on plastic; sort strictly by shape according to OCRRA guidelines.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs (with handle), jars, and stackable dairy tubs
- ✓Empty food and beverage cans
- ✓Clean aluminum foil
- ✓Cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (any color)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Clamshell containers
- ✕Tanglers like cords and hoses
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Prescription vials
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
The Town Highway Dept collects yard waste April through October. Grass and leaves must be in brown paper bags or cardboard boxes. No plastic bags, no loose piles, and no commercial contractor waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush and branches
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Woody natural material (< 8 ft long, < 6 inches diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a year (Annual Fall Cleanup) via the Town; year-round via private hauler or OCRRA drop-off
Placement
Have junk and yard waste out on the roadside prior to the start of your Fire District's designated week. Brush must be piled completely separate from junk.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Scrap wood
- ✓ Carpeting
- ✓ Dry, empty paint cans (lids off)
- ✓ Glass items (taped or wrapped in plastic)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Mattresses
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Batteries
- ✕ TVs and electronics
- ✕ Household garbage
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Construction concrete
Curbside pickup is free during the Fall Cleanup. Residents can also use OCRRA's Rock Cut Road Transfer Station for bulk disposal year-round for flat vehicle-based fees (e.g., $15 for cars/minivans).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holiday trash and recycling collection delays depend entirely on your chosen private hauler. Most local haulers operate on a one-day delay if a major holiday falls on a weekday.
Yard Waste Exception
The Highway Department's brush collection and 7-week Fall Cleanup runs sequentially by Fire District from September to October, operating continuously through the week.
Verify exact holiday schedule changes directly with the private hauling company you contracted.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Empty, Rinse, and Reattach
For plastic bottles, glass jars, and metal cans, give them a quick rinse to remove food residue. Instead of throwing the caps in separately, screw the plastic caps and metal lids back onto their containers before tossing them in the bin.
Keep It Loose and Unbagged
Never put your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags or paper grocery sacks. Bagged items are flagged as trash at the OCRRA sorting facility. Simply drop your clean recyclables directly into the blue bin.
Avoid the Tanglers
Keep garden hoses, holiday string lights, and extension cords far away from your recycling cart. These flexible 'tanglers' cause severe mechanical jams at the county recycling center and pose a safety risk to facility workers.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
April - AugustThe Highway Department conducts ongoing brush and yard waste removal. Place woody debris neatly near the road, and always use brown paper leaf bags or boxes for grass clippings.
Autumn
September - OctoberThe massive 7-week Town Fall Cleanup takes place. Check the Highway Department's specific Fire District schedule to know exactly which week to place out your bulky junk and separate brush piles.
Winter
November - MarchTown yard waste collection pauses as the Highway Department pivots to snow removal and salting across 140+ miles of town roads. Ensure your private hauler's trash bins are placed clear of snowbanks.
About Onondaga Waste Management
Private Hauler Requirements in the Town of Onondaga
Unlike neighboring municipalities that manage centralized sanitation fleets, the Town of Onondaga does not provide weekly municipal trash pickup. Residents living within the town limits are required to establish an independent account with a licensed private hauler. This decentralized approach gives you the flexibility to choose a service plan that aligns with your household's unique waste output, but it also means your specific pickup day and service terms are determined entirely by the company you hire.
Decoding OCRRA's Shape-Based Recycling Rules
Whether your private hauler is large or small, everyone in the Town of Onondaga is subject to the recycling mandates set by the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA). The most critical rule to remember is to ignore the numbered recycling triangles on plastics. Instead, OCRRA requires sorting strictly by shape. Only plastic bottles, jars, jugs with a handle, and stackable dairy tubs belong in your blue bin. Leave out the 'clamshell' berry containers and Styrofoam egg cartons, as they contaminate the county's material recovery facility.
Navigating the 7-Week Annual Fall Cleanup
While weekly garbage is privatized, the Town of Onondaga Highway Department steps in every autumn to offer a massive 7-week Fall Cleanup. Covering over 200 miles of local roads, this annual event allows residents to easily dispose of bulky junk, broken furniture, scrap wood, and appliances right at the curb. The collection schedule rolls progressively through local fire districts starting in September. Be sure to pile brush completely separate from your household junk, as they are collected by different trucks during your designated week.
April through October Brush and Yard Waste Services
Homeowners dealing with seasonal yard maintenance can take advantage of the Highway Department's dedicated brush pickup from spring through fall. The town crew gathers woody natural materials, grass clippings, and leaves, providing an excellent alternative to bagging them for your private hauler. To ensure pickup, keep branches under 8 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter, and ensure all grass or leaves are packed into biodegradable paper bags or cardboard boxes—plastic bags will be left at the curb.
Year-Round Drop-Off Options at OCRRA Facilities
If you miss the town's Fall Cleanup or generate excess debris mid-winter, Onondaga County provides a robust network of drop-off sites. The Rock Cut Road Transfer Station in nearby Jamesville accepts bulky waste and household trash for a flat fee based on your vehicle size. Additionally, green-thumbed residents can purchase an annual OCRRA Compost Site Pass, granting access to the Amboy or Jamesville compost facilities for dropping off food scraps and extra yard waste while picking up premium compost for their gardens.
Drop-off Facilities
OCRRA Rock Cut Road Transfer Station
5808 Rock Cut Road, Jamesville, NY 13078
Materials Accepted
OCRRA Amboy Compost Facility
6296 Airport Road, Camillus, NY 13209
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Town of Onondaga provide weekly garbage collection?
No, the Town does not have a municipal sanitation fleet. All residents must independently hire a licensed private hauler to handle their weekly household trash and recycling collection.
How do I know what plastics I can recycle in my blue bin?
Follow OCRRA's shape-based rule rather than looking at the recycling numbers. Only place plastic bottles, jars, jugs that have a handle, and stackable dairy or dairy-alternative tubs into your recycling container. All other plastics belong in the trash.
When is the Annual Fall Cleanup and what can I throw away?
The Fall Cleanup runs for seven weeks starting in September, organized sequentially by Fire District. You can put out bulky items like sofas, appliances, scrap wood, and rolled carpeting. Hazardous materials, tires, mattresses, TVs, and regular household garbage are strictly prohibited.
Where can I dispose of an old television or computer?
Electronics are not accepted during the town's Fall Cleanup or by your standard private hauler. You must utilize New York State's manufacturer take-back programs, or take functioning electronics to local donation centers as recommended by OCRRA.