Trash and Recycling Collection Schedules in Schenectady County, New York

Schenectady County provides weekly garbage and recycling pickup to residents in the city of Schenectady. Collection days are assigned by neighborhood zone. This article explains Schenectady County’s trash and recycling schedules, policies, and resources for proper curbside setout.

Find Your Collection Day

Schenectady County divides the city into five collection districts. Your pickup day depends on your district:

• District 1: Monday
• District 2: Tuesday
• District 3: Wednesday
• District 4: Thursday
• District 5: Friday

To find your district:

• Look up your address on the Collection Schedule Lookup.

• Check the printed collection calendar for your district, available at City Hall Room #9.

• Call 518-382-5144 if you cannot find your collection day online or in person.

Collection Times

Trash and recycling pickup occurs from 7AM to 3PM on your scheduled day. Set materials at the curb by 7AM to ensure collection.

Holiday Schedule Changes

If your normal collection day falls on or after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day, pickup that week will be delayed by one day.

Check the printed collection calendars each year for adjusted holiday schedules.

Curbside Setout Guidelines

Follow these rules to properly set materials at the curb:

• Place carts within 2 feet of the curb, with wheels and handles facing away from the street.

• Leave 3-4 feet of space between individual carts and piles.

• Keep carts and piles at least 10 feet away from parked cars or other obstacles.

• Don’t overfill carts – lids should fully close.

Cart Sizes and Limits

Standard cart sizes and weight limits:

Container	Size	Weight Limit
Garbage cart	95 gallon	250 lbs
Recycling cart	65 gallon	250 lbs
Yard waste cart	95 gallon	250 lbs

Oversized or overweight carts will not be collected. Contact the city if you routinely have extra waste and may need a larger cart size.

Yard Waste Policies

Yard waste pickup runs April through December. Place leaves, grass, twigs in paper yard waste bags or rigid containers labeled “yard waste.” Do not use plastic bags.

Christmas tree collection occurs for 4 weeks after Christmas. Remove all decorations before setting trees out.

Recycling Rules

Schenectady County offers single-stream recycling – all paper, plastics, glass, and metals can mix together in your recycling cart.

Flatten cardboard and cut to 2 by 2 foot pieces to fit in your recycling cart.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Household hazardous waste like chemicals, batteries, and fluorescent bulbs cannot go in your regular trash. Schenectady County residents can safely dispose of these items through the Household Hazardous Waste Program.

Missed Pickups

Report missed trash or recycling pickups by 3PM on your collection day:

• Call the Department of Operations at 518-382-5144
• Submit a SeeClickFix report online or via mobile app

This will dispatch a truck to collect your materials.

More Resources

Get additional trash and recycling info at:

• Schenectady Recycling Page – Overview of services, yard waste, and hazardous waste disposal

• Collection Schedules Page – District maps and calendar lookup

• Sanitation Department – Contact info for missed pickups and cart requests

Properly following Schenectady County’s collection policies will help ensure you receive reliable waste services. Contact the Sanitation Department at 518-382-5144 with any other questions.