Click for 2013 Flyer 

Recycling Containers 

Beginning August 1, 2012, the District will no longer distribute recycling containers. District residents may choose any of the following options for their recycling:

     1) Use or purchase any container clearly marked with the recycling symbol

     2) Receive a free recycling sticker from the Town of North Hempstead to utilize
         a plain, unmarked container 

     3) Purchase a recycling container from the Town of North Hempstead 


 Recycle Your Electronic Waste!  

E-waste (computers, TV's, printers, monitors, cell phones, and other electronics) is now being accepted at the Resident Drop-Off Center on Shore Rd. at no charge to Town residents.  E-waste is a growing environmental concern as many components are considered toxic and are not biodegradable. Please help us keep this material out of the waste stream and properly recycled by bringing your old or broken electronics to the Resident Drop-off Center.  The Drop-Off Center is open on Sundays from 7:30 to 3:30. Go to www.northhempstead.com and click on 'Solid Waste Management Authority' for more information.   

 What the District Does  

The core responsibility of the Port Washington Garbage District is to provide the residents and merchants within the district's boundaries with collection and disposal of refuse and recyclables. The District performs these services by hiring a third party contractor via a competitive bidding process. In addition, the District monitors the performance of the contractor over the life of the contract.   

 Who Pays For It  

You, as property owners, pay for the operations of the District through your taxes. The District produces a budget each year, from which the tax rate is calculated. The taxes are levied by the Town of North Hempstead with the proceeds then passed on to the District to pay for operations. We are happy to report that the District received an excellent report in a 2005 audit by County Controller Weitzman. The Port Washington Garbage District had the lowest cost per parcel of all Districts audited. In some cases, the cost per parcel in Port Washington was less than half the cost in other Districts. Property taxes have been a significant issue on Long Island for many years and we are doing our part to keep your taxes low.   According to the audit, the monthly garbage collection and disposal cost per parcel is less than $23 -- you probably spend more on morning coffee. The cost is low for two reasons: the District insists on a truly competitive bidding process; and 2) the District keeps administrative costs low by maintaining NO employees. All functions are performed by the three Commissioners. According to the County audit, only 2% of the District expenses are for administrative costs.  

 Enforcement  

Enforcement of trash and recycling regulations is strictly the purview of the Port Washington Police Dept.and the Town of North Hempstead Division of Code Enforcement. Garbage District commissioners may issue warnings, but have no authority to directly impose fines.

If you believe you see a code violation, please call:

   Town of North Hempstead Division of Code Enforcement - Dial 311 

In addition, please call the Port Washington Garbage District at 883-4447. We need to be aware of problems to be sure a resolution is achieved.  

 Governance

Three elected Commissioners, who have staggered three-year terms, govern the District. One of the three Commissioner positions is up for election each year. Special District elections are held on the second Tuesday in December and are generally held at the Polish American Hall at 5 Pulaski Place, off Valley Rd. Click here for a map.We recommend that you check the location as each election approaches as this location may be subject to change.