Varies by private hauler (or bagged for drop-off) Bin (Trash)
Curbside bins are provided by private haulers. If using the Transfer Station, all trash must be securely bagged and bear a $2.00 Landfill Sticker per bag.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Soiled paper
Varies by private hauler (Single-Stream) Bin (Recycling)
Single-stream recycling is free to drop off at the Transfer Station. Materials must be clean and dry. No plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1-7 (no lids)
- ✓Clean aluminum foil and pie pans
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paper bags
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Ceramics
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Hardback books
- ✕Wax coated cartons
Yard Waste Bin
Place in paper bags or reusable containers for DPW curbside pickup from April to September. Loose piles are only permitted from October through December.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small limbs (no longer than 4 feet)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Year-round drop-off at Transfer Station or by appointment with private hauler
Placement
For curbside, follow your private hauler's specific bulk guidelines. At the transfer station, see the attendant to properly sort appliances, metals, and electronics.
Accepted
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Automotive batteries
- ✓ Propane tanks (at transfer station)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
- ✕ Liquid paints
- ✕ Bio-hazardous materials
Bringing standard bulk waste to the transfer station may incur additional volume-based fees. Private haulers will quote a specific fee for curbside bulk retrieval.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The municipal Transfer Station typically closes on major holidays. For residents with private curbside service, pickups are generally delayed by one day if the holiday falls on a weekday.
Yard Waste Exception
DPW yard waste schedules may pause during holidays; leave your paper bags or containers out and they will be collected on the next 2-week cycle.
Because curbside refuse is privatized, always confirm specific holiday delay schedules directly with your chosen waste hauler (e.g., WM, Casella, Republic).
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery or trash bags. Plastic film jams the processing machinery at the Saratoga County recycling facilities. Empty your recyclables loosely into the bin.
Remove Lids from Plastics
When recycling plastic bottles and jugs (numbers 1 through 7 are accepted), you must remove the lids before tossing them into your single-stream bin or the transfer station hoppers.
Keep Food Out of the Paper
Only clean and dry paper products are accepted. Do not recycle heavily soiled items like greasy pizza boxes or wax-coated juice cartons, as these will ruin an entire batch of clean paper.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - DecemberHigh leaf season shifts the yard waste rules. During these months, the DPW allows residents to rake leaves into loose piles at the curb rather than requiring paper bags or containers.
Spring/Summer
April - SeptemberDPW trucks cover the city in approximately 2-week cycles to collect bagged or containerized yard waste. Ensure small limbs are cut under 4 feet and bundled.
Winter
January - MarchDuring severe upstate New York winter storms, the Weibel Avenue Transfer Station operations may be delayed or closed. Private hauler schedules will also slide by one day if road conditions are hazardous.
About Saratoga Springs Waste Management
Flexible Solid Waste Options in Saratoga Springs
Unlike municipalities with universal town-wide trash collection, the City of Saratoga Springs offers its residents the flexibility to manage their own household waste. Homeowners can either hire a licensed private hauler—such as Waste Management, Republic Services, or Casella—for weekly curbside pickup, or they can self-haul their refuse and recycling directly to the city's Transfer Station located at 41 Weibel Avenue.
Pay-As-You-Throw at the Weibel Avenue Transfer Station
For residents utilizing the local Transfer Station, the city operates a cost-effective 'pay-as-you-throw' program. To dispose of household garbage in the stationary trash compactor, residents must purchase Landfill Stickers on-site. Each standard-sized garbage bag requires a $2.00 sticker. This system inherently rewards residents who recycle diligently, as dropping off single-stream recycling is completely free.
Free Single-Stream Recycling Drop-Off
Saratoga County mandates a single-stream recycling process, meaning all acceptable materials can be mixed together. Residents utilizing the Saratoga Springs Transfer Station can drop off their clean cardboard, glass, plastic containers (#1-7), and metal cans without paying the $2.00 landfill bag fee. Ensuring your recyclables are free of food contamination and plastic bags keeps the local county recycling program economically viable.
City-Managed Curbside Yard Waste Collection
While garbage pickup is privatized, the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works (DPW) provides robust, city-managed curbside leaf and lawn debris collection. Running continuously from early April through September, residents must place yard clippings in paper bags or designated containers. During the heavy leaf-drop months of October through December, the rules relax, and residents are permitted to rake loose leaves directly to the curb for the city's vacuum trucks.
Local Food Scrap Composting Initiatives
Saratoga Springs strongly encourages organic waste diversion. The DPW turns collected yard debris into high-quality black compost at the 32 Weibel Avenue compost pad, which is then available for residents to purchase. Additionally, residents can drop off household food scraps for free at the Saratoga Farmers Market's silver compost bins, operated in partnership with local sustainability organizations.
Drop-off Facilities
Saratoga Springs Transfer Station & Recycling Center
41 Weibel Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Materials Accepted
Saratoga Springs Compost Site
32 Weibel Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Saratoga Springs provide municipal trash pickup?
No, the city does not provide town-wide municipal curbside garbage collection. Residents have the choice to either hire a private hauler like Waste Management or Casella, or bring their own refuse to the Weibel Avenue Transfer Station.
How much does it cost to use the Saratoga Springs Transfer Station?
Residents must purchase Landfill Stickers for $2.00 each. One sticker is required for every standard-sized garbage bag you dispose of in the compactor. However, dropping off single-stream recycling is free.
How do I get rid of yard waste and leaves?
The city DPW provides curbside yard waste collection from April through December. From April to September, debris must be in paper bags or containers. From October to December, loose leaf piles are allowed at the curb.
Are plastic bags allowed in the recycling bins?
No. Saratoga County utilizes a single-stream recycling system that strictly forbids plastic grocery or trash bags. All recyclables must be placed loosely into your bin or the transfer station hoppers.