Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center in
East Ithaca (NY)

I can't believe I'm raving about a recycling center, but this is one of the best we've ever used. We've lived in a lot of states and they do a great job keeping things efficient!

Joyful and helpful people abound in this place… I LOVE going here. How could a place full of detritus be so delightful?! I can’t explain it, but I think it has to do with all of the wonderful folks who work here and make it lovely. You’re coming to a place full of trash, yet you enjoy the experience. That says a lot! I wish I could give more than 5 stars!

I had heavy metal poles from an old laundry line which would have been difficult for me to drag out of my car. Gordon came right up and asked if he could help--then he did all the work. Thank you, Gordon!

I am so tired of finding my bins in the road.

Wonderful staff! Friendly and helpful. We appreciate his help on recycling the mower

To the man with the glasses at the metal and electronic station. I salute you buddy. You always make my day when I go to the dump. You have such a great attitude and I can tell You like people and love your job. You are always wanting to help and have a smile on your face. Keep at it bud I hope they treat you good.

Closes way too early. It's like they don't want you to go. And slow as hell too. Ywo weeks to process an order for a punch ticket? And don’t go o the office to get something. Your clothes will go in and out of style while you wait. Seriously badly run pile of good intentions.

You have to go through a bit of a rigmarole if it’s your first time since you need to purchase a permit, but once you’ve done that everything is pretty straightforward. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the facility is very nice and easy to navigate. Definitely one of my most positive dump-related experiences.

Many of the attendants at the Center are very helpful and just nice to work with. My only complaint is that few offer to help unload and another few refuse to help when asked. I understand that it may not be in their job description anymore and, in fact, they may not be allowed to help. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that too many of them got injured while helping and had to leave the job or collect worker's compensation, and therefore the rules changed.

I had an SUV load of trash from my kitchen remodel. I bought a window sticker from the office there and a $15 ticket to unload my SUV into their easy to access trash bin. Easy as pie. It was a weekday so no crowd.

Having purchased my last permit here in 2020, I just discovered today that as of 2022 they introduced a 200% increase to permit pricing, which is absolute insanity. They tried to hide this increase by reducing the duration of permits from 3 years to 1 year while keeping the price the same as it was for the 3 year. Not only is this wildly inconvenient for people who use the facility frequently, it's also a MASSIVE price increase. This was done around the same time that they started charging 25% more for punch cards and stopped taking plastic bags and films. I get it, things got more expensive, but if you need to drastically increase the price of permits, at the very least don't make is so inconvenient by lowering the duration they are good for on top of reducing the functionality of the facility. We already pay way too much to live in this county to get nickle and dimed like this on the few services that make it worthwhile.

I don't know how they expect a working people to get their garbage down there unless they give up half a day on the weekend. They should have at least one night a week with later hours so that people that work during the day have the opportunity to get rid of their garbage on their way home from work. Closing it 3:30 is useless. The staff however is amazing that work there they're so happy and very helpful

Very nice 👍

Good place to take a dump

Well run place

Quick, organized, and friendly.

The recycling truck didn't pick up my recyclables today. Called the office to ask why. The female receptionist was less than helpful with a defensive attitude. Assuming the reason was there was a small build up of snow on the bins, though I'll never be certain. This is January and it does snow so if that's the reason, we are all doomed by incompetence and unprofessionalism. The woman took my number, stated she would ask the driver, and get back to me. Never called me back. Which is just as upsetting as the initial complaint. Also, they used to call with a recorded message when there was a holiday delay in pick up, but they don't even do that anymore. I guess I can just dump my recyclables in the trash. Thanks Tompkins County.

Yard waste dumping site is located right next to scrap metal dump location so cross your fingers you don't get a flat tire when backing in to off load. I got a flat tire on my truck and trailer! You have to turn and face on coming traffic in order to back up and dump in the yard waste bin extremely hazardous especially with a trailer. They have plenty of space at this facility to put the yard waste site in a more wide open location. I would give one star but most of the employees are friendly so I will give two stars.

Very friendly and accommodating staff. Office visit for permits and tags can be long, but again friendly. Disappointed they no longer take plastic films, and are now charging for yard waste.

I have an old bicycle, I was hoping they could collect instead of scrapping it. Bike still had many usable parts.

Went on a Tuesday morning. Pretty empty. Nice people and good signage on where to go. Relatively clean dumping areas for winter and slush. If the price seems slightly high, it's because of how easy/safe it is do drop your materials/items.

Always friendly helpful staff there.

The staff is great. Hardest part is getting around small cars with a dump trailer.

They do not call back or respond when trying to get the Casella people to do their job right. They refuse to pick up after themselves and make a mess of our roads and properties.

Pretty good place to eat. But it's a little dirty

The staff are always very helpful and friendly for what many would consider a thankless job. Keep up the good work! 👍

Always easy in and out.