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Environmental Control - Recycling/Garbage Pickup

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1. Where is the Town's Recycling Center?

The Towns Department of Environmental Control operates the Recycling Center. The Recycling Center receives waste that residents feel can’t be picked up at the curb. Not all items, however will be accepted. Unacceptable items include: explosive, ammunition, asbestos, automobile body part.

The Recycling center is located at 57 Field Street in West Babylon and can be contacted at (631) 249-9346.

The hours of operation for the Recycling center are Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 2:30pm.

2. What is the trash and recycling pick-up schedule?

A complete trash and recycling pick-up schedule is mailed to each house on an annual basis and is also available online - Trash and Recycling Calendar.

3. What is the earliest time trash pick-up service can begin?

Generally, trash service does not begin before 5:00 am. Residents are encouraged to call Commercial Waste at (631) 422-7670 if they notice, or are inconvenienced by, pick-up service occurring prior to 5:00 am.

4. What items are considered "White Goods"?

White Goods are:

• residential refrigerators (remove all doors from refrigerators and freezers)
  
• washers and dryers


• dishwashers


• stoves/microwaves


• water heaters


• air conditioners


• bathtubs


• metal desks, metal cabinets


• compactors


• metal dehumidifiers


• cut up oil tanks


• aluminum sheds (bundled, tied, under 4' and 50 lbs. or less)

5. How can I schedule a special pick up of White Goods?

EnCon will pick up white goods on Wednesdays; however, you must call ahead to reserve pickup. Contact EnCon at (631) 491-3200, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and a representative will give you the date your white goods will be picked up. You need to call by Friday for pickup the following Wednesday. Please put the item at the curb in front of your house. 

For safety's sake, please remove all doors from refrigerators and freezers.

6. How do I dispose of yard waste?

Yard waste is collected separately from garbage 12 months of the year. Yard wase is collected according to your Yard Waste Zone (YWZ). Yard waste will not be picked up on holidays and will be picked up on your next collection day the following week. If you do not know your yard waste day, call EnCon at (631) 491-3200.

• Yard waste cannot be mixed with garbage


• Do not use cardboard boxes for yard waste


• You may put out a maximum of 10 items of yard waste per week


• Bags of grass and leaves must be under 50 lbs


• Disposal regulations for tree debris (tree branches less than 4" in diameter) require that trimmings must be bundled, securely tied, under 4 feet long and under 50 lbs


• Dirt, sod and rocks cannot be collected - these items can be brought to a Transfer Station or Yard Waste Disposal Center

7. What day is my yard waste collected?

Your yard waste collection day depends on your yard waste zone (YWZ). For more information, please check the Town of Babylon Recycling Calendar. Yard waste will not be picked up on holidays and will instead be picked up the next week on the resident’s usually scheduled pick-up day. The yard waste zones are as follows:

• YWZ 1 – South of Montauk Highway- Monday pick-up
• YWZ 2- Between Montauk Highway and Sunrise Highway- Tuesday Pick-up 
• YWZ 3- Between Sunrise Highway and Southern State Parkway- Wednesday pick-up 
• YWZ 4- Between Southern State Parkway and Long Island Avenue – Thursday pick-up 
• YWZ 5- North of Long Island Avenue or North of Long Island Rail Road tracks- Friday 

Click here for more information

8. How do I dispose of glass, cans and plastic?

When the bottles and cans symbol appears on your Trash and Recycling Calendar, EnCon will pick up glass, metal cans and plastics from your curbside in your blue recycling bin or clear plastic bags. EnCon cannot collect recycling material from any other type of receptacle.

• Aluminum and Metal Cans - rinse cans, labels may remain in place
• Glass Jars and Bottles - rinse jars and bottles, labels may be left on, remove caps, lids and wire rings (do not break glass or put plate glass, drinking glasses, light bulbs or window panes in the recycling bin)
• Plastic Bottles - rinse plastic bottles and remove caps and pumps (to fit more containers in the bin, flatten them)

9. How do I dispose of newspapers, phone books, magazines and cardboard boxes?

When the newspaper symbol appears on your Trash and Recycling Calendar, EnCon will pick up properly wrapped newspapers from your curbside. Wrap newspapers in twine or put them into paper bags. Do not use plastic bags for holding newspapers. Magazines, junk mail, cardboard boxes and telephone books will be picked up along with newspapers. These items should be bundled and tied. Please put out newspapers regardless of the weather. Pizza and cereal boxes are not recyclable. Please dispose of pizza and cereal boxes with your normal household garbage. Do not use your recycling can or garbage pails to put your newspapers out. These items can also be brought to the recycling center at 51 Field Street in West Babylon between the hours of 8:00 am and 2:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

10. What items can I drop off at the Residential Recycling Center?

Acceptable items for drop off at the residential recycling center are : plastics/ glass, waste oil, car batteries, computer paper, telephone books, bricks, household batteries, junk mail, oil filters, metal/ aluminum cans, polystyrene, newspaper cardboard, concrete ( broken pieces) 20 lb propane tanks fire extinguishers, electronics, and up to 4 tires with or without rims.

