Skip to content

Rochester Bulk Trash Pickup Rules

Bulk pickup is listed as available for up to 5 items per collection. Household furniture, mattresses, box springs, large appliances, and tree branches may be placed between the sidewalk and curb on your regular weekly collection day without special advance notice. Doors must be removed from refrigerators and any latched appliances. Discarded lumber must have all nails removed or hammered flat. Tree and brush trimmings must be tied into bundles no longer than 4 feet, no more than 18 inches in diameter, and weighing under 60 pounds. Up to four passenger tires per year may also be set out on collection day.

Rochester bulk pickup rules

Bulk waste limits and booking rules for Rochester
Collection ruleHousehold furniture, mattresses, box springs, large appliances, and tree branches may be placed between the sidewalk and curb on your regular weekly collection day without special advance notice. Doors must be removed from refrigerators and any latched appliances. Discarded lumber must have all nails removed or hammered flat. Tree and brush trimmings must be tied into bundles no longer than 4 feet, no more than 18 inches in diameter, and weighing under 60 pounds. Up to four passenger tires per year may also be set out on collection day.
Limit per pickup5 items
Permitted materialsNo unconditional accepted-material list is verified. Confirm eligibility before putting items out.
Advance noticeNot required under the listed rules.
Dispatch phone585-428-5990

Allowed vs. disallowed bulk materials

How to throw away a mattress in Rochester

Follow the listed bulk rule: Household furniture, mattresses, box springs, large appliances, and tree branches may be placed between the sidewalk and curb on your regular weekly collection day without special advance notice. Doors must be removed from refrigerators and any latched appliances. Discarded lumber must have all nails removed or hammered flat. Tree and brush trimmings must be tied into bundles no longer than 4 feet, no more than 18 inches in diameter, and weighing under 60 pounds. Up to four passenger tires per year may also be set out on collection day.

Special disposal mandates

Plastic mattress encasement: The listed rules do not require mattress bagging. Confirm any material-specific handling instructions before pickup.

Freon sticker for refrigerant appliances: Not required under the listed rules. Appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners can be placed at the curb on your collection day with doors removed. The city recovers refrigerants safely before recycling.

Local disposal alternatives in Monroe County

For items that cannot go at the curb, check these official disposal resources. Confirm accepted materials, residency requirements, fees, and hours before visiting.

The nearest eligible transfer station or landfill depends on your address and the material. These resources are not ranked by distance.

DPW & sanitation contact

City of Rochester Department of Environmental Services (DES) · municipal dpw

Phone: 585-428-5990

30 Church St
Rochester, NY 14614
Visit Official Rochester Sanitation Portal Official municipality portal at cityofrochester.gov

These collection rules cover Zone City of Rochester Refuse and Recycling Collection Routes.

Trash & recycling questions

What days is trash collected in Rochester, NY?

Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place your wheeled container at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your collection day, or the evening before. Remove containers from the curb within 24 hours after collection.. These rules apply to Zone City of Rochester Refuse and Recycling Collection Routes.

Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Rochester?

As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone City of Rochester Refuse and Recycling Collection Routes.

How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Rochester?

Household furniture, mattresses, box springs, large appliances, and tree branches may be placed between the sidewalk and curb on your regular weekly collection day without special advance notice. Doors must be removed from refrigerators and any latched appliances. Discarded lumber must have all nails removed or hammered flat. Tree and brush trimmings must be tied into bundles no longer than 4 feet, no more than 18 inches in diameter, and weighing under 60 pounds. Up to four passenger tires per year may also be set out on collection day. The listed limit is 5 items per pickup. Advance notice is not required under the listed rules. Contact sanitation at 585-428-5990 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Rochester Refuse and Recycling Collection Routes.

What items are accepted for recycling in Rochester?

The listed accepted materials are Cardboard boxes and clean pizza boxes (flattened), Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, and office paper, Food and beverage cartons (milk, juice, soup), Metal cans (aluminum and steel food/drink cans, clean foil), Glass bottles and jars (clear and colored, rinsed, lids removed), Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and jars (empty and rinsed). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags, plastic wraps, and film (never bag recyclables), Batteries (household, lithium-ion, automotive; bring to Monroe County ecopark), Styrofoam and polystyrene containers or packaging, Clothing, shoes, and textiles, Electronics, televisions, and small appliances, Garden hoses, ropes, wires, and holiday cords, Medical waste, syringes, and prescription medicines. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Rochester Refuse and Recycling Collection Routes.