City-issued Trash Cart (Black/Dark Gray) Bin (Trash)
All trash MUST be bagged before going into the cart. Loose trash is a violation. Cart must be set out between 8:00 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. the day of collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Soiled paper packaging
Blue Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected bi-weekly (A-Week or B-Week). Items must be loose inside the cart. Do NOT bag recyclables. Set out between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper, flattened cardboard, and food boxes
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Glass jars and bottles
- ✓Plastic bottles and tubs
- ✓Milk and juice jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Hazardous or toxic waste
- ✕Televisions and electronics
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Demolition waste
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is picked up by quadrant schedule (April-October). Must be kept separate from trash and construction debris. Do not put yard waste in the street or block storm drains.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves (in paper bags only)
- ✓Small twigs and branches
- ✓Brush and limbs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to 4 times per calendar year
Placement
Place items in plain view at the curb between 8:00 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. the morning of your scheduled pickup. Piles cannot exceed 2 cubic yards (approx. the size of a washer and dryer side-by-side) or 50 lbs per item.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (not entirely made of wood)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Carpets (must be cut into 3-foot rolls)
- ✓ Up to 4 tires per year
- ✓ Excess bagged trash
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions and electronics
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (must use quadrant days)
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Piles larger than 2 cubic yards
Your four annual pickups are free of charge. If your pile exceeds the strict 2 cubic yard limit, you may be issued a citation and a fine.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash and bi-weekly recycling collections are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Special quadrant pickups for yard waste or construction debris may be adjusted around holidays. Always refer to the annual City Services Guide calendar for exact dates.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, collection schedules usually remain unchanged, but residents should verify via Cityline.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Using plastic grocery bags to hold your recyclables is a primary cause of rejected bins in Syracuse. Plastic film wraps around the gears at the OCRRA sorting facility, causing massive delays. Keep all bottles, cans, and paper loose in your blue cart.
E-Waste is Strictly Banned
Do not hide old electronics, tablets, or televisions in your trash cart or place them out for bulk pickup. E-waste contains heavy metals and is banned from curbside collection by New York State law. Take these directly to an OCRRA facility.
Box Up Broken Glass and Nails
If you have small amounts of construction debris like nails, or broken window glass, never place them in plastic bags where they can slice open and injure sanitation workers. Put them in a disposable cardboard box or bucket.
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayQuadrant-based yard waste collection resumes in April. Alternatively, city residents can begin utilizing the DPW self-drop-off site at 1200 Canal St. Ext. for yard waste starting this season.
Autumn
September - NovemberDuring heavy leaf drop, ensure all leaves are placed securely in biodegradable paper bags. Raking leaves directly into the street is a violation, as it clogs the city's catch basins and causes localized flooding.
Winter
December - MarchCurbside yard waste and construction debris collections are suspended. Ensure your trash and recycling carts are placed on a cleared surface at the curb, free from snowbanks, so the automated truck arms can reach them.
About Syracuse Waste Management
The Automated Sanitation Cart System
Following a citywide expansion in late 2023, all Syracuse residents are now serviced by a fully automated cart system. Homeowners must use the city-provided durable trash and blue recycling carts. Because the DPW trucks utilize mechanical arms for collection, carts must be placed with at least three feet of clearance from parked cars, streetlights, and mailboxes. Furthermore, cart lids must be fully closed to prevent littering and animal scavenging, and overfilled carts will not be collected.
Strict Rules: Bagged Trash vs. Loose Recycling
Syracuse enforces clear, opposing rules for its two primary waste streams. All regular household garbage must be tied securely in bags before being placed in the trash cart. Conversely, recyclables must be placed completely loose inside the blue recycling cart. Bagging your recyclables in plastic grocery bags or throwing loose trash into your garbage cart will result in an 'Oops' tag, rejection of service, and potential fines from the Municipal Violations Bureau.
Quadrant-Based Yard Waste and Debris Collection
Unlike weekly refuse pickup, Syracuse divides the city into four geographic quadrants (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest) to manage yard waste and construction debris. Yard waste, which includes brush and paper-bagged leaves, is collected once a month from April through October according to your quadrant's schedule. Minor construction debris generated by DIY projects is picked up even less frequently—only twice a year on specific, pre-assigned quadrant dates.
Four Annual Bulk Item Allowances
Syracuse residents don't have to wait for a city-wide clean-up event to dispose of an old mattress or broken chair. The city allows every household to request up to four free bulk item pickups per calendar year. You must proactively call Cityline to schedule the pickup at least two days in advance. The most critical restriction is volume: your bulk pile cannot exceed 2 cubic yards per pickup, which is roughly the size of a standard washer and dryer sitting side-by-side.
Navigating OCRRA and Electronic Waste Bans
It is illegal in New York State to dispose of televisions and electronic waste in the regular trash. Consequently, the City of Syracuse DPW will absolutely not collect e-waste, even during scheduled bulk pickups. Residents must utilize the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) drop-off sites or designated local recycling events to properly and legally dispose of electronics, wet paint, and household hazardous chemicals.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Syracuse DPW Yard Waste Drop-Off
1200 Canal St. Ext., Syracuse, NY 13210
Materials Accepted
OCRRA Ley Creek Transfer Station
5158 Ley Creek Dr, Liverpool, NY 13088
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulk item pickups do I get per year in Syracuse?
Syracuse residents are entitled to a maximum of four bulk pickups per calendar year. You must call Cityline at 315-448-2489 at least two days in advance, and your pile cannot exceed 2 cubic yards per pickup.
What is the correct way to dispose of leaves and yard brush?
Yard waste is collected once a month from April through October according to the city's quadrant schedule. Leaves must be in paper yard bags—never plastic. Residents can also drop off yard waste at the DPW site at 1200 Canal St. Ext.
Why didn't the city pick up my blue recycling cart?
The most common reasons for a rejected recycling cart are bagging your recyclables in plastic, placing prohibited items like electronics or yard waste inside, overflowing the cart so the lid won't close, or setting it out after 6:00 a.m.
Will the city take construction debris if I am remodeling my bathroom?
The city collects up to 2 cubic yards of DIY construction debris only two times a year, based on your quadrant. It must be placed in disposable boxes or buckets, not bags. If you hire a contractor, they are legally obligated to haul the debris away themselves.