Recycling & Disposal

* Please see the FAQ section at the bottom of this page for help with many common questions.*

Household Hazardous Waste Recycling

The 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Day has passed.

Visit the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website's Household Hazardous Waste page for information and resources on where and how to properly dispose of many common household products, including paint, batteries, cleaning products, etc.

Tire Recycling

The Saratoga County Soil & Water Conservation District tire recycling program has passed. Check back often for information on future events. Information will be posted on this page and in the News Flash section on the home page. You may sign up to receive notifications when News Flash items are posted on the website.

Town-Wide Refuse Collection Program

The Spring 2023 Refuse Collection Program has passed.

This program was conducted in partnership with Twin Bridges Waste & Recycling and was available to Town residents only. Containers were placed at Town Hall for the disposal of unwanted items. Due to a significant cost increase, this type of program will replace the junk pickup program conducted in the past.

Check back often for information on future events. Information will be posted on this page, in the News Flash section on the home page, and on the Town of Ballston Facebook page. You may sign up to receive notifications when News Flash items are posted on the website.

Paint Recycling Program

The New York State Postconsumer Paint Collection Program began on May 1, 2022. The program is operated by PaintCare, a non-profit organization established by the paint industry to manage unwanted architectural coating products and provide for their recycling or proper disposal.

The program accepts leftover latex and oil-based paints and similar products at drop-off sites throughout the state. View a complete list of products accepted by PaintCare.

Paint Drop-off Sites
PaintCare will provide a collection network of over 300 drop-off sites across the state made up of paint retailers, local government facilities and reuse stores. Find a paint drop-off site near you.

Drop-off sites will accept up to 5 gallons per customer per visit; some sites may accept more.

Paint should be in original containers with intact labels that identify the product.

The program is funded by a small fee - the PaintCare fee - on the sale of all new paint in the state. The program will provide for continuous and convenient collection year-round and accept all program products regardless of when they were purchased. No longer will you have to plan to bring unwanted oil-based paints for collection at your local Household Hazardous Waste collection event or dry out unwanted latex paint for household trash pick-up!

Business or Bulk Paint Collection
Business, organizations, and households with 100 gallons of paint or more to recycle can request a free pick-up at their location, though some restrictions may apply. Submit a request form through PaintCare's website.

Additional information can be found on DEC's NYS Postconsumer Paint Collection Program webpage.

Electronics Recycling

The Spring 2023 Electronics Recycling Event has passed.

This event was conducted by Capital Region Electronics Recycling and was available to Town residents only. Residents could drop off their unwanted electronics.

See below for additional information and options for disposal of electronics:

Visit the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation below for information on how to dispose of unwanted electronics:

DEC Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste
DEC Electronic Equipment Manufacturers & their Electronic Waste Acceptance Programs - is a list of electronic equipment manufacturers; includes links to their acceptance program websites

Visit the websites below for information on how to dispose of unwanted electronics. Some have requirements for age or working condition of the items, some charge fees for certain items. Contact the organization directly for the types of electronics they will accept as well as fee information.

Capital Region Electronics Recycling
Staples
Best Buy
Schenectady County Compost and Resident Recycling - you must buy an annual permit whether you are a Schenectady County resident or not; some items are accepted for free while others incur an additional fee

Television Recycling

Consider donating a working television to a school, shelter, or charity. Contact the organization directly to make arrangements.

The manufacturer of your television may accept it for recycling; visit the DEC Covered Electronic Equipment Manufacturers & their Electronic Waste Acceptance Programs website for more information.

Visit the websites below for information on how to dispose of unwanted televisions. Some have requirements for age or working condition of TVs, and some charge a fee for disposal. Contact the organization directly for more information.

Capital Region Electronics Recycling
Some Salvation Army locations will accept working TVs if they are not large console models AND they are less than five years old (the date can be found on the back of the TV); contact them first to confirm. Find a location near you.
Best Buy - charges a fee and has a quantity limit; contact first to confirm
Schenectady County Compost and Resident Recycling - you must buy an annual permit whether you are a Schenectady County resident or not; televisions incur and additional fee
1-800-GOT-JUNK accepts televisions for a fee; their website has additional information on television recycling.

Other junk removal companies may accept televisions - an internet search for "junk removal" or "where to recycle a television" may yield options.

Battery Recycling

Rechargeable batteries can be recycled at several retailers for no cost. Please contact the retailer first to confirm .

Staples
Home Depot - this page has additional information on battery recycling
Call2Recycling - has a location search bar to find out where to recycle batteries near you, including local and chain retailers that accept batteries

Saratoga County Recycling

Saratoga County requires residents to recycle, under the Saratoga County Mandatory Recycling Law. According to the law, the following must be recycled: newspapers, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, and metal cans.

See the following for more information:

Local Waste Collection Companies

Contact your waste collection company for information on items they will accept for recycling or disposal.

County Waste & Recycling - 518-547-1502 or (888) 54-WASTE - the lower half of their recycling pages lists acceptable and unacceptable items
Twin Bridges Waste & Recycling - 518-267-3400 - their recycling page lists acceptable and unacceptable items

Sustainable Saratoga

This not-for-profit organization promotes sustainable practices and has a wealth of information on their website regarding recycling and donating items, recycling events, composting, and more.

