Albany Recyclers

Garbage Collection...

The City of Albany collects garbage from residential dwellings with four (4) units or less located on a single property. Excessive quantities of trash are subject to billing and a fine up to $625.00. Trash should be placed curbside, prior to 12:01 on the scheduled collection day but not before 4:30 pm of the prior day.
All garbage should be containerized using heavy-duty plastic bags and/or metal or plastic containers. Metal or plastic garbage containers shall have a maximum volume of 50 gallons and be fitted with a lid. If you wish to dispose of a broken or damaged garbage container please label 'CONTAINER BROKEN, PLEASE DISPOSE. '

BULK ITEMS (e.g. household furniture, mattresses and toilets) may also be placed at the curb in limited quantities. Please call the Department of General Services at (518) 434-CITY (2489) at least 24 hours prior to your collection day to inform them of these items.

The Department of General Services will operate advanced recycling trucks that will use an arm to lift and empty a special City of Albany recycling cart from driveways where feasible. This system is safer, easier, and cleaner than a traditional recycling program.

Recycling is mandatory in the City of Albany, and this new program will help make that more convenient for residents. The program will still be single stream, so all recyclable materials can be placed in the new carts without being sorted. These carts will be more than twice the size of the current recycling bins, allowing residents to recycle more and waste less.”

Residential and Commercial Recycling... 

The City of Albany provides curbside recycling collection to residents (dwellings with four (4) units or less located on a single property). Recycling should be placed curnside prior to 12:01 am on the scheduled collection day, not before 4:30 p.m. of the prior day. 

COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL & MIXED-OCCUPANCY (NON-RESIDENTIAL) COLLECTION
The City of Albany finds the reduction of solid waste and the conservation of recyclables to be of great importance and the responsibility of public and private sectors alike. Therefore, the separation and collection of materials for recycling from all establishments within the City is mandated within City Code​.All commercial, industrial, mixed-occupancy, multi-residential and institutional establishments within the City must arrange, maintain and contract for PRIVATE collection of their trash and recyclable items (paper, newspaper, cardboard, glass, cans and plastic containers).

NOT ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS

• Broken Glass
• Ovenware & Ceramics
• Window Panes, Mirrors, or
• Windshields
• Mercury-filled Light Bulbs* (i.e. fluorescent bulbs)
• Incandesent Bulbs
• Cups, Drinking Glasses
• Dishes/Plates, Tableware
• Carbon Paper
• Wax-Coated Cardboard
• Diapers
• Plastic Bags (e.g. grocery bags, snack bags, plastic wrappings)
• Clothes Hangers
• Styrofoam (e.g. trays, blocks, packing peanuts)
• Furniture
• Clothes & Shoes
• Needles & Syringes*
• Six-pack Holders
• ​Toys
• Caps & Lids
• Plexiglass
• Straws & Wrappers
• Napkins & Paper Towels
• Paper Plates
• Tissues & Tissue Paper
• Pizza Boxes
• Chips/Pretzel Bags
• Scrap Metal
• Silverware
• Small Appliances (e.g. toaster, blender)
• Paint Cans*
• Spray Cans* (e.g. paint cans*,insecticides*)
• Pesticides & Chemicals*
• Gasoline & Motor Oil Bottles*
• Compost & Yard Waste
• Food & Trash

Household Spring Clean-up Program...

The City of Albany’s Household Spring Cleanup program provides city residents with an opportunity to dispose of their excessive household trash. Only residents who live in residential dwellings with four (4) or less units may participate in this program. Trash should be placed curbside the evening prior to your scheduled spring cleanup day. 

Paper Shredding and Book Recycling Events

The City of Albany Department of General Services sponsors two (2) FREE Paper Shredding events each year. Albany residents can bring documents to be shredded and they will be shredded on site. DGS also collects hard and soft cover books for recycling.