Solid Waste Management

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

As our population grows, we must contend with ever increasing amounts of waste, especially on this barrier island. VOBEC has worked hard with the Village to advance solid waste management solutions.

Ocean Beach now has public recycling bins across town, and we are expanding our community composting program each summer. Read more about garbage pick up, recycling, hazardous waste disposal, and composting below and visit the Village website: https://villageofoceanbeach.org/homeowner-helpful-info

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Composting tumblers at Winswept

Pick-Up Information

Garbage pick-ups are Wednesday & Sunday nights starting at 5:00 pm.

Pick-up is done by the Village of Ocean Beach: (631)583-5940 or info@villageofoceanbeach.gov

All garbage must be in a plastic bag, in a garbage can with handles, and with a secure detachable lid.
Containers are to be no bigger than 32-gallons and not to exceed 60 lbs.
Maximum number of containers is three, and one bundle of cardboard or brush.
Recyclables are collected on Sunday nights ONLY.
There is a three (3) pail maximum for each collection day, excess garbage pails will be charged $25 per can per pickup. Garbage violations are subject to fines per village code.

Bulk Pick-up:

The Village offers the free pick-up of bulk items you might have throughout the season.

Two Bulk Items per Property, per Pick-up. The following are not accepted:

NO mattresses.
NO Large Appliances (i.e.: NO refrigerators, stoves, ranges, washers, dryers, etc.)
NO construction or landscaping debris.

You must notify the Village Office by the Tuesday before a pick-up day, NO LATER THAN 3 pm (no exceptions) to provide address and identify the items. Items must be placed on the curb after 3 pm on Tuesday for the Wednesday pickup. Note: There is NO CHARGE for this service.

Three-day Holidays

Trash and recyclables are generally picked up on Monday of a three-day holiday, at the same scheduled time. If you are unsure, call the Village Office (631-583-5940) for the most current information.

Bag Law

Effective January 1, 2018, businesses in Suffolk County are required to charge 5¢ for any single-use bag. This legislation was enacted in an effort to reduce plastic bag waste. Please do your part: bring a reusable bag when you shop.

Eliminate Unnecessary Plastic Waste

When ordering take-out in Ocean Beach, please tell the restaurant that you do not want plastic knifes, spoons, or forks if you don't need them, such as when you are taking your food home to eat. Plastic knifes, spoons, and forks are made of plastics that are very difficult to recycle and end up in landfills and the ocean. These types of waste take many years to breakdown.We appreciate your cooperation!

Household hazardous wastes (HHW) are materials found in your home that would be regulated as hazardous waste if they were generated outside of a household. These wastes can be flammable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive, and can be dangerous if handled improperly.

Examples of household hazardous wastes include:

oil-based paints,
pool supplies,
automotive fluids,
home hobby chemicals,
and compact florescent light bulbs.

Ways to reduce the HHW you generate can be found on the USEPA Household Hazardous

Waste website here epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw.

Handle household hazardous waste carefully to avoid injury to people and animals, or damage to the environment.

Store HHW in their original containers with the labels intact.
Keep them out of the reach of children and pets.
Keep them away from heat.
Save unneeded items to take to HHW collection site or dispose of them during a HHW event sponsored by your municipality.

HHW should never be disposed by:

Pouring it down the drain,
Placing it in your recycling bin, or
Dumping on the ground.

It is best if they are kept out of your regular garbage. In New York City and Long Island, residents can bring their household hazardous waste to authorized HHW collection facilities. Search for "household hazardous waste" near your zip code in the Earth 911 database for more information.

Composting is a very important part of solid waste management. Food scraps that go into landfills generate methane, a greenhouse gas 25% more potent than carbon dioxide. Food scraps that are composted are taken out of the waste stream and transformed into nutritious soil that can be used for gardening.

Join the Community Composting Program!

VOBEC began a community composting program in late 2025.

To sign-up, send us an email (vobec.fi@gmail.com) expressing your interest. It will cost $20 in a check made out to Village of Ocean Beach and submitted to the Village office. In return, you will be provided with a countertop composting container, instructions on what is acceptable for composting, and the code to the locks of the two composting bins located at Windswept. Feel free to send us an email with any questions you have. We hope you’ll join us in this important endeavor.

Ocean Beach now has PUBLIC RECYCLING BINS! Recycling as much waste as possible is crucial to every community, not just to Ocean Beach. VOBEC continues to educate homeowners and guests alike about the Village's recycling efforts. We enthusiastically encourage participation.

Recycled materials are collected on Sunday ONLY.
Recycled materials put out on Wednesday will end up in the trash.
Recycled materials must be put in WRAP containers.
WRAP containers are available in the Village office for $25.

Plastic/Glass/Tin/Aluminum

The following items are recyclable:

glass bottles and jars (no lids),
tin and aluminum beverage and food cans,
and plastic bottles and containers with 1 or 2 in the recycling triangles.

Examples of recyclable plastic include containers for:

water,
juice,
detergent, and
shampoo bottles/containers.

Together, these items must be placed directly into your WRAP container. If they are placed in any other container, or left in a plastic bag, they will end up in the trash.

Paper
All of the following are recyclable:

white and colored paper,
mail and envelopes (any color),
paper bags,
telephone books,
Post-Its, etc.

Preparing Paper for Pick-up

Tie items (use string, not tape) in separate bundles or place in a brown paper bag or box.
If using a paper bag or box, be sure to tie these closed with string to prevent them from falling out when they are picked up by the garage contractor.
Place bundle on top of the WRAP can for pick-up.
Do not place these items inside the WRAP recycling container.

Public Recycling bins as of 2025