City-issued Cart (RFID-tagged) Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be placed inside plastic bags before going into the cart. The lid must be able to close completely. Bins must be placed at the curb between 6:00 PM the night before and 7:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Small amounts of DIY C&D (in separate container under 50 lbs)
City-issued RecycleOne Cart (RFID-tagged) Bin (Recycling)
Single-stream collection via the RecycleOne program. All items must be mixed together loosely in the cart. Do not bag recyclables. Rinse all containers before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic containers and tubs
- ✓Metal cans and foil
- ✓Cardboard, newspaper, and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Clothing and textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Collected the day before normal trash pickup (April to October). Limit of five 30-gallon containers or 100% biodegradable paper lawn bags per week. Max weight is 50 lbs per container. Plastic bags and loose piles are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush and limbs (max 5 feet long, 6 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on standard trash day
Placement
Place your single allowed bulk item at the curb alongside your regular refuse carts no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Washing machines and dryers
- ✓ Couches and large chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Room-size rugs (rolled and tied, max 6 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Truck tires
- ✕ Loose construction material
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paint
- ✕ Multiple bulk items in a single week
One bulk item and one car tire per week are included at no extra charge. Excess bulk must be transported to the EcoDrop facility.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The contracted hauler, Bliss, only delays garbage and recycling routes for New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Other federal holidays do not impact regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste Exception
Because green waste is collected by the city DPW, Monday municipal holidays (like Memorial Day) WILL delay green waste collection by one day, even though regular trash is unaffected.
Always refer to the Rome Daily Sentinel, where Bliss publishes official notices regarding holiday schedule changes two days prior to an affected holiday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority recycling facility utilizes mechanical sorters that cannot process plastic bags. While your garbage must be bagged, all items in your RecycleOne cart must be completely loose.
Keep Dirt Out of Yard Waste
When cleaning up your garden, ensure that stones, dirt, concrete, and root balls are excluded from your yard waste bags. The DPW will refuse to collect any containerized green waste contaminated with heavy soil or debris.
Bundle Construction Waste Separately
Do not hide heavy construction and demolition (C&D) debris inside your regular garbage cart. Minor DIY C&D material must be placed in a separate, dedicated garbage container that weighs less than 50 pounds.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March to AprilThe DPW typically conducts a bulk loose leaf sweep in late March to clear winter remnants. Following this sweep, all green waste must transition strictly to the 5-container/bag limit beginning in mid-April.
Autumn
October to NovemberContainerized yard waste pickup eventually halts as the city transitions to its autumn loose leaf vacuuming schedule. Do not mix brush or branches into fall leaf piles, as it damages the vacuum equipment.
Winter
December to FebruaryGreen waste collection is suspended for the winter. Ensure your RFID garbage and recycling carts are kept completely clear of snowbanks and placed firmly on cleared driveway surfaces to allow the automated trucks access.
About Rome Waste Management
The Dual-Hauler System and Staggered Pickup Days
Solid waste management in Rome, New York, operates through a unique hybrid system. Regular household garbage and single-stream recycling are collected by a contracted private hauler, Bliss. However, the City of Rome Department of Public Works (DPW) exclusively handles the curbside green waste collection. To maintain efficiency, the DPW schedules your green waste pickup exactly one day prior to your Bliss garbage day. For example, if your trash is collected on Tuesday, your yard waste must be out on Monday.
Navigating Rome's Quirky Holiday Schedule
Because of the dual-hauler system, holiday delays in Rome can be confusing. The contracted hauler, Bliss, only observes three major holidays for trash and recycling: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. During those weeks, refuse collection shifts forward by one day. Conversely, the DPW observes all standard municipal Monday holidays (like Memorial Day or Labor Day). This means a Monday holiday will delay your green waste collection, but it will not delay your regular Tuesday garbage pickup.
Strict Limits on Weekly Bulk and Tires
The City of Rome offers a generous but strictly regulated weekly bulk pickup program. Without needing to schedule an appointment, residents are permitted to place one bulk item—such as a couch, mattress, or appliance—at the curb per week per building. Uniquely, the city also allows the disposal of exactly one passenger car tire per week alongside your regular trash. Truck tires, however, are strictly prohibited and must be handled privately.
RFID Carts and the Bagging Paradox
Every property in the refuse district is equipped with two city-owned, RFID-tagged carts: one for garbage and one for RecycleOne single-stream recycling. The rules for preparing materials for these carts are exact opposites. To keep the carts clean and prevent litter, all household garbage must be tied in plastic bags before being placed in the trash cart. Conversely, all recyclables must be placed entirely loose inside the blue recycling cart; bagged recyclables will be treated as contamination and left at the curb.
EcoDrop Rome for Excess and Hazardous Waste
When spring cleaning or a home renovation generates waste beyond the city's weekly limits, Rome residents have access to the EcoDrop facility at 575 Perimeter Road. Operated by the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority, EcoDrop Rome serves as a convenient drop-off hub for construction and demolition (C&D) debris, excess bulk items, electronics, and household hazardous waste like wet paint and chemicals.
Drop-off Facilities
EcoDrop Rome
575 Perimeter Rd, Rome, NY 13441
Materials Accepted
Rome City Yard (DPW)
132 Race Street, Rome, NY 13440
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Rome delay trash pickup for Memorial Day or Labor Day?
No. The city's contracted hauler, Bliss, does not delay regular trash and recycling collection for Monday holidays like Memorial Day or Labor Day. They only observe New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. However, the city DPW will delay your green waste collection for those Monday holidays.
What day do I put out my yard waste in Rome?
Green waste is collected by the DPW on the day exactly prior to your regular garbage collection day. For instance, if Bliss picks up your trash on Thursday, you must place your yard waste at the curb by Wednesday morning.
Can I throw away car tires with my regular garbage?
Yes, the City of Rome allows residents to place exactly one (1) passenger car tire at the curb per week per building. Truck tires are strictly prohibited and will not be collected.
Do I need to put my recycling in bags?
Absolutely not. While Rome requires all regular household garbage to be tied in plastic bags before going into the trash cart, all items in your RecycleOne blue cart must be placed completely loose so the facility's machinery can process them.