Cardboard Recycling in Buffalo, NY

Flatten and break down cardboard for Buffalo’s green recycling tote.

See all 2 options

Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

2 ways to get rid of a cardboard in Buffalo

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · BuffaloNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
How it works
Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.
Book a pickup →
City of Buffalo curbside bulk trash and recyclingCity service · BuffaloBuffalo residentsCost not listed
How it works
Weekly curbside collection for properties paying the Residential User Fee: up to three bulk items a week beside the garbage tote (each no larger than 12 x 3 x 3 ft), plus green-tote recycling. TVs, computers, tires, construction debris and hazardous waste are not allowed at the curb. Extra pickups: Pick and Pay through 311, from $150.
Cost & rules
- Before you go: Flatten and break down cardboard.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.

More about cardboard

New York rules

DEC describes standard home recycling programs as covering glass, metal, plastic, paper and cardboard; check local guidance for what your program accepts. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Resources (opens in new tab)
The source-separation components towns must require include paper, glass, metals, plastics and garden and yard waste. Source: NY General Municipal Law 120-AA: Source separation and segregation of recyclable or reuseable materials (opens in new tab)

More New York rules (7)

Household hazardous wastes are household materials that would be regulated as hazardous waste if generated elsewhere; household-generated HHW is exempt from state and federal hazardous waste rules. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
Residents can take HHW to authorized HHW collection facilities or HHW collection events hosted by counties and municipalities; DEC has a map and list of permitted facilities. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
If there is no permitted facility nearby, check with your municipality for periodic one- or two-day HHW collection events. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
The state Environmental Protection Fund can pay up to 50 percent of the cost of municipal HHW collection programs. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
General Municipal Law 120-aa required every municipality, by September 1, 1992, to adopt a local law requiring source separation of recyclables (paper, glass, metals, plastics, yard waste) where economic markets exist. Source: NY General Municipal Law 120-AA: Source separation and segregation of recyclable or reuseable materials (opens in new tab)
DEC tells residents to check local guidance to see which items their program accepts. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Resources (opens in new tab)
DEC lists New York collection programs for items that belong outside the recycling bin: beverage containers, carpet, cell phones, e-waste, lead-acid vehicle batteries, mercury thermostats, paint, pharmaceuticals, plastic film, rechargeable batteries and tires. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling and Composting (opens in new tab)

Where this information comes from (11)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Household hazardous wastes are household materials that would be regulated as hazardous waste if generated elsewhere; household-generated HHW is exempt from state and federal hazardous waste rules. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Residents can take HHW to authorized HHW collection facilities or HHW collection events hosted by counties and municipalities; DEC has a map and list of permitted facilities. Checked October 26, 2026.
- If there is no permitted facility nearby, check with your municipality for periodic one- or two-day HHW collection events. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The state Environmental Protection Fund can pay up to 50 percent of the cost of municipal HHW collection programs. Checked October 26, 2026.
NY General Municipal Law 120-AA: Source separation and segregation of recyclable or reuseable materials (opens in new tab) · New York State Senate (Open Legislation)
- General Municipal Law 120-aa required every municipality, by September 1, 1992, to adopt a local law requiring source separation of recyclables (paper, glass, metals, plastics, yard waste) where economic markets exist. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The source-separation components towns must require include paper, glass, metals, plastics and garden and yard waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
NYSDEC: Recycling Resources (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- DEC describes standard home recycling programs as covering glass, metal, plastic, paper and cardboard; check local guidance for what your program accepts. Checked October 26, 2026.
- DEC tells residents to check local guidance to see which items their program accepts. Checked October 26, 2026.
NYSDEC: Recycling and Composting (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- DEC lists New York collection programs for items that belong outside the recycling bin: beverage containers, carpet, cell phones, e-waste, lead-acid vehicle batteries, mercury thermostats, paint, pharmaceuticals, plastic film, rechargeable batteries and tires. Checked October 26, 2026.
City of Buffalo: Streets / Sanitation (Garbage Rules) (opens in new tab) · City of Buffalo Department of Public Works, Parks & Streets
- Curbside service, including weekly bulk items, is for each property that pays a Residential User Fee. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Recycling goes in the green tote; cardboard must be flattened and broken down. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

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