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Rochester Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar

Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.

Rochester recycling calendar 2026

Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.

A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.

Accepted & prohibited recycling

Accepted items

  • 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)

Prohibited items

  • 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

Can you recycle these items in Rochester?

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.