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Starting today (January 6), Syracuse will begin fining residents who do not follow the city's trash and recycling guidelines. Residents who improperly set out their trash or recycling will receive a citation and have 24 hours to correct the mistake. Failure to do so will result in a $100 fine. More serious violations, such as improperly separating trash and recycling or setting out illegal items, could incur fines up to $350.
The city implemented uniform recycling carts in the fall of 2024, and since then, the most common mistakes have included placing trash in recycling bins, bagging recyclables, and not breaking down large cardboard boxes. Trash is collected weekly, while recycling is collected bi-weekly. Residents can find detailed guidelines on the city's website at syr.gov.
According to CNY Central, the Department of Public Works (DPW) Commissioner Jeremy Robinson stated, "Our goal is not to issue citations or impose fines, so we encourage residents to review the informational materials provided with the carts or available online."
Residents who do not comply with the setout requirements can also transport excess trash and recycling to an Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency drop-off site. Locations and fee information are available at ocrra.org.