Southampton, NY Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

In the Town of Southampton outside the villages, Chapter 211 (Littering and Handbills) governs when residents may put out trash and recyclables for pickup. Section 211-2A already bars depositing litter on public or private property except in public receptacles, authorized private and commercial receptacles, or public disposal facilities, and notes that public receptacles are meant only for light pedestrian litter such as candy wrappers and fruit skins, not commercial or accumulated household trash. Section 211-2B, added by Local Law No. 23-1993, restricts when residential trash can be curbed: garbage, litter and source-separated recyclables in authorized private receptacles may not be placed outside for collection more than one day in advance of the scheduled collection day.

If ordinance enforcement finds trash set out too early or otherwise creating a littered condition on private property, an ordinance inspector can inspect and report to the Town Board under § 211-2E, which can issue a notice giving the owner at least 10 days to clean up before the Town removes the material itself and assesses the cost, plus a lien, against the property. Anyone convicted under Chapter 211, including for improper trash placement, is guilty of a misdemeanor under § 211-5A, punishable by a fine up to $5,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both, and each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense.

Convictions also carry a mandatory $100 blight mitigation surcharge under § 211-5B, payable to the court clerk. Southampton Town Police and ordinance enforcement officers handle complaints; residents who leave carts out early risk both the fine exposure of Chapter 211 and a possible litter-removal lien if trash spills or accumulates before collection.