Buffalo, NY Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Frequency
- Once weekly
- Set out earliest
- 7:00 p.m. night before
- Remove totes by
- 8:00 p.m. collection day
- Receptacle
- City-issued tote required
- Enforcement
- Chapter 137 penalties
Summary
Buffalo's Sanitation Department collects garbage and recycling once weekly on days the Commissioner designates for each street, using City-issued totes. Set totes out no earlier than 7:00 p.m. the night before, and remove them by 8:00 p.m. on your collection day.
No person shall deposit or leave or cause or allow any agents, subordinates, occupants or employees to deposit or leave in any public street, curbline or public place any solid waste, unless the same is in proper receptacles, no earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the evening prior to the day of the regular collection as provided. All City-issued receptacles shall be removed from the street, curbline or public place following public collection and shall not be left in the street, curbline or public place after 8:00 p.m. on the day of regular collection. All garbage receptacles shall be kept in rear yards, or side yards if stored at least 10 feet from the front of the house, and may not be stored in the front of properties, unless authorization is received from the Commissioner of Public Works and Streets. [Amended 7-10-2007, effective 7-24-2007]
B. Any person violating the provisions of Subsection A of this section may be liable, in addition to the general penalties, to the penalties established in Chapter 137, Code Enforcement, Article I, of this Code. [Amended 10-14-2014]
C.
Full Breakdown
Buffalo City Code § 216-15(A) directs the Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Streets to designate the days for solid waste removal from each street; residents place waste at the curbline in City-issued receptacles on that day. Under § 216-15(C), each residential user gets weekly collection of their City tote(s), recycling containers (including vegetative yard waste), and up to two pieces of bulk trash. Section 216-14(A) sets the timing window: totes may go out no earlier than 7:00 p.m. the evening before collection and must be removed by 8:00 p.m. that day, then stored in rear or side yards. Violations carry penalties under Chapter 137, Code Enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Putting totes at the curb before 7:00 p.m. the prior evening, leaving them out past 8:00 p.m. on collection day, or storing them in front yards exposes residents to penalties under Chapter 137, Code Enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buffalo
New York rules heatmap·Compare Buffalo to another location·View the New York trash & recycling overview
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