Tonawanda, NY Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

Section 181-9A requires anyone who wants to place a dumpster in the public right-of-way to first get written permission from the Superintendent of Highways, and Section 181-9B bars locating it anywhere it would obstruct or interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Section 181-9C requires every dumpster to carry a workable lid plus reflectors or reflective tape on both ends and along the edges facing the right-of-way, with reflectors at least three inches in diameter (a minimum of three per end and four per side) or reflective tape at least two inches wide and three feet long on both ends and sides.

Section 181-9D requires the owner's name, address and telephone number to be conspicuously displayed on the dumpster itself, so the Town can trace it back to a responsible party. Section 181-9F bars any hazardous, dangerous or infectious waste from going into a dumpster, requires it to stay watertight, and keeps the lid closed except while it is actively being loaded. Once full, Section 181-9G requires prompt removal or emptying, and Section 181-9H sets a daily window for that service: no dumpster may be removed or emptied before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.

Dumpsters serving private collectors' commercial customers must also sit on private property behind screening at least one foot taller than the dumpster itself under Section 181-7D(2), separate from the right-of-way placement rules in Section 181-9 itself.