How to Use Pittsford's Hazardous Waste Drop-Off (And What Not to Bring)

There's a shelf in most Pittsford garages that tells the whole story. An old can of paint — dried out, or maybe not, nobody's quite sure. A bottle of pesticide from three seasons back. A printer that stopped working two laptops ago. Nobody knows what to do with any of it, so it stays where it is, year after year.

May 16 is when the waiting ends.

The Town of Pittsford, in partnership with Monroe County, is hosting its annual Hazardous Waste, E-Recycling, and Document Shredding Collection Event on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Perinton Highway Garage in Fairport. It's free. It's drive-through. And it handles more than most residents realize — as long as you know the appointment rules before you leave the driveway.

When and Where: The May 16 Collection Event

When and Where: The May 16 Collection Event

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026 Location: Perinton Highway Garage, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport, NY Cost: Free for all Monroe County residents

The event runs as a drive-through — pull up, hand off your materials to trained staff, and go. No sorting required on your part, no forms to fill out on-site.

The rule that trips up residents every single year: according to the official Town of Pittsford announcement, appointments are required for hazardous waste collection — but not for electronics recycling or document shredding. The appointment deadline is May 15, the day before the event. Miss it and you can still drop off electronics and documents walk-up, but the hazardous waste line is closed to you.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that American households generate approximately 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste each year. Only a small fraction ever reaches a formal collection program. Events like this one represent one of the few chances to keep that material out of the trash, the storm drain, and the groundwater Pittsford draws from.

How to Make a Hazardous Waste Appointment

How to Make a Hazardous Waste Appointment

Two options to get scheduled:

• Phone: Call Monroe County at 248-6250
• Online: monroecounty.gov/ecopark

The online form takes about five minutes. Enter your name, address, and a general description of what you're bringing. A confirmation follows — have it on your phone or just know your name when you pull up.

Book now if you haven't already. Slots fill faster than most residents expect. If you're reading this with more than a few days to spare, open the Monroe County ecopark site before you finish this article. If the May 15 deadline has already passed by the time you're reading this, skip to the Year-Round Options section at the end — there are other paths.

The appointment covers the hazardous waste line only. Electronics and shredding are walk-up on the day, no scheduling needed.

What IS Accepted

What IS Accepted

This event covers a wide range of materials that would otherwise sit in garages indefinitely. Here is what belongs at Perinton Highway Garage on May 16.

Household Hazardous Waste (appointment required)

• Paint — latex, oil-based, spray aerosols
• Automotive fluids — antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid (note: used motor oil is NOT accepted here — see year-round options below)
• Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
• Pool and spa chemicals
• Household cleaning products — oven cleaners, drain cleaners, solvents
• Mercury-containing items — fluorescent bulbs, thermometers, thermostats
• Medical sharps — in a sealed, puncture-proof container
• Rechargeable batteries — lithium-ion, NiCd, NiMH

Electronics Recycling (no appointment needed)

• Desktop computers, laptops, and monitors
• Cell phones and tablets
• Televisions — CRT and flat panel
• Printers, copiers, and fax machines
• Small household electronics

The scope of this event is broader than most first-timers expect. If you've been holding onto something because you didn't know where to take it, May 16 is probably your answer. What does it mean when a community builds a place for all of this to go — no judgment, no fee, just a drive-through line staffed by people who know what to do with it?

What Is NOT Accepted

What Is NOT Accepted

Just as important to know. These items are commonly brought to the hazardous waste line and turned away. Each one has a straightforward alternative.

Used motor oil — the single most common mistake at collection events like this one. Motor oil has its own recycling infrastructure. AutoZone, O'Reilly Auto Parts, and Advance Auto Parts all accept used motor oil for free, any day, no appointment required. Don't bring it to Perinton.

Lead-acid vehicle batteries — auto parts stores take these too, often with a small core charge credit toward your next purchase.

Propane tanks — cylinder exchange programs at hardware stores and major retailers. Blue Rhino and AmeriGas exchange points are at most grocery and hardware locations across Monroe County.

Dried latex paint — if the paint has fully solidified, it's considered solid waste under New York State guidelines, not hazardous. Fully dry paint can go in the regular trash. Liquid paint is hazardous and belongs at this event. Know the difference before you load the car.

Empty containers — rinse them and put them in the recycling. Don't bring empty aerosol cans or chemical jugs.

Alkaline batteries (standard AA, AAA, 9V, D) — per New York State regulations, household alkaline batteries are not classified as hazardous waste and may go in regular trash. Rechargeable batteries are a different story and ARE accepted at the event.

Ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials — require specialized disposal beyond what this event provides.

Large appliances — refrigerators, AC units, and water heaters go through a separate stream. Contact Monroe County or your waste hauler for guidance.

Document Shredding

Document Shredding

Shredding is walk-up — no appointment, no scheduling required.

• Limit: Up to 4–5 banker's boxes per vehicle
• Staples: No removal needed — the equipment handles it
• Eligibility: Residential households only; businesses are not eligible for this service

If you've accumulated boxes of old financial records, tax returns, medical paperwork, or anything with account numbers and personal information on it, this is the day to bring them. A practical rule of thumb: if you'd hesitate to toss it in the recycling bin, shred it. Financial records older than seven years are generally safe to clear. Old utility bills, insurance documents, bank statements with account numbers — all good candidates.

Year-Round Options

Year-Round Options

May 16 is one of several opportunities Monroe County makes available across the calendar. If you miss this event — or if you're generating hazardous waste on an ongoing basis — here's what exists beyond this single Saturday.

Monroe County's Ecopark program hosts multiple household hazardous waste collection events throughout the year, typically concentrated in spring and fall. Check the county site for the current full schedule.

Used motor oil: AutoZone, O'Reilly Auto Parts, and Advance Auto Parts accept it free, daily, no appointment.

Rechargeable batteries and electronics: Best Buy runs a year-round in-store recycling program for both. Home Depot and Lowe's accept rechargeable batteries. Call2Recycle maintains multiple drop-off locations in Monroe County.

Medications: The Monroe County Sheriff's Office participates in the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back program, with permanent drop boxes at several locations. Many local pharmacies also accept unused medications year-round.

What's worth naming here is what these programs together represent. Pittsford and Monroe County have built a fairly complete system for this. Most of what accumulates in garages, under sinks, and in sheds has a proper home somewhere. The infrastructure exists. The gap is almost always just knowing where it is.

May 16 closes that gap for a few hours. The year-round list above closes it for the rest of the year.

What have you been waiting to clear out?