West Haven, CT Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

The City Council created the program in Article III of Chapter 119 (Ord. No. 300, adopted 2-25-1991) under Connecticut Public Act No. 90-220. Section 119-13(A) makes separation of recyclables from solid waste, and the recycling of those separated items, mandatory in the City of West Haven.

What counts as a recyclable is defined in § 119-12: newspaper, cardboard, office paper, glass food containers, metal food containers, plastic, yard waste, leaves, scrap metal, storage batteries and waste oil, plus any other item the State of Connecticut mandates as recyclable from time to time. Plastic is defined by resin type: HDPE (#2) and PET (#1). Office paper generated by households is excluded from the definition.

Curbside service covers private dwellings, which the code defines as single-family houses and multifamily houses containing up to three dwelling units, including residential condominiums. Apartments and cooperative housing ownership fall outside that definition. Households in one-, two- and three-unit dwellings receive one recycling container free of charge. It stays the property of the city, replacements are purchased through the Department of Public Works, and the owner or occupant should label the container with the address where it is used. Condominium pickup follows policies set by the Director of Public Works and shall not exceed one pickup per week per condominium.

Under § 119-13(F), recycling is the responsibility of the owners of apartment buildings with four or more dwelling units and of business, commercial and industrial properties. Institutional properties such as hospitals, schools and governmental office buildings, along with business, commercial and industrial properties, must also separate office paper. Section 119-13(G) prohibits mixing hazardous waste with either recyclables or solid waste.

Collection runs on a five-day-per-week basis, Monday through Friday, on the same day as solid waste. Residents place recyclables between the curb or pavement edge and the property line no earlier than 24 hours preceding the day of collection.