Town-issued Tote Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit in the tote with the lid closed. Totes must be placed at least 4 feet from parked cars and mailboxes, and set out no earlier than 12 hours before pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household solid waste
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Town-issued Recycling Tote (Blue Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week by Modern Corporation. Items must be placed loose in the tote, never bagged.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Metal cans and aluminum foil
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and office paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Motor oil containers
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Use biodegradable paper lawn bags or open reusable containers (under 50 lbs). Branches over 4 feet must be laid curbside with all stems facing the same direction for the chipper truck.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and branches (tied)
- ✓Bushes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular garbage collection day.
Placement
Place large items at the curbside no more than 12 hours before pick-up, or before 7:00 a.m. on your designated garbage day.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Tables and dressers
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpeting (cut in 6-foot lengths, rolled and tied)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires (must be taken to Highway Dept.)
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Car parts and heavy metals
- ✕ Contractor-generated building debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Standard curbside bulk collection is free. However, disposing of tires ($5-$10) or propane tanks ($5) requires bringing them directly to the Highway Department and paying the associated fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on or before your normal collection day, your garbage and recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection and the branch chipper routes may also experience delays during major holiday weeks depending on town staffing.
Modern Corporation services the recycling; always check the annual town calendar PDF for specific holiday shift dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Use Plastic Bags for Leaves
The West Seneca Highway Department strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags for yard waste. If you bag your leaves or grass in plastic, the sanitation workers will leave them at the curb.
Keep Concrete and Brick Out of Totes
Concrete, bricks, and heavy stones will critically damage the packing machinery on town garbage trucks. These items cannot be collected curbside and must be taken to Ebenezer Yard Materials on Union Road.
Keep Recyclables Loose and Unbagged
Modern Corporation requires all recyclables to remain loose inside your recycling tote. Tied plastic grocery bags or garbage bags jam the automated sorting machinery at the county recycling facility.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
April - SeptemberYard waste is collected weekly starting in early April and taken to the 500 Mineral Springs Road composting site. Residents can visit the site to load up to one pickup truck of free mulch and compost daily.
Fall
October - DecemberDuring the fall leaf pickup, the town is divided into four zones. Residents waiting for the vacuum trucks must push leaves to the pavement edge, ensuring they do not spill into the street where they cause storm drain flooding.
Winter
November - MarchA local parking ordinance prohibits parking on any West Seneca roadway from November 15 through March 15 between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Additionally, never place your garbage totes on top of snowbanks.
About West Seneca Waste Management
West Seneca's Strict 12-Hour Curbside Ordinance
In the Town of West Seneca, placing your garbage out too early violates a strict local ordinance [1.2.1]. Residents are prohibited from setting garbage, recycling, or bulk debris at the curb more than 12 hours before their scheduled collection day. To avoid code violations and keep neighborhoods clean, ensure your town-issued totes are placed out either the night before or strictly by 7:00 a.m. on your designated pick-up morning.
Navigating the Town's 'Totes Only' Policy
Since 2014, West Seneca has enforced a strict 'totes only' rule for routine household garbage. All everyday trash must fit completely inside your town-issued tote with the lid firmly closed. Any random, personal garbage cans or old recycling bins used as trash containers at the curb will actually be thrown into the garbage truck along with the trash. If you have excess household debris, you must wait for the following week or utilize the weekly bulk truck.
Red Lid Totes for Small DIY Projects
Unlike many municipalities that completely reject construction materials, West Seneca accommodates small 'do-it-yourself' home renovations. Residents can call the Sanitation Department to request a special red-lidded tote for up to two weeks to dispose of minor DIY project debris. If you don't use a red tote, project debris must be tightly bundled or boxed into packages weighing under 50 pounds, with all dangerous nails bent completely flat for the safety of the sanitation workers.
The Branch Chipper and Mineral Springs Compost Site
Managing yard waste in West Seneca is highly organized. While smaller twigs can be bundled or placed in paper bags for weekly pickup, large bushes and branches over four feet long are serviced by a dedicated 'chipper' truck. Because the chipper slowly sweeps across the entire town neighborhood by neighborhood, it can take up to three weeks to reach your curb. For immediate disposal, residents can drop off yard waste at the community compost site on Mineral Springs Road.
Bulk Item Collection on Regular Garbage Days
West Seneca residents benefit from weekly bulk waste collection without the hassle of making a prior appointment. A separate sanitation truck follows the regular garbage routes to pick up large items like couches, dressers, and rolled carpeting (which must be cut to 6-foot lengths). Simply place these acceptable oversized items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. alongside your regular totes.
Drop-off Facilities
West Seneca Compost Site
500 Mineral Springs Road, West Seneca, NY 14224
Materials Accepted
West Seneca Highway Department
100 Gemcor Drive, West Seneca, NY 14224
Materials Accepted
Ebenezer Yard Materials
1655 Union Road, West Seneca, NY 14224
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of excess trash from a small DIY remodeling project in West Seneca?
The Town allows residents to request a temporary 'red lid' tote for small DIY projects, which you can use for up to two weeks. Alternatively, you can bag, box, or bundle excess debris (up to 50 lbs per bundle), ensuring any nails are removed or bent flat. Contractor-generated debris is strictly prohibited.
Will the town pick up my old tires or propane tanks?
No, the Sanitation Department will not pick up tires or propane tanks at the curbside. You must bring them directly to the Highway Department at 100 Gemcor Drive, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Disposal fees apply ($5-$10 depending on tire size or rim, and $5 for propane tanks).
How long will it take for large branches to be picked up?
Branches longer than 4 feet are handled by the town's chipper truck, which moves neighborhood by neighborhood across West Seneca. This rotating process can take up to three weeks to reach your street. For faster disposal, residents can drive yard waste directly to the Compost Site on Mineral Springs Road.
Do I need to schedule an appointment for bulk furniture pickup?
No, you do not need to call ahead. A separate sanitation truck circulates weekly to collect large bulk items on your normal garbage day. Just place your couch or rolled carpeting (cut into 6-foot lengths) at the curb before 7:00 a.m.