Any standard durable can or tied bag Bin (Trash)
Must be placed curbside securely. Do not exceed weight limits, and ensure all wet garbage is properly bagged.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household solid waste
- ✓Dried out latex or water-based paint
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
Labeled recycle pail Bin (Recycling)
Collected every Wednesday on an alternating basis (co-mingled one week, paper/cardboard the next). Must be clean, dry, and never bagged in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Co-mingled: tin/aluminum cans, glass jars/bottles
- ✓Plastics stamped with #1, #2, or #5
- ✓Empty aerosol cans with caps removed
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and mail
- ✓Clean, bundled cardboard packed in paper bags or an intact box
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Hoses, wires, and hangers
- ✕Light bulbs, ceramics, and broken glass
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Never place yard waste in plastic bags. Use biodegradable paper bags or unlidded containers. Alternatively, residents can bring it to the Youngs Avenue Yard Waste Facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush and twigs
- ✓Yard clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your last scheduled pickup day of the week.
Placement
Place bulk items safely at the curb on your final garbage day of the week. Fluids must be drained from all appliances.
Accepted
- ✓ Appliances (fluids drained)
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Air conditioners
- ✓ Rugs and carpeting (cut to 4-foot rolls, max 50 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ E-waste (TVs, computers, stereos)
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction debris
- ✕ Propane tanks
Collection of up to six bulk items per week is included in your solid waste district taxes without additional curbside fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
On the day of a designated holiday, all sanitation service is canceled for that specific route. The remainder of the week's routes will continue on their normal schedule without shifting.
Yard Waste Exception
The Youngs Avenue Yard Waste Facility is closed on all observed town holidays.
Unlike towns that push pickup schedules back a day, Riverhead simply skips the holiday collection entirely and resumes on your next scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables or Yard Waste
The Town of Riverhead strictly prohibits using plastic garbage bags for recyclables or yard debris. Any recycling or leaves placed in plastic bags of any kind will not be collected by the contracted carters.
Remove Hard Covers from Books
If you are recycling old books on your designated paper and cardboard Wednesday, you must completely remove and discard the hard covers into your regular trash before placing the pages in your recycling bin.
Remove Caps from Aerosol Cans
Empty aerosol cans can be recycled with your co-mingled metal and plastics. However, it is a strict requirement that you detach and throw away the plastic caps before tossing the cans into your labeled recycling pail.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Fall
May & OctoberThe Town hosts its S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) Program at the Highway Department Yard on Osborn Avenue in May and October for the safe disposal of household hazardous waste.
Year-Round
January - DecemberThe Yard Waste Facility on Youngs Avenue is open five days a week (Thursday through Monday) from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Note that it is closed on extreme inclement weather days and major holidays.
Winter
December - MarchIf a severe snowstorm or observed holiday forces a cancellation on your regular collection day, service is simply skipped and resumes on your next normally scheduled pickup day.
About Riverhead Waste Management
Riverhead's Sub-District Collection System
The Town of Riverhead manages residential garbage through six designated sub-districts, labeled 'A' through 'F'. Each area has a specific schedule for household trash, yard waste, and bulk item collection handled by a town-contracted private collector. Residents must check their exact zone to ensure their refuse is placed at the curb on the correct day.
Alternating Wednesday Recycling Schedule
To streamline processing, all town recycling is collected exclusively on Wednesdays. Riverhead operates an alternating weekly schedule: one Wednesday is dedicated to co-mingled plastics, glass, and metal, while the following Wednesday is reserved solely for clean paper and cardboard products. It is crucial to never mix these materials in the same bin.
Six-Item Bulk Collection Policy
Unlike municipalities that charge per-item fees or require scheduled appointments, Riverhead allows residents to place up to six bulk items at the curb on their final scheduled garbage pickup day of the week. Accepted items include mattresses, furniture, appliances, and bundled carpeting, making large home clean-outs significantly easier for locals.
Local S.T.O.P. and E-Waste Protocols
Electronic waste like televisions and computers are strictly banned from curbside collection. Instead, residents can utilize the permanent e-waste drop-off container at the Youngs Avenue Yard Waste Facility. For hazardous household chemicals like oil-based paints and pesticides, Riverhead hosts bi-annual S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program days every May and October.
Food Scrap and Oyster Shell Recovery
Riverhead leads progressive environmental initiatives, including a dedicated Food Scrap Drop-off Program that partners with the Long Island Organics Council to divert compostable waste from landfills. Additionally, the town participates in the 'Half Shells for Habitat' program, collecting discarded oyster and clam shells to rebuild wild marine reefs in local Long Island bays.
Drop-off Facilities
Riverhead Yard Waste Facility & E-Waste Drop-Off
Youngs Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901
Materials Accepted
Riverhead Highway Department Yard (S.T.O.P. Events Only)
1177 Osborn Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Town of Riverhead collect televisions or computers at the curb?
No, due to the NYS Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act, electronic waste is strictly banned from curbside collection. Residents must bring old TVs, computers, and stereos to the designated e-waste drop-off container at the Yard Waste Facility on Youngs Avenue, or to retail take-back locations like Best Buy.
How much bulk trash can I put out each week?
Residents in the Riverhead Refuse and Garbage District are allowed to set out up to six (6) bulk items per week on their final scheduled pickup day. Accepted items include furniture, mattresses, and appliances. Note that a single roll of bundled carpeting counts as one of your six items.
What should I do with leftover liquid paint?
Latex and water-based paints are not considered hazardous. You can dry them out at home and throw the solid cans in your regular trash. However, oil-based paints and stains are hazardous and must be saved for the town's bi-annual S.T.O.P. drop-off events held every May and October.
How are recyclables collected in Riverhead?
Recycling is collected district-wide every Wednesday using an alternating weekly schedule. One Wednesday is dedicated to co-mingled items like plastics (#1, #2, #5), glass, and metal cans. The next Wednesday is strictly for clean paper and broken-down cardboard. Items must be loose in a labeled pail, never in plastic bags.