In this section:
- What
should I do if my recycling was not picked up?
- Why
would my recycling be left at the curb?
- What
types of items can I put out in my blue bin
for recycling collection?
- How
do I get a blue bin for recycling?
- What
types of items can I put out for trash pickup?
- When
is yard waste collection and what is accepted?
- I
would like to get rid of some furniture, what
are my options?
- What
should I do with appliances?
- There
are abandoned appliances in the street, how
can we get them picked up?
- How
can I get rid of a computer or television?
- I
can recycle but I cannot carry the blue bin...
- Are
there any exemptions to the recycling program?
1.
What should I do if my recycling was not picked
up?
Recycling must be set out by 7am on your collection
day, or after 6pm the night before.
If there is an orange rejection
sticker on your bin, take note of why
it was rejected and make sure that your recycling
is properly prepared for next week’s pick
up. Click
here for a brochure on guidelines for
proper preparation.
If your recycling was missed, call 617-349-4800
and give the address of the missed pick up. Always
leave us your name and a return phone number.
DPW will schedule pick up with our contractor,
F.W. Russell for the following day.
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2.
Why would my recycling be left at the curb?
There are several common
problems to be aware of in terms of preparing
your recycling for collection. Please avoid these
common problems to ensure pickup of your recycling:
- No Plastic Bags for Paper
and Containers
The recycling processing plant does not accept
plastic bags. Most plastic bags (#2) can be
brought to your local grocery store for recycling
and also to the Recycling
Drop-Off Center.
- No Plastic Bags for Yard
Waste
Plastic bags will not decompose with your leaf
and yard waste. Please note that rubbish or
recycling crews will not pick up yard waste
in plastic bags. Click
here for proper yard waste preparation
instructions.
- Do Not Mix Paper and Containers
The recycling truck has two separate
compartments for paper and containers and they
are ultimately sorted in two separate areas
at the recycling processing plant. Keep
papers and containers separate.
- Unflattened and/or Large
Cardboard
Cardboard
that is longer than 3 feet by 3 feet will not
fit in the recycling truck and unflattened cardboard
causes the truck to fill up too quickly since
the material is not compacted.
- Dirty (Contaminated) Recyclables
Containers that are not rinsed out and
paper/cardboard with food waste can contaminate
the rest of the truckload and result in additional
processing costs.
- No Dirt, Rocks or Large
Tree Limbs for Yard Waste
You must call a private hauler for these
materials.
- Heavy Barrel or Bag of
Yard Waste
Our drivers cannot lift heavy barrels or bags
of yard waste. Usually heavy yard waste set-outs
contain large amounts of wet leaves, excessive
amounts of soil on roots, and so forth. Please
divide this material into two bags or barrels
and put it out for collection on your next collection
day.
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3.
What types of items can I put out in my blue bin
for recycling collection?
Curbside recyclable items include paper
(newspaper, magazines, phone books, mixed paper,
beverage containers, drink boxes, paperboard –
place in a paper bags or bundled with a string);
cardboard
(flattened and cut 3’ x 3’ or smaller);
and glass,
metal and plastic containers (foil,
aluminum pie trays, aerosol cans, all colors of
glass, milk, water and juice jugs, plastic containers
#1-#7 – rinse out containers). No plastic
bags. Papers and containers must be kept separate.
For more information visit the links below:
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4.
How do I get a blue bin for recycling?
Bins can be picked up at Public Works, 147 Hampshire
St in the reception area during regular business
hours Monday 8:30-8pm, Tuesday through Thursday
8:30-5pm and Friday 8:30am-noon, or at the Recycling
Drop-Off Center in the rear of 147 Hampshire Street
on Tuesdays & Thursday from 4:00pm –
7:30pm and on Saturdays from 9:00am-4:00pm. Click
here for bin deliveries to your residence.
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5. What
types of items can I put out for trash pickup?
All household trash not presently being picked
up at curbside for recycling (recyclable items
include glass, metal, & plastic containers,
paper, cardboard, & yard waste). We also do
not pick up household
hazardous waste (paint, chemicals,
fluorescent bulbs, tires, car batteries). Alkaline
batteries are safe to dispose with household trash.
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6. When
is yard waste collection and what is accepted?
Yard waste is collected late spring to early
winter. Yard waste must be set out by 7am on your
collection day, or as early as 6pm the day before.
Place the following yard waste materials in 30-gallon
paper refuse bags or barrels labeled with yard
waste stickers: leaves, grass, plants, shrub prunings
and twigs – thinner than your thumb and
shorter than your arm. Do not include food, soil,
rocks, tree limbs, or trash. Yard waste is not
accepted in plastic bags and will not be picked
up by rubbish or recycling crews. Call 349-4800
for stickers
and exact collection dates.
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7. I would
like to get rid of some furniture, what are my
options?
Help us reduce waste and encourage reuse by
donating furniture in good condition. Click
here for more information. Public Works
will pick up one piece of furniture per week i.e.
soft mattress and boxspring, wood filing cabinet,
chair, small sofa, carpet (must be rolled up,
tied and cut in 5’ lengths, no more than
3 bundles per week) etc. on your regularly scheduled
trash day.
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8. What
should I do with appliances?
Help us reduce waste and encourage reuse by
donating working appliances. Click
here for more information. The following
items require a sticker for recycling removal:
dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers,
air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, refrigerators,
metal desks and filing cabinets. Stickers can
be purchased for $20 ($15 for seniors) at Public
Works, 147 Hampshire Street, during regular business
hours Monday 8:30-8pm, Tuesday through Thursday
8:30-5pm and Friday 8:30am-noon.
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9. There
are abandoned appliances in the street, how can
we get them picked up?
Please call the DPW Switchboard at 349-4800
or 349-4846 and report the location and type of
appliance.
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10.
How can I get rid of a computer or television?
Help us reduce waste and encourage reuse by
donating your working computer and/or television.
Click
here for more information. Non-working
monitors or televisions with a diagonal screen
length more than 20” require a sticker for
recycling removal. Stickers can be purchased for
$20 ($15 for seniors) at Public Works, 147 Hampshire
St during regular business hours Monday 8:30-8pm,
Tuesday through Thursday 8:30-5pm and Friday 8:30am-noon.
Residents and City-served trash customers may
place one computer monitor or television (with
a diagonal screen length 20” or smaller)
per week at the curb for recycling on the regular
rubbish collection day. Hard drives and keyboards
are also accepted.
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