Union, NY Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Chapter 130 of the Town of Union Code covers garbage, rubbish, refuse and recyclables, and § 130-1 defines the Town of Union as all lots and tracts in the Town outside the incorporated Villages of Johnson City and Endicott. "Recyclable material" means any material designated in regulations adopted by the Town or Broome County, limited to materials that can be processed and reused for the original or a different purpose. A "container" is a covered metal or heavy-duty plastic pail or drum with at least two handles, not exceeding 33 gallons, or heavy-duty plastic bags of 1.3 mil. thickness.

Section 130-3 sets the placement rules. Garbage, rubbish and refuse go in a container approved by the Department of Public Works, Division of Refuse and Recycling. Under subsection B, recycled items containing no garbage go out in designated containers approved by the same division. The combined weight of a container and its contents cannot exceed 50 pounds, owners must keep containers in condition for safe handling by the collector, and nothing is collected from undeveloped parcels or from uninhabited or vacant structures. Section 130-5.2, added 4-3-2019 by L.L. No. 5-2019, bars placing garbage or rubbish together with yard waste, trash or recyclables in the same receptacle, and § 130-5.1 bars filthy, leaky or defective receptacles.

Timing is set in § 130-5. Containers are set out contiguous to the curbline in front of the premises, with only one pickup location per property. They go out not earlier than 2:00 p.m. the day before collection and not later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day, and emptied containers come in by 8:00 p.m. on collection day. At all other times, cans and containers stay reasonably out of view from the street and out of the front yard, porch, stoop, walkway and entrance. Under § 130-2, stored material cannot sit on a property longer than seven consecutive days. Section 130-9 bars scavenging in containers of recyclables, and the Commissioner of Public Works can adopt more rules with Town Board approval under § 130-10.1.