Trash and Recycling Carts

Congratulations! Your new recycling cart has arrived. You must start using your cart immediately on your regular collection day.

Plan to place your recycling cart at the curb on your regular biweekly collection day after you receive your cart. Place your cart at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. before your trash date and remove it from the street by 7:00 p.m. on your trash date. Here are the timeframes:

Updated regulations for your recycling set-out.

To keep our City clean and help our sanitation crews, please follow these simple rules and be aware that failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in a violation notice and fine.

DO:

• Place only unbagged materials in your recycling carts. Bagged materials will not be collected.
• Securely close the cart lid to prevent litter and scavenging.
• On your designated recycling week, place your cart at the end of your driveway or in front of your house between the sidewalk and street on your regular collection day.
• Recyclable materials include paper, flattened cardboard and food boxes, metal cans, milk and juice jugs, glass jars and bottles, and plastic bottles and tubs. Learn more about recycling at ocrra.org/services/recycle/
• Call Cityline at 315-448-CITY (2489) if you have an item that does not fit in your cart to request a bulk pickup.

DON’T:

• Don’t use any container other than the City provided recycling cart. 
• Don’t place recyclables in your trash cart.
• Don’t place prohibited items, such as household trash, yard waste, hazardous/toxic waste, paint, TVs and other electronics, demolition waste, medical/pathological waste, explosives or radioactive materials in your recycling cart. Find out how to manage these items at ocrra.org.

To learn more about using your new recycling cart, see the Frequently Asked Questions.

Still have questions or need language interpretation? Call (315) 448-CITY (2489).

Click here to view and download A Week schedule(PDF, 121KB)

Click here to view and download B Week schedule(PDF, 122KB)

This application is necessary to request an additional trash cart for any property owner receiving sanitation services from the City of Syracuse. Please fill out the below application and submit it either by mail or in person at the City Payment Center.

Second Cart Application(PDF, 257KB)

The Department of Public Works currently offers assistance to those in need of an accommodation. Please call Cityline at (315) 448-2489 for information on about this service. 

Download Exemption Form(PDF, 128KB)

Fines may be incurred for improper use of trash and recycling carts. All residents are required to use the trash and recycling carts provided by the City

DPW will not pick up trash and recycling that is improperly set out, and crews will issue a violation notice. Property owners will have 24 hours to pull back their setout from the curb to avoid having to pay the fine. Materials can then be set out properly for pickup the following week. Excess trash and recycling can also be transported to an Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency drop-off site. Locations and fee information for OCRRA drop-off site can be found at ocrra.org.

You may receive fines for Health & Sanitation Violations (illegal set-outs and/or cart violations) including:

Cart Violation 

• Containers not pulled back 
• Overflowing cart - lid not shut
• Trash not bagged
• Recycling bagged 
• Improper containerization  
• Early or late set out

Health and Sanitation Violation 

• Improper separation of trash 
• Excessive trash/construction debris
• Debris in roadway 
• Mixed use property
• Overweight can/bag
• Litter & dumping 
• Commercial trash in public view

For more information on Health and Sanitation Violations click here.

• Don’t place prohibited items, such as yard waste, hazardous/toxic waste, paint, TVs and other electronics, demolition waste, medical/pathological waste, explosives, or radioactive materials in your cart.