Waste Collection Fee Program

On January 4, 2016, November 19, 2018, December 16, 2019, and November 16, 2020, the City amended Albany City Code § 313-3 to charge an ANNUAL, January to December, waste collection fee (WCF) on all residential homes of four units or less, including single family homes. The yearly $90 fee covers all waste collection pickup (i.e., solid waste; see more information on the General Services page).

Starting in 2021, the WCF will be billed directly on the property tax bills.  All delinquent 2019 ($140 per unit) and 2020 ($90 per unit) WCFs were added to the 2021 tax bills with no additional late charges.  The City eliminated the $50 late fee for non-payment of the WCF in 2020.  Late fees for the WCF are now the same as the late fees for non-payment of property taxes (4% in February after property taxes are due, and 1% per month thereafter). If you did not pay your 2021 tax bill and thus your 2019-21 WCF charges, these delinquent 2019-21 WCFs were re-levied as a tax and added to your 2022 tax bill with delinquent charges.  No 2019-21 WCF charges can be removed from a tax bill under any circumstances.

Fees

This fee is per unit. Therefore, the charge for a single family home is $90, a two family property is $180, a three family property is $270, and a four family property is $360 per year. It offsets a part of the cost of curbside garbage collection generated by people living in those units and will be reevaluated annually.

Questions

If you have any questions, the Department of Buildings & Regulatory Compliance and the Treasurer's office is happy to answer them.  You may send an e-mail to or call 518-434-5036.  You are also welcome to view the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about the fee and how it will operate.

Contact

If you have any questions about the status of your Residential Occupancy Permit (ROP) or as a Vacant Building on the Vacant Building Registry, contact:

  • Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance
    200 Henry Johnson Boulevard
    Albany, NY 12210
  • Phone 518-434-5165
  • Fax 518-434-6015
  • Email

If you have questions about your WCF bill or your exemptions, contact:
Treasurer's Office
City Hall
24 Eagle Street
Room 109
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: 518-434-5035
Email