Why was my garbage, recycling, bulk items not picked up?
Most of our residents do a good job of complying most of the time with the rules for putting out their trash, bulk items, and recyclables. But, some of us are not clear on the rules, resulting in items not being picked up, calls to Village Hall, and frustration.
Here are details on how to make sure your items are picked up.
Garbage
“Garbage” means normal kitchen and household waste, primarily from perishable or disposable items.
Garbage is picked up twice a week with some homes on a Monday/Thursday schedule and others on a Tuesday/Friday schedule (the Village website specifies which homes are picked up which days).
Garbage is picked up from containers or sealed bags that may be left near your residence (side or back yard), and does not need to be placed at the curb. If you bring your containers to the curb, please remove them from the curb after pickup. Items in containers must be bagged, and containers with loose items may not be emptied by the trash collectors.
Recycling
“Recyclables” are generally unsoiled paper and glass or plastic containers with recycling codes. More details on recyclable items may be found at www.rocklandrecycles.com. They also have a handy app for your phone called Recycle Coach.
Recyclables are picked up each Wednesday. If they are put out on any other day they will not be picked up.
The Village supplies recycling bins free of charge to residents. Bins may be picked up at Village Hall during business hours. Blue bins are for paper items and green bins are for containers.
Recycling bins are to be placed to the curb for pick up. Our recycling center does not recycle plastic film and bags, so recyclables placed in plastic bags will not be picked up. Plastic film and bags may be recycled at your local supermarkets or department stores.
Cardboard boxes should be flattened. Boxes left whole and containing plastic, styrofoam, or other items will not be picked up.
Bulk Items
Bulk items are picked up at the curb on your second garbage day of each week.
There are several categories of bulk items:
- Discardable items of a durable nature including carpeting, furniture, appliances, hot water heaters… Up to 3 such items may be put out at one time for pickup. Carpet rolls should not exceed 4 feet in length or weigh more than 60 pounds each. Appliances must have their doors removed.
- Tree branches cut into sections of 4 feet or less and tied together. Each section or bundle cannot weigh more than 60 pounds.
- Other durable household items placed in containers, bags or bundles of a maximum weight of 60 points / 30 gallons.
Unacceptable bulk items include refuse from newly constructed buildings or major renovation projects, and wooden pallets. Private arrangements should be made to dispose of these items.
Yard Waste
The Village encourages all residents to recycle their yard waste. The Village offers special pick up days for yard waste in the Spring and Fall so that it can be recycled. All yard waste and lawn clippings are to be placed in biodegradable leaf bags which are provided to residents free of charge at Village Hall.
Other Information
- Garbage / Recycling / Bulk pickup begins at 6:00am and your cans need to be accessible to the carters by that time. If you are concerned about bears accessing your cans, they should either be put out first thing in the morning, or you should consider obtaining bear-proof cans or enclosures.
- Hazardous waste materials such as electronics (including TVs and computers), paints, solvents, cleaners, motor oil and more are not picked up by our contractor and should be brought to the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Facility on Fireman's Memorial Drive in Pomona.
- If you need to dispose of items that are not covered by the Village’s garbage contract as noted in this letter, private arrangements may be made with the Village’s carter, Donato Marangi Disposal, 845-268-7278 or with any other company of your choosing which is licensed to work in Rockland County.