North Hempstead, NY Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 46-10, Hazardous and Unacceptable Waste
- Curbside HHW
- Prohibited outright
- Disposal route
- Town Household Hazardous Waste events
- First-offense fine
- $1,000 to $5,000
- Repeat-offense fine
- up to $25,000
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Solid Waste Management
Summary
North Hempstead's Sanitation Code bars residents from setting household hazardous waste out for curbside pickup. Under Code § 46-10, paint, pesticides, batteries, pool chemicals and similar items must go to a Town-organized Household Hazardous Waste event instead, and the Department of Solid Waste Management enforces the ban with fines that start at $1,000.
No license for the collection and/or disposal of Acceptable Waste within the Town shall authorize or entitle a Person holding such a license to collect Hazardous Waste or Unacceptable Waste within the Town and/or to dispose of the same at any Solid Waste Management Facility within the Town. Household Hazardous Waste shall be Source-Separated and disposed of pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commissioner. Notwithstanding the above, Household Hazardous Waste may be disposed of at Household Hazardous Waste events organized by the Town or another municipal entity allowing participation by residents of the Town. No person may place at Curbside for collection any Household Hazardous Waste or Unacceptable Waste.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4892187; v82 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 46 defines Household Hazardous Waste as household material that would be Hazardous Waste but for its point of generation, and § 46-2 lists examples including aerosol cans, air-conditioning refrigerants, antifreeze, asbestos, pesticides, household batteries, mercury products, paint thinner, photography chemicals and swimming pool chemicals. Section 46-10 pulls this material out of the ordinary trash and recycling stream: it must be source-separated and disposed of under rules the Commissioner promulgates, and it cannot be left at curbside at all. Instead, residents rely on Household Hazardous Waste events the Town or another municipal entity organizes.
1, and collectors are barred from commingling those source-separated recyclables with regular trash under § 46-14B(4). Licensed Collectors who pick up North Hempstead waste and Recyclables must hold a license under § 46-4, and the Commissioner of the Department of Solid Waste Management, together with the Town Clerk and Town Attorney, is charged with enforcing the whole chapter under § 46-6C.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 46-10 (or most of Chapter 46, aside from § 46-14) is punishable under § 46-6.1: a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 for a first offense, $2,500 to $10,000 for a second offense within two years, and $5,000 to $25,000 for a third or later offense within five years. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, enforced through formal notices of violation or uniform appearance tickets answerable in District Court, though the Commissioner may first seek voluntary compliance through notice or warning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put old paint cans or batteries out at the curb in North Hempstead?
What counts as household hazardous waste under the Town Code?
Who enforces North Hempstead's recycling and hazardous waste rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Hempstead
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