Local Donation and Recycling Directory (PDF)
Online Donation and Recycling Directory - with many links to organizations and resources
Recycling Resources
Saratoga Recycles Day - annual event open to everyone with no residency restrictions; fees apply. The 2023 collection date has passed.
Repair Cafes - community events to repair broken objects, free, registration required
Composting Resources

Additional Resources for Recycling and Donation of Items

The Town of Clifton Park G.R.E.E.N. Committee has created two information flyers with recycling and donation information. When in doubt, call to verify that Town of Ballston residents can participate.Done Editing

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Resources

Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste - this website has a link to a list of manufacturers that accept returns of items for recycling, as well as a link to a list of electronic waste collection sites
Local Material Exchanges - a list of organizations that accept donations of a variety of items
Reduce Your Junk Mail
Wireless Telephone Recycling Act
Recycling and Composting page - has many links to additional information

FAQs

Will the Town have junk collection this year?

Due to a significant increase in cost, the Town has changed from a junk pickup program to a junk drop-off program.

When junk drop-off is scheduled, the date and additional information will be posted on the website.

Visit the Recycling & Disposal page for information on junk drop-off as well as additional information and resources for recycling and/or disposal of many types of items.

Where can I donate or recycle items?

This resource list was created by the Town of Clifton Park Green Committee - it lists many organizations that accept donated items in new or good condition, as well as resources for recycling common household items. Please call the organization first to confirm their hours and that they can accept your item(s).

This resource list was created by Sustainable Saratoga, a local not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable practices - it also lists many organizations that accept donated items, as well as recycling resources. Please call the organization first to confirm their hours and that they can accept your item(s).

Saratoga.com has a list of organizations that accept donations.

Contact your waste collection company for information on items they will accept for recycling:

County Waste - 518-547-1518 - the lower half of their recycling page lists acceptable and unacceptable items with links to other resources
Twin Bridges - 518-267-3400 - their recycling page lists acceptable and unacceptable items

An online search of "where can I donate household items (or whatever you have to donate) near me" should yield some ideas.

Similarly, an online search of "where can I recycle (whatever you need to recycle) near me" should yield some ideas.

How do I get rid of furniture or mattresses?

If there is no Town junk drop-off this year or you have missed it:

For items in good condition that you would like to donate:

Please contact the organization before donating to confirm they can accept your item(s):

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County
12 Milton Avenue
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
518-587-3315
Rebuilding Together Saratoga County - ReShop for the Good
Habitat for Humanity
1373 U.S. Route 9
Moreau, NY 12828
518-793-7484
Glens Falls Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity
115 N. Broadway
Schenectady, NY 12305
518-395-3412
Schenectady Habitat for Humanity
Salvation Army
1-800-SA-TRUCK
Salvation Army

For items that are no longer usable:

Contact your waste collection company for their policies and fees:
- County Waste - 518-547-1518
- Twin Bridges - 518-267-3400
The Town of Colonie landfill allows non-residents to dispose of some items (not kitchen garbage) - call first to confirm they can accept your item(s) and inquire about fees: 518-783-2845
An online search for "furniture disposal" or "mattress disposal" should yield the names of some local junk removal companies

How do I get rid of paint or other household hazardous waste?

The Town does not have household hazardous waste collection every year.

When held, it is usually in cooperation with the Town of Clifton Park at their facility. When household hazardous waste collection is scheduled, the date and registration instructions will be posted on the Town of Ballston website. Visit our Recycling & Disposal page for more information.

The NYS Department of environmental Conservation has information on the NYS Postconsumer Paint Collection Program. Visit the NYS DEC website's Household Hazardous Waste page for information on where and how to properly dispose of many other common household products, including cleaning products, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, etc.

The NY paint stewardship program launched on May 1, 2022. Visit the PaintCare website for information on fees, drop-off locations, and accepted products (they accept stains, varnishes, etc. in addition to paint). See the Town Recycling & Disposal page for more information.

For aerosol paint cans, contact your local waste collection company as some will take them if properly prepared:

County Waste - 518-692-4402
Twin Bridges - 518-267-3400

How do I get rid of a television?

If the TV works:

To donate:

Please contact the location first to ask if they accept TVs
Thrift stores such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity Restores, etc.
Some video game stores accept them; they may have customers looking for old TVs to use with older gaming systems
Schools, school/public libraries, homeless shelters may have a use for them
An online search for " where to donate a TV" should yield some ideas - add your zip code for a customized search

To sell:

Craigslist
Facebook Marketplace
An online search for "where to sell a TV" may offer additional ideas

To recycle:

Please contact the location first to ask if they accept TVs, is there a fee, etc.

Best Buy (for a fee)
Other stores that sell TVs
Capital Region Electronics Recycling - their website has a list of what they accept and additional information, call 518-948-4235
View a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation list of sites that collect Electronic Waste - note that not all are drop-off locations
An online search for "where to recycle a TV" may offer ideas - add your zip code for a customized search

How do I dispose of medications?

Visit the US Food & Drug Administration website for information on where and how to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Visit the DEA's National Drug Take-Back Day website, which includes a search locator for where to drop off medications on that day.

Saratoga County has two disposal boxes for prescription or over-the-counter medications (No needles please!) - one at the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office and one at the Saratoga County Police Station. Disposal is free and is available 24 hours a day. View the Prescription Disposal Boxes Flyer (PDF) for addresses and more information.

Unneeded medications may also be taken to the New York State Police Troop G Headquarters at 760 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110. They have a drop box that can be accessed anytime.

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