Make your own FREE COMPOST and have HEALTHIER SOIL in only 10 MINUTES per week while REDUCING WASTE for just $70. Click here to order yours today!
Medication TakeBack
Unused or expired medications can be brought to any of the seven Medication Drop Boxes in Putnam County. Acceptable items include prescription, over-the-counter, and pet medications.
Syringes, sharps, and lancets are NOT acceptable. These items can be brought to any hospital or nursing home in New York State. Please call the facility prior to bringing any items for disposal.
Medication Drop Boxes can be found in each town:
Carmel Town Hall
60 McAlpin Avenue
Mahopac, New York 10541
Open M-F 8:30am to 4:30pm
Kent Police Department
25 Sybilâs Crossing
Kent, NY
Open 24/7
The Kern Building
(Lower Floor of Dept. of Health Building)
1 Geneva Road
Brewster, NY
Open M-F 8:30am to 4:00pm
Patterson Town Hall
1142 Route 311
Patterson, New York 12563
Open M-F 9:00am to 4:00pm
Philipstown
Town Hall
238 Main Street
Cold Spring, NY
M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Putnam County Sheriffâs Department
3 County Center
Carmel, NY
Open 24/7
Putnam Valley Town Hall
265 Oscawana Lake Road
Putnam Valley, NY
Open M-F 8:00am to 4:00pm
Medication Take Back events are held twice a year on the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. They take place in the Spring and Fall and are done in conjunction with the Prevention Council of Putnam and the Putnam County Sheriffâs Department. Details for the next event will be available soon.
Hazardous Waste Cleanup
Putnam County hosts two Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Days each year, typically the first weekends of May and October at the Canopus Beach Parking Lot at Fahnestock State Park. Check back soon for 2023 dates!
What to Bring:
-
Photo Chemicals
-
Non-latex driveway sealer
-
Pool Chemicals
-
Creosote
-
Waste Fuels (Kerosene, Gasoline, oil mixtures, brake fluid, antifreeze, auto fluids)
-
Flammable liquids(Lighter Fluids)
-
Metal polish
-
Drain/oven cleaners
-
Rug/upholstery cleaners
-
Wood Preservatives
-
Turpentine
-
Stains & Varnishes
-
Paint Thinners & Strippers
-
Wood Preservatives
-
Mothballs
-
Rodent poisons
-
Flea powders & collars
-
Bug spray
-
Nail polish remover, hair dye & hair sprays
-
Pesticides(Bactericides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides)
-
Chemical Fertilizers
-
Adhesives, Resins, Solvents
-
Oil-based & Latex paints
-
Mercury containing products
-
Button cell batteries(from watches, hearing aids) non-rechargeable only
-
Fluorescent light bulbs & tubes
-
Hand sanitizer (methanol tainted)
What NOT to Bring:
-
Electronics, Computers, VCR’s (e-waste)
-
Used motor oil
-
Plastic bags
-
Tires
-
Unlabeled/unidentified containers
-
Household batteries(AAA, AA, C, D, 9V)
-
Rechargeable batteries, , sealed lead acid batteries
-
Fire Extinguishers
-
Propane Tanks
-
Ammunition, explosives, fireworks
-
Asbestos products
-
Construction debris
-
Furniture, toys or clothing
-
Smoke Detectors
-
Medical waste, old medications
-
NO COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ITEMS
-
ITEMS IN GARBAGE AND/OR LAWN BAGS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
All waste is subject to inspection and will only be accepted in the County’s discretion. Please be advised that if any not accepted items as specified above are brought and are determined to present a hazard to residents, workers or the environment, Putnam County reserves the right to take any necessary safety measures, the cost of which shall be the resident’s responsibility.
Electronics Recycling
Each town in Putnam County has their own electronics recycling program. Please check with your town for additional information.
Old or broken electronics can also be brought to Best Buy or Staples for recycling. For items that still work, consider a trade-in program, selling or donating the item.
Litter Cleanup
Litter clean-ups are an opportunity for residents to assist in efforts to keep Putnam County roadways clean. Most importantly, these clean-ups should be done in a safe manner and only on county or town roads.
For information about a conducting a safe and successful litter clean-up event, please read:
Safety Checklist for a Litter Clean-up Event
- Immediately call 911 when an emergency happens.
- Never walk on guide rails.
- NO HORSEPLAY
- Stay off the underside of overhead bridges.
- Do not lean over bridge railings.
- Always face on-coming traffic.
- Do not to park vehicles on roadways or shoulders.
- All must always wear orange shirts or vests.
- Wear long pants, sturdy shoes/boots, and appropriate gloves.
- Never pick up needles, syringes, jagged glass, animal carcasses or heavy objects. Volunteers are not to pick up anything that could be hazardous.
- All 12-to-17-year-old volunteers must be supervised; there must be at least one adult supervisor for every six 12-to-17-year-olds.
- There will be no activity of any kind by volunteers on the roadway surface. Stay to the left of the white pavement stripe.
- Do not engage in horseplay or other such activity that might jeopardize the volunteers’ safety or distract motorists.
- Volunteers should have a first aid kit with them, and transportation should always be available.
- At least one volunteer at each cleanup should know CPR in case there is an emergency.
- Volunteers should avoid over exertion and make arrangements to provide drinking water in hot weather.
Tips for a Successful Litter Clean-up Event
- The day before the cleanup, take 2 backpacks and individually stuff as many orange bags as you can into each backpack (individually vs. all together is very important). The backpacks will allow the volunteers to just pull out additional bags as they walk along.
NOTE: having one hand for the litter grabber and the other for the bag does not allow volunteers to carry the additional bags…the 40″ X 48″ bags are thick and are just too big to put over one’s belt. There will generally be 18 -24 bags used per mile.
- Bring a fully charged cell phone, gloves, and wet wipes. Hiking shoes will give more support than sneakers.
To keep the volunteers from slowing each other downâŠ
- Everyone meet at a place approximately in the middle of your section.
- Split the group in half.
- Each group to walk (WALKING FACING TRAFFIC) along your section heading in opposite directions.
- When the 2 groups get to the respective ends your section (where the Adopt-a-Highway signs are), they are then to carefully cross the road and walk back to the place where they parted with the other group WALKING FACING TRAFFIC.
- Splitting the groups means that each will only have to walk 1/2 the distance and they will not bunch up.
Fill the bags only 2/3 please, as the crews have to lift them over their heads into the back of a truck. As the bags get 2/3 filled, tie the tops and leave them alongside the road. If you find a large object, just put that on top of the orange bag.
The Putnam County Department of Health has a limited supply of litter grabbers and safety vests for residents to borrow. If you are interested in borrowing this equipment or would like to request orange trash bags for a clean-up, please contact recycling program staff at 845-808-1390 or at putnamrecycles@putnamcountyny.gov.
TOWN CONTACTS
Curbside garbage and recycling programs are managed by each of the towns in Putnam County. For more information about your program, including pickup schedules, please contact your town.
For more information about what can and cannot go in your recycle bin, please visit Recycle Right NY
Town of CarmelÂ
845-628-1500 ext.184
Town of Kent
845-306-5620
Lake Carmel Sanitation District
845-225-7030
Town of Patterson
845-878-4341
Town of Philipstown
845-265-3329
Village of Cold Spring
845-265-4883
Town of Putnam Valley
845-526-9114
Town of Southeast (including the Village of Brewster)
845-279-8206
The above email is only monitored during normal business hours from Monday through Friday. Complaints on garbage haulers will not be addressed at this email address. To file a complaint, please call the Department of Health directly at 845-808-1390.