U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day August 26

Photo of sign that reads "Household Hazardous Waste" with a directional arrow underneath; a bright orange DPW truck is visible in the background.

The third of four Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days in 2023 will be on Saturday, August 26, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., at 65 Waverly Street. Please enter the event via Waverly St at Brookline St. This event is for Cambridge residents only.

If you have no proof of residency or are property manager bringing more than 25 pounds or 25 gallons from a Cambridge residential building, please email recycle@cambridgema.gov in advance.
The City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) and Cambridge Police will be on site to help with traffic. For worker safety and hazardous waste containment, only staff should handle hazardous waste. So that we can accommodate all residents, please take into consideration these tips:

  • Please leave items that you do NOT wish to dispose of at home.
  • Staff will collect waste from the trunk of your car or the bed of your pickup truck ONLY. If you have items that are too bulky for the trunk, please notify staff upon arrival.
  • Residents should NOT exit their vehicle for any reason at any point during the event.
  • Bins, buckets, boxes, etc. will NOT be returned. For example, do not place the bottle of motor oil in a bin you wish to keep. Place the bottle directly in the trunk.
  • If you are walking or biking, there will be a station for you to safely drop‐off items. Before entering the site, please ask a Cambridge Police officer or DPW employee for help.

Accepted items include:

  • Batteries: Vehicle & Non-Alkaline
  • Car Fluids: Antifreeze, Brake, Engine Degreaser, Transmission
  • Car Tires (max four per household)
  • Chemicals: Cleaners, Glues, Removers, Photography & Swimming Pool
  • Fluorescent Light Bulbs
  • Mercury Items: Thermometers & Thermostats
  • Paints: Oil-Based & Latex
  • Poisons: Insecticides, Pesticides & Weed Killers
  • Prescription Medicines (accepted year-round at Cambridge Police Dept. 125 Sixth St.)
  • Propane Cylinders (20 lbs. or less only)
  • Waste Fuels: Antifreeze, Gasoline, Kerosene, Sterno & Motor Oil
  • Fire Extinguishers

Items not accepted include:

  • NO Alkaline Batteries (Trash)
  • NO Ammunition, Fireworks & Explosives (call Police Explosive Ordinance Unit at 617-349-3300)
  • NO Asbestos (requires proper disposal)
  • NO Bleach or Ammonia
  • NO Commercial/Industrial Waste
  • NO Construction Debris
  • NO Empty Aerosol Cans
  • NO Compressed Gas Cylinders
  • NO Infectious or Biological Waste
  • NO Radioactive Waste
  • NO Smoke Detectors (Trash)
  • NO Syringes (Contact Cambridge Public Health Department at 617-665-3848)

Other places in Cambridge accept some items listed above. You can set out dried out cans of latex paint for curbside trash collection, with the lids off. Let evaporate outside or add kitty litter to speed drying.

During open hours, the Recycling Center at 147 Hampshire accepts:

  • Non-alkaline batteries,
  • Fluorescent bulbs,
  • Mercury items
  • Motor oil

The Recycling Center is open: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4PM-7:30PM, Saturdays 9AM-4PM.

Learn more at Cambridgema.gov/hazardouswaste.


Page was posted on 8/14/2023 11:45 AM
Page was last modified on 8/17/2023 12:18 PM
Contact Us

How can we help?

Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:

As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.

Read our complete privacy statement


Service Requests

Enter a service request via SeeClickFix for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here