Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Utica
Trash Day
Garbage is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your designated neighborhood collection route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once weekly on the same day as your scheduled trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Green waste is collected weekly on assigned neighborhood days (North Utica, Upper East Utica, South Utica, Lower East Utica, and West Utica) from spring through late fall.
Set Out Time
Between 5:00 PM and 11:00 PM on the night before your collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Utica uses a Pay-As-You-Throw blue bag system combined with an annual Solid Waste Service Charge billed to property owners and due each year by April 30th.
Billing Cycle
Annually
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person, Phone
Official 'City of Utica Blue Bags' (Can be placed in standard cans) Bin (Trash)
All trash MUST be contained in official City of Utica Blue Bags. Max 10 bags per single-family home per week. Cans holding the bags cannot exceed 35 gallons or 50 lbs. Set out between 5 PM and 11 PM the night before collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food packaging
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Orange Bin or container with 'RecycleOne' decal Bin (Recycling)
Single-stream program. All items must be placed loosely in the bin—never in plastic bags. Ensure containers are clean and dry.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Mixed paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Beverage cartons (milk, juice)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Hardcover books
- ✕Napkins and tissue paper
- ✕Paper plates
- ✕Construction paper
Yard Waste Bin
Summer (June-Sept): Must be in 32-gallon barrels (max 50 lbs, max 5 barrels). Spring/Fall: Bulk uncontainerized piles allowed based on schedule. NO trees, stumps, logs, or plastic plant pots.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Weeds and flowers
- ✓Bundled limbs and branches (max 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Limit of 1 item per week)
Placement
Place your one bulk item between the sidewalk and curb between 5:00 PM and 11:00 PM the night before your scheduled collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, dressers, large chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (washers, refrigerators)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, game consoles)
- ✓ Room-size rugs (rolled and tied, under 6 feet)
- ✓ Up to 2 car tires per week
Not Accepted
- ✕ 55-Gallon drums
- ✕ Pianos
- ✕ Safes
- ✕ Propane tanks and oil tanks
- ✕ Large trees and stumps
The single weekly bulk item is included in standard municipal services. Prohibited items like propane tanks and oil tanks must be taken to the OHSWA Convenience Station and will incur a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a holiday falls on a weekday, garbage and recycling collections are generally delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the adjusted holiday refuse schedule when in season, but residents should note that major fall and winter holidays typically mark the suspension of green waste programs.
Utica occasionally maintains normal routes on specific holidays (such as Thanksgiving for certain years). Always check the OHSWA website for specific week-of holiday alerts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayThe DPW permits uncontainerized bulk green waste piles at the curb. Refer to the city's specific neighborhood rotation schedule to know when bulk collection operates in your zone.
Summer
June - SeptemberBulk yard waste piles are strictly cited as code violations. All grass clippings, weeds, and leaves must be containerized in open 32-gallon barrels weighing 50 pounds or less.
Autumn
October - NovemberBulk uncontainerized green waste pile collection resumes. However, after the final designated pickup week in late November, you must stop placing bulk yard waste at the curb.
Local Tips & Community Info
Understanding the Mandatory Blue Bag Program
Unlike municipalities that use standard bins for refuse, the City of Utica enforces a strict pay-as-you-throw system. All daily household garbage must be disposed of using official City of Utica Blue Bags. The cost of purchasing these specific bags directly funds the municipal solid waste collection and tipping fees, meaning residents control their own sanitation costs based on how much refuse they generate. You can purchase these required bags in varying sizes at local supermarkets, convenience stores, and hardware shops throughout Oneida County. Any standard trash placed on the curb in non-compliant black or white kitchen bags will be tagged with a violation and left behind by the Department of Public Works (DPW).
Timing and Curbside Placement Guidelines
To keep the neighborhood streets clear of litter and prevent wildlife from tearing into bags, the DPW has strict timelines for curbside placement. Residents are permitted to set their Blue Bags and recycling containers out on the tree lawn starting at 7:00 PM the evening before their designated collection day. Everything must be fully accessible by 6:00 AM on the morning of pickup. Bags should be tied securely, and weight limits must not exceed the capacity printed on the bag packaging to ensure the safety of the sanitation workers manually lifting them.
RecycleOne: Single-Stream Rules
Utica proudly participates in the RecycleOne program managed by the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA). This zero-sort initiative makes environmental compliance remarkably simple. Homeowners can mix all clean plastics, glass bottles, metal cans, and flattened cardboard directly into a single recycling bin. It is absolutely critical that recyclables remain loose. Do not bag your recycling in plastic grocery bags, as the OHSWA processing facility relies on mechanical sorters that become easily jammed by flexible plastic films.
Dealing with Bulk Trash and Appliances
When it is time to throw out a mattress, an old couch, or worn-out wooden furniture, Utica residents do not have to schedule a special pickup. The city allows homeowners to place a limited amount of bulk waste at the curb alongside their Blue Bags on their regular garbage night. However, this convenience does not extend to major appliances, commonly known as white goods, or construction materials. Items like refrigerators, stoves, or excessive remodeling debris require a private contractor or a direct trip to the OHSWA transfer station on Leland Ave.
Yard Waste and Brush Requirements
During the growing season, the city conducts separate collections for green waste to prevent organic matter from filling up the regional landfill. Leaves, grass clippings, and garden trimmings must be placed in open, reusable containers or biodegradable paper lawn bags. Loose brush and tree limbs must be cut down to sections no longer than four feet and tied into bundles that a single worker can easily lift. The municipal yard waste collection typically operates from April through November, pausing for the snowy winter months.
Holiday Route Modifications
Sanitation services in Utica observe several major holidays, including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If one of these recognized holidays falls on a weekday, all garbage and recycling routes scheduled for that day and the remainder of the week will be delayed by exactly one day. Residents whose normal pickup day is Friday will instead have their refuse collected on Saturday during these holiday weeks.
Drop-off Facilities
EcoDrop Utica (Household Hazardous Waste & Recycling)
824 Sewage Plant Road, Utica, NY 13502
Materials Accepted
Eastern Transfer Station
824 Sewage Plant Road, Utica, NY 13502
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy the official Utica Blue Bags?
Utica Blue Bags are readily available at most local retailers, including Hannaford, Price Chopper, Stewart's Shops, and various neighborhood hardware stores across the city.
How do I get rid of an old television in Utica?
Electronic waste cannot be left at the curb. Utica residents must transport old TVs, computers, and monitors to the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority's EcoDrop facility on Leland Avenue for safe, legal disposal.
Who do I call if my garbage was missed?
If you followed the 6:00 AM placement rule and used the correct Blue Bags but your trash was missed, contact the Utica Department of Public Works (DPW) at 315-738-1341 to report the issue.