11. Where can I dispose of oil from my car?

You can dispose of waste oil at the Residential Recycling Center, located located on Field Street off Edison Avenue in West Babylon. It is open for drop-off of recyclable materials on weekdays from 8 am to 2:30 pm. For further information please call (631) 249-9346 or (631) 422-7694.

12. How do I dispose of my Christmas tree?

Natural Christmas trees go out on your regular yard waste day. No special arrangements need to be made.

13. How do I dispose of paint?

Latex and water and oil based paint can be disposed of in your regular garbage. Please place the can's cover on tightly, place in double bags and only put out one can per pick-up. Residents can also drop paint cans off at the Residential Recycling Center at 57 Field Street in West Babylon. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. Residents are reminded to utilize the Towns STOP program each spring and fall.

14. How do I dispose of light residential construction debris?

Specific recycling information is available in Trash and Recycling Calendar. Limited construction debris, up to two items, is available for pickup on your Thursday or Friday garbage day. However, building material from major renovations cannot be taken. The Residential Recycling Center (631) 249-9346 or the Sanitation Department (631) 422-7694 can be contacted in the case that you need to dispose of an item and are not sure how to.

15. When did the Town of Babylon start its recycling program?

The Town of Babylon began its town-wide recycling program almost 36 years ago. Today, more than 60% of the town participates in the effort to recycle.

16. Is styrofoam recyclable?

Styrofoam is not listed among the specific items that EnCon will pick up with other recyclables. Newspapers, magazines, phone books, and cardboard boxes are available for pickup together on certain weeks, while glass, cans, and plastic are available for pickup on the other weeks. Please reference the Trash and Recycling Calendar.

17. How do I dispose of concrete?

Small quantities of concrete can be taken to the Town’s Recycling center which is located at 57 Field Street in West Babylon. For more information, contact them directly at (631) 249-9346.

18. Can I retrieve an item thrown out by accident from the recycling truck?

If a personal item was discarded in the Recycling container, a resident can retrieve the item if it is still within the truck and has not been delivered to the Recycling Center for processing. Once the item has been dumped at the Recycling Center it is considered “lost”.

19. When should trash be placed on the curb?

Trash should be placed at the curb the evening before your scheduled trash pick up. Do not put material out prior to 1:00 pm the day before your scheduled trash collection day and only put out the material to be collected at the curb. Please reference the Trash and Recycling Calendar.

20. Does the Town provide recycling bins?

Recycling containers are available at the Residential Recycling Center - one container per household. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. You can call the Recycling Center at (631) 249-9346.

21. Who do I contact to report recyclables that were not picked up?

All items for recycling should be placed in the recycling container or in a clear plastic bag the night prior to pick up. If the items in question were set out properly and were not picked up, residents should call either Encon, at (631) 491-3200 or Sanitation at (631) 422-7694.Encon is the Town’s contractor for residential waste service.

22. Can I recycle items found in my garage?

Garage type items can be placed at the curb, within limits, for pick-up or brought to the Spring and Fall clean-up events at no charge. There is a fee for these items if they are brought to the Recycling Center.

23. Can I recycle items from a home remodel project?

Items from a home remodel project can be placed at the curb for pick up if they are placed in bags no greater than 50 pounds in weight and do not exceed 2 bags in quantity. Items brought to the Recycling Center will be charged a fee.

24. How do I pay for items brought to the Recycling Center?

When items are brought to the Recycling Center for disposal, etc., there is generally a fee associated with the drop off. The Recycling Center accepts cash only as a form of payment. Checks and credit cards will not be accepted.

25. Do I need special pickup to dispose of large or bulk items?

Furniture, carpet, mattresses and other large items are considered to be bulky items. One bulk item can be put at the curb for each pick-up day. The item needs to be put right next to the other garbage but away from any obstructions like a car or truck.

If there is a question as to size or an unusual item, call EnCon, the Town's trash contractor, at (631) 491-3200.

26. Are batteries recyclable?

Household alkaline batteries are non hazardous and may be disposed of with regular garbage. Automotive batteries are accepted at the Recycling Center. Rechargeable batteries must be disposed of at a Stop Day event only.

27. How do I dispose of prescription drugs in a safe and environmentally-responsible manner?

Safe prescription drug disposal is available at each Suffolk County Police Precinct 24 hours a day, seven days a week. See flyer for more details. Click Here for Flyer