The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) changed the usual time for placing trash, recycling, and compost out at the curb for collection. The new set-out times will help keep city streets clean and reduce food sources for rats.

Under the new rules, residential buildings must: 

• Place waste out after 6 PM in a secure container of 55 gallons or less with a secure lid, or
• Place waste out after 8 PM if putting bags directly on the curb.

Bundled cardboard and bulk items can be placed out any time between 6 PM and midnight.

Appliances containing CFC must be placed out between 6 PM and midnight the evening before the scheduled CFC and Freon Removal appointment.

To ensure collection, all waste must be set out no later than midnight the night before your collection day.

The new set-out times went into effect on April 1, 2023.

Opt-in for Morning Setout for Multi-Unit Buildings

Property owners of buildings with 9+ residential units and a janitorial staff may opt in to a 4 AM to 7 AM setout window during the yearly application period. The opt-in period only runs between January 1 and January 31 each year. 

The application period to opt into this alternate set-out time is currently closed.

If your application was approved, your building’s set-out time will be in effect beginning April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. If your building was not approved for an alternate set-out time, you must follow the set-out times for all other residential properties.

Buildings currently enrolled in the 4 AM to 7 AM set-out window cannot set out waste at any other time. Violators are subject to enforcement penalties. After two penalties, the property will be removed from the morning opt-in program.

Enforcement Grace Period

Enforcement grace period for new set-out times ended on May 1.

Policy Feedback

You can submit feedback to DSNY about the new set-out time policy.

Bulk items placed out for collection must not be placed in the street, extend in front of another property, or impede pedestrian traffic.

In addition, items that are left out on private property are "unserviceable” and cannot be picked up by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY). You must place your items in the designated area (curb or alley) for them to be collected.

If you have a large number of items, consider placing them out over several collection days.

Bed Bugs

If your bulk items are infested with bed bugs, you must put a sign on them that says they have bed bugs. This will let people know not to take the items from the trash.

Door Removal

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) suggests you remove doors from large appliances, such as washing machines and ovens, but you are not required to do so.

Large items that are all metal, mostly metal or rigid plastic are recyclable as bulk items.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Air purifiers
• Auto parts (containing no hazardous materials or chemicals)
• Aluminum lawn furniture with plastic webbing
• Barbecue grills
• Bedsprings/metal bed frames
• Bicycles
• Boilers
• Buckets
• Cabinets and appliances
• Clothes dryers
• Crates
• Dishwashers
• Generators (less than 100 pounds, empty fuel to be used in a new generator or bring the fuel to a SAFE disposal event)
• Large plastic toys (e.g., Big Wheels)
• Large radio (If mostly metal or rigid plastic, discard with metal recyclables)
• Lawnmower (empty fuel to be used in a new lawnmower or bring the fuel to a SAFE disposal event)
• Ovens
• Pails
• Paper shredders
• Pipes (no longer than 4 feet)
• Porcelain-coated metal bathtubs and sinks
• Radiators
• Snowblowers (less than 100 pounds)
• Washing machines
• Water heaters (50 gallons or less)

Appliances with CFCs or Freon

DSNY won’t collect an item containing CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) gas without an appointment.

CFCs, also called Freon, are found in appliances that cool or chill, such as:

• Air conditioners
• Dehumidifiers
• Freezers
• Refrigerators
• Water coolers

Before they can be picked up for recycling, DSNY must remove the CFC.

Make an appointment on the CFC and Freon Removal page.

Trash, Recycling, or Compost Containers

Throw out metal or rigid plastic trash, recycling, or compost containers with your recycling items.

Put a label on the container that says "Sanitation, please take this can away" so that the Department of Sanitation knows to take it.

Non-recyclable bulk items are large items that are mostly non-metal, such as:

• Artificial trees
• Bags of plaster
• Broken rocks, dirt, or sand (weighing less than 60 pounds)
• Bundles of processed wood (nails removed, tied in bundles no more than 2 feet high and 4 feet long)
• EZ chairs
• Furniture that isn't mostly metal or rigid plastic
• Landscaping refuse
• Live Christmas trees (after special Christmas Tree Disposal collections end)
• Rugs (cut to 4-foot widths and tied into bundles no higher than 2 feet)
• Small radios (If mostly metal or rigid plastic, discard with metal recyclables)
• Sofas (remove metal frames from sofa beds and pullouts, discard with metal recyclables)
• Toilets
• Wood tables

Construction or Home Repair Material

You can dispose of do-it-yourself home improvement waste including:

• Carpets and rugs (no larger than 2 feet high and 4 feet long bundles)
• Lumber (no larger than 2 feet high and 4 feet long bales)
• Do-it-yourself construction material
• Windows, mirrors, cabinets, and doors

If you are doing a major construction or renovation project in your home, you need to get a dumpster through a private trash removal service. If you hire a contracting company, it should arrange for private disposal of debris, such as heaters, sinks, and tubs.

If you do repair work in your own home and do not hire anyone to help, you can put out up to six items (bags, bundles) curbside for home repair debris.

Work on income properties (on three family homes and larger), fee for service, and contractor material must be serviced by hiring a private carter or dumpster.

Electronics

Certain electronics contain hazardous materials, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, and can’t be put in the trash.

E-waste includes:

• TVs
• Monitors
• Computers
• Laptops
• Small servers
• Printers/scanners
• Tablets/e-readers
• MP3 players
• VCRs/DVDs/DVR players
• Fax machines
• Video game consoles
• Cable/satellite boxes
• Computer mice
• Keyboards

You can learn how to dispose of unwanted e-waste on the Electronics Disposal page.

For electric appliances that aren’t covered by the State’s e-waste law, such as microwaves, fans, or irons, you should remove the battery and dispose of them curbside following normal trash or recycling disposal rules.

Mattresses

Any mattress or box spring put out for bulk collection must be sealed in a plastic bag. This is being done in an effort to help the City fight against bedbugs. Items not properly disposed of will not be collected and may result in a $100 fine.

The City does not provide mattress or box spring bags or covers. You can get them at department stores, home improvement stores, and moving supply centers.

Metal Compressed Gas Tanks

You can put fire extinguishers and helium tanks out for collection or take them back to where you bought them.

If you put them out, first empty them and remove the head. To empty an extinguisher, spray it into a damp paper bag.

The City does not collect used compressed gas tanks such as propane, oxygen, and acetylene because they can explode in the garbage truck. You must take these tanks back to where you bought them.

Trash, Recycling, or Compost Bins

You can throw out metal or rigid plastic trash, recycling, or compost cans or bins with your recycling items. Place a label on it that says "Sanitation, please take this can away" so that the Department of Sanitation knows to take it.

Water Heaters

Empty water heaters that are 50 gallons or smaller can be put out for bulk collection. You must hire a private carter for any other water heaters.

If your item is too large to fit in a regular sized (not dual-bin) collection truck, you can break the item into pieces. If the item cannot be broken down, you may need to hire a private removal service.

If you want to know if DSNY can collect your item, you can send a description and dimensions in writing.

By Email

Send an email to customerservice@dsny.nyc.gov.

By Mail

Department of Sanitation
Central Correspondence Unit
59 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10038

There are no longer public dumps in New York City.

There are only Special Waste Disposal sites for items such as batteries, paints, and motor oils. These sites don't accept bulk items.

If your collection day falls on a holiday, there may be changes to your collection schedule. 

Make sure to always check back near the date of the holiday to confirm the exact guidelines.

2024 Sanitation Holidays