New Haven, CT Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual limit
- 2 bulk assignments/year
- Appointment
- Required before curb placement
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Public Works
- Uncollected items
- Resident must remove
Summary
New Haven residents get two bulk-item collection appointments per calendar year, and items must be scheduled with public works before being placed at the curb.
City residents are entitled to two (2) bulk assignments per calendar year. The resident must remove uncollected items from the public right of way and properly dispose of them. No person shall place bulk trash at a curb without having received an authorized appointment with the department of public works. If applicable, fees shall be set as established and approved by the board of aldermen. Violators shall be liable for costs incurred by the department of public works or its designee in the removal of such unauthorized items.
(m)Complaints. All complaints will be addressed to the director of the department of public works, or his/her designee for immediate attention.(n)Penalty. Every person who violates this section, or rules and regulations established under it, shall be fined up to the maximum amount authorized by state statutes or this Code. Each day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. (Health Reg. of 3-27-51; Ord. of 3-5-79; Ord. of 4-4-83, § 2; Code of 1985, § 16-17.1; Ord. of 6-1-87, sects. 1-3; Ord. of 10-17-88, § 1; Ord. of 10-17-88, §§ 7, 8; Ord. of 5-28-91; Ord. of 1-4-93; Ord. of 2-21-95; Ord. No. 1407, 3-6-06)
Sec. 30¾-13. - Recycling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 32).
Full Breakdown
New Haven's Department of Public Works may collect bulk items and large appliances that exceed regular container size and weight limits, but residents must first receive an authorized appointment before setting anything at the curb. Each household is entitled to two bulk assignments per calendar year. If an item goes uncollected, the resident is responsible for removing it from the public right-of-way and disposing of it properly; the city may recover its own removal costs from violators who skip the appointment process. Fee schedules, when set, are approved by the Board of Alders.
Violations & Fines
Placing bulk trash at the curb without an authorized appointment; violators are liable for the department's costs to remove unauthorized items.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulk item pickups does New Haven allow per year?
Can I just leave a couch at the curb in New Haven?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Haven
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