Residential Recycling Collection

The City of Rochester’s Residential Recycling program provides curbside collection of mixed recyclables from City residences. Residents are provided with a wheeled container, and all recyclable materials can be mixed together in the container - paper, metal, glass and plastic.

Please complete the following survey below to help us improve our recycling program:

https://forms.office.com/r/05BbuzKgyZ

Recyclable materials

Click here for the list of acceptable materials.

Recycling is collected every other week

Collection Day Map 

Since the 96-gallon wheeled container holds eight times the volume of the old 12-gallon box, it only needs to be set out for collection every other week, on the same day as refuse collection. 

Click here for your recycling collection schedule.

Recyclables should be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on collection day. 

Remember: Refuse collection every week, recycling every other week. 

Holidays 

When certain holidays fall on a weekday, expect refuse and recycling services to be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. Monday routes will be picked up on Tuesday, etc. Otherwise refuse and recycling services will be serviced on your normal scheduled weekday. 

  • New Year's Day
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

Questions?

If you have questions, refer to the At Your Service Guide, call 311 (outside city limits, (585) 428-5990). Staff from the the City's Solid Waste Management Division will follow up with you.

FAQs

What if I don't have a blue container?

 Recycling truck service at curb 

Request a recycling container online or by calling 311 (outside city limits, (585) 428-5990).

How does the City prevent contamination in the recyclable waste stream?

Customer education is the best way to prevent contamination of recyclables. People who recycle want to make sure the recycling program is successful!

Also, the City monitors container contents and will address contamination issues.

What happens to recyclables after collection?

Recyclables are brought to the Monroe County Recycling Center on Lee Road and sorted using machinery and human power to separate materials for processing. See the video from Monroe County to see how recycling is handled >> MRCR Video Tour

What if the container is misused?

We understand that people make mistakes, so we start with a warning letter to let the customer know there was an issue and remind them of what recyclable materials can be placed in the container. City staff visit customers and neighborhoods to provide education and support.

After 3 contamination notifications, the container may be removed for non-compliance.

What if I have more recyclables than will fit in the container?

Try flattening boxes and plastics to save room in the container. You can separate flattened cardboard and set it at the curb on collection day next to your blue container. Please do not place the old recycle boxes at the curb, as our new automated-arm recycling vehicles are unable to service them. Recyclables should not be placed in plastic bags, these contaminate the recycling stream.