Green 96-gallon wheeled toter Bin (Trash)
Place at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on collection day. Overflow must be in sturdy bags or rigid cans next to the toter, not exceeding 60 pounds per container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue wheeled toter Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week on your designated trash day. Rinse all containers. Do not bag recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal cans and aluminum foilware
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs
- ✓Milk, juice, and soup cartons (gable-top and aseptic)
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and flattened cardboard
- ✓Shredded paper (only if inside a sealed paper bag)
- ✓Defaced license plates
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Single-use plastic cups
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Food-soiled materials
Yard Waste Bin
Wood, branches, and hedges must be tied with string or twine into bundles no longer than 4 feet, no wider than 18 inches, and weighing no more than 60 pounds. Nails must be removed from lumber.
Accepted Items
- ✓Small amounts of grass and leaves (in refuse toter)
- ✓Loose wood
- ✓Trees, bushes, and hedges
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Occasional basis on regular refuse day)
Placement
Place items on the curb lawn, not blocking sidewalks or pedestrian paths. If you have on-property collection, items must still be brought out to the curb lawn unless a paved area accommodates the truck.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (doors removed)
- ✓ Excess bagged garbage (under 60 lbs per bag)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction debris
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous materials and wet paint
- ✕ Tires generated from commercial businesses
Occasional bulk collection is free. However, excessive amounts requiring a specialized boom truck, or waste involving appliances like refrigerators (Freon), may incur specific handling fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a designated holiday falls on a weekday, refuse and recycling collections for that day and the remainder of the week are shifted and delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Special bulk or boom truck appointments may face scheduling delays during holiday weeks.
Always refer to the printed tear-off calendar mailed by the city or check the online collection map to confirm holiday adjustments.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Return Plastic Film to the Store
Never place plastic grocery bags, bread wrappers, or dry cleaning film in your blue recycling toter. These stretchy plastics wrap around the gears at the recycling plant, causing major shutdowns. Take them to designated drop-offs at local grocery stores.
Keep Single-Use Cups Out
While plastic bottles and tubs are highly recyclable, single-use plastic cups (like those from iced coffee or fast food) are made from a different resin that the city's processor cannot handle. Toss these items directly into your green garbage toter.
Prepare Lumber Safely
If you are setting out scrap wood or bundled branches, safety is paramount. The city mandates that any discarded lumber must have all nails entirely removed or bent over completely flat to protect sanitation workers from puncture injuries.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
April - SeptemberFor major spring landscaping or yard overhauls, do not pile massive amounts of unbundled brush at the curb, as it will be tagged as a violation. Instead, call (585) 428-6928 to arrange for a boom truck pickup for a reasonable fee.
Autumn
October - NovemberThe city conducts an extensive fall leaf collection program. Be sure to check the municipal schedule for your neighborhood's designated leaf pickup weeks, and avoid raking leaves into the street outside of those specific windows to prevent storm drain blockages.
Winter
December - MarchHeavy snowfall can bury your green and blue toters. Ensure your bins are shoveled out and clearly visible from the street by 6:30 a.m. Do not place bins on top of snowbanks where they can tip over or interfere with snow plowing operations.
About Rochester Waste Management
Rochester's Municipal Fleet Advantage
Unlike many large municipalities that outsource sanitation to private firms, the City of Rochester takes pride in operating its own refuse fleet through the Solid Waste Management Division. This localized approach allows the city to offer highly customized residential services, including on-demand pick-ups for large remodeling projects via specialized boom trucks, ensuring rapid response times for residents needing immediate disposal solutions.
Strict Morning Set-Out Mandate
While some cities allow residents to leave garbage out overnight, Rochester enforces a strict morning-of policy to minimize neighborhood blight and pest issues. All 96-gallon green refuse toters, recycling bins, and bulk items must be placed on the tree belt or curb lawn no earlier than the morning of your scheduled pickup, and they must be accessible by exactly 6:30 a.m. Containers are required to be returned to the side or rear of your property within 24 hours post-collection.
Shredded Paper Exception in the Recycling Stream
Rochester's recycling program contains a unique rule regarding shredded documents. While most single-stream systems completely ban shredded paper because it clogs sorting screens, Rochester permits it—provided the shredded paper is securely contained inside a sealed brown paper bag before being placed into your recycling toter. Plastic bags, however, remain strictly prohibited across the board.
Navigating Occasional Bulk Pickups
Residents benefit from occasional bulk refuse collection occurring on their regular weekly trash day at no extra charge. Items like furniture, mattresses, and extra bags of overflow garbage (up to 60 pounds each) can be placed next to your green toter. However, for extreme volumes of material or large-scale homeowner landscaping debris, the city requires you to call and schedule a paid boom truck or roll-off container service rather than overloading the curb.
Monroe County ecopark Partnership
To keep toxic and non-compliant materials out of the landfill, Rochester residents must utilize the Monroe County ecopark for specialized disposal. Electronic waste, televisions, computer monitors, rechargeable batteries, and household hazardous chemicals are banned from curbside pickup. Booking an appointment at the ecopark facility on Avion Drive is mandatory for safely discarding these environmentally sensitive items.
Drop-off Facilities
Monroe County ecopark
10 Avion Drive, Rochester, NY 14624
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash out in Rochester, NY?
Unlike cities that encourage nighttime placement, Rochester requires all refuse toters, recycling bins, and bulk items to be placed at the curb by exactly 6:30 a.m. on the morning of your scheduled collection day.
Will the city pick up extra garbage if my green toter is full?
Yes. If your 96-gallon green toter is full, you can place extra refuse in sturdy plastic bags or alternative rigid garbage cans next to your toter. These additional bags or cans must not exceed 60 pounds each.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or couch?
You can place occasional bulk items like couches or appliances on the curb lawn by 6:30 a.m. on your regular trash day. For safety, you must remove the doors from refrigerators and any appliances with latches before putting them at the curb.
Where can I dispose of my old television or computer?
Electronic waste is strictly prohibited from curbside pickup in Rochester. You must take televisions, computers, monitors, and printers to the Monroe County ecopark on Avion Drive for safe recycling.