Bin Placement Rules: Albany vs Colonie

When can I put my trash out for collection in Albany?

Place trash at the curb no earlier than 4:30 PM the evening before your scheduled collection day, and no later than 12:01 AM on collection day. Bins must be removed from public view after pickup.

What size and type of trash container can I use?

Albany allows heavy-duty plastic bags (ends tied) or lidded metal/plastic containers up to 50 gallons. Lids are required to keep animals out, and containers must be manageable by one person.

What happens if I have more trash than usual?

Anything beyond what one person can manage — or that would require more than four trips between the pile and the truck — counts as "excessive" and needs a scheduled special pickup. DGS will bill you at the special-pickup rate; uncollected excessive piles can trigger a Chapter 313 violation.

Where do I put my trash container in Colonie?

At the curb in front of your property, following the placement rules in your individual hauler contract - the Town of Colonie does not set a uniform bin-placement ordinance because Chapter 112 licenses private haulers rather than running Town trucks. Common Colonie hauler conventions: wheeled toter or cans at the curb the night before pickup or by 6:00-7:00 a.m. on collection day; toter handle facing the house; lid fully closed; do not block sidewalks, fire hydrants, or mailboxes. Pull the empty cart back within 24 hours. Call Allied/Republic (518-785-7030) or County Waste (518-877-7007) for your specific rules.

Can I leave my trash cans at the curb all week in Colonie?

No - that creates a Chapter 62 Article IV (Property Maintenance) blight violation. The Building Department Manager (518-783-2706) can cite cans left visible at the curb beyond pickup day under the Town Board's blight chapter, with civil penalties of $500 first violation, $750 second, $1,000 each subsequent. Pull cans back to a non-streetside location (behind a fence, beside the garage, or screened from street view) within 24 hours after pickup. This matches common practice across NY towns and protects the Town Board's purpose-and-intent against unkempt-appearance blight.

What if my toter blocks the sidewalk in Colonie?

Toters blocking pedestrian sidewalk traffic may be cited under Town Code Chapter 162 (Streets and Sidewalks) as an obstruction and also implicate federal ADA accessibility standards for the public right-of-way. Place your toter on the curb strip between the sidewalk and street if there is one, or at the very curb edge with the wheels off the sidewalk pavement. Your hauler may also refuse pickup if the toter blocks the truck's approach. Call your hauler (Allied/Republic 518-785-7030 or County Waste 518-877-7007) for the specific placement they need.