Trash & Recycling in Bristol, CT (2026)
7 verified trash & recycling rules for Bristol, Connecticut, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Bristol bars recyclables from rubbish barrels, requires all rubbish to be bagged inside the barrel with the lid closed, and rejects any barrel holding materials on the city's 'unacceptable' list, under Code of Ordinances § 10-6(c), (e)-(f). Violators get a written warning before fines or service termination follow.
Bristol Rubbish Sorting and Barrel Rules
Some RestrictionsBristol Code of Ordinances § 10-6(c), (e)-(f)
(c)Solid waste that does not meet the requirements of "acceptable curbside collected rubbish" will not be collected. Recyclable materials are not allowed in rubbish barrels. All rubbish must be placed in a bag contained within the barrel and the barrel lid must be closed. ... (e)No curbside acceptable recyclable materials shall be placed in the rubbish container.(f)Barrels containing materials ...
Bin Placement Rules
Bristol requires city-issued rubbish containers to sit curbside no earlier than 3:00 p.m. the day before pickup and no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day, kept five feet from parked cars, mailboxes and other obstructions, then pulled back within twelve hours, per Code of Ordinances § 10-6.
Bristol Curbside Rubbish Container Placement
Some RestrictionsBristol Code of Ordinances § 10-6(a)-(b)
(a)Containers for household rubbish must be city-issued. The department of public works will only collect rubbish contained in a city-issued container.(b)All household rubbish containers shall be placed curbside no sooner than 3:00 p.m. the day preceding the collection day nor later than 6:00 a.m. on the designated collection day. Containers shall not be placed within five (5) feet of all obstr...
Bulk Item Disposal
Bristol residents get one scheduled bulk item pickup per calendar year under Sec. 10-11(b), capped at five cubic yards, roughly three feet by three feet by fifteen feet. The Department of Public Works and Board of Public Works set eligible items and fees for any additional pickup beyond the annual allowance.
Bristol Bulk Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsBristol Code of Ordinances § 10-11(b)
The department of public works shall provide residents an opportunity to schedule curbside collection of brush/branches and bulk solid waste. ... (b)Bulk solid waste collection/pick up.(1)One bulk pick up is available to each residential property (unit) per year. Fees associated with additional bulk pick up shall be established by the board of public works. For the purposes of bulk pick up "per...
Recycling Requirements
Bristol's Board of Public Works may run biweekly curbside recycling collection for residential dwellings of one to five units, using only city-issued containers with material placed loose, unbagged, and the lid closed, under Code of Ordinances § 10-7. Recyclables mixed with rubbish or bagged inside the bin will not be collected.
Bristol Curbside Recycling Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBristol Code of Ordinances § 10-7
The board of public works may institute bi-weekly (once every two (2) weeks) curbside collection of household recyclables materials from residential dwelling units. Only materials meeting the definition of "acceptable curbside collected recycling" can be disposed of and collected by the city. ... (a)Containers for household recycling must be city-issued. The department of public works will only...
Illegal Dumping
Bristol bans dumping litter on any street, sidewalk, public place, or vacant private lot under Sec. 10-42 and Sec. 10-56 of the Code of Ordinances. Sec. 10-58 backs the ban with a ninety-dollar fine per violation, with every day a violation continues counted as a separate offense.
Bristol Illegal Dumping and Litter Law
Heavy RestrictionsBristol Code of Ordinances §§ 10-42, 10-56, 10-58
No person shall throw or deposit litter in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public place within the city except in public receptacles, in authorized private receptacles for collection or in the official city landfills. ... No person shall throw or deposit litter ... on any open or vacant private property within the city, whether owned by such person or not. ... In accordance with sections ...
Yard Waste Collection
Bristol runs yard waste collection under Sec. 10-12 as a paid subscription service through the Department of Public Works, not a free curbside service like rubbish or recycling. Residents pay a fee the Board of Public Works sets, use only city-owned barrels marked with a valid paid sticker, and keep yard waste out of rubbish and recycling containers.
Bristol Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBristol Code of Ordinances § 10-12
The department of public works shall provide residential properties a subscription curbside collection service. ... (a)by subscribing to a fee-paid collection service. Fees shall be approved by the board of public works.(b)All yard waste shall be placed in a city supplied and owned barrels. The city reserves the right to enter onto private property to collect city owned barrels stored outside.(...
Collection Schedule
Bristol's Board of Public Works runs mandatory weekly curbside collection of household rubbish for every residential dwelling, under Code of Ordinances § 10-6. Only waste meeting the Code's definition of 'acceptable curbside collected rubbish' qualifies, and the city can revise collection days for holidays.
Bristol Weekly Curbside Rubbish Collection
Some RestrictionsBristol Code of Ordinances § 10-6
The board of public works shall institute weekly curbside collection of household rubbish materials from residential dwelling units. Only materials meeting the definition of "acceptable curbside collected rubbish" can be disposed of and will be collected by the city. ... The department of public works shall ... schedule weekly collection of all curbside collected rubbish barrels. The director o...