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Trash & Recycling
Holiday Delay, Memorial Day
Residents who use the Municipal Trash Collection Program are reminded that there will not be trash & recycling collection on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023. This WILL result in a one-day delay all week for the collection of trash and recycling. Mondays route will be collected on Tuesday, Tuesdays on Wednesday, etc. with Fridays route collected on Saturday.
The Recycling and Compost Center will be OPEN on Saturday, May 27th and CLOSED on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Have a safe holiday.
Trash Program FAQ
Trash Program FAQTrash & Recycling Program Effective July 1, 2023
The current Municipal Refuse Collection contract expires on June 30, 2023. Over the past 6 months, the Board of Health has worked diligently to obtain the most qualified and lowest bidder to service the program beginning July 1, 2023. We have explored all possible options and are committed to providing the residents of Plainville with the most cost effective and comprehensive Municipal Refuse Collection Program. Careful consideration has been given to determine the level of participation, cost effectiveness, alternative options for funding, convenience to the user and the level of service provided. Unfortunately, with a new contract comes new prices. The Board of Health believes that the town-sponsored program offers a better value for most of our residents than private haulers can provide. Below are the most notable program changes that will take effect July 1, 2023.
WHO CAN USE THE MUNICIPAL COLLECTION PROGRAM
The program is available to single-family, two-family and three family-households. Multifamily greater than 3 units, apartment buildings, and large condominium complexes are not included.
Although many other towns force you to pay for the service then request an abatement to not use it, the Plainville trash program has always been an option to residents, and they may choose to use the Municipal collection program or not.
ANNUAL FEE
The annual household collection fee will be as follows: Single-family homes - $410.00, Two-family homes - $820.00, Three-family homes $1,230.00. The annual fee includes weekly curbside collection of recyclables, one full 35-gallon sized trash cart(barrel), one full 64-gallon sized recycling cart (barrel) and one Recycling Center access pass. Payment MUST be received by June 16, 2023, to allow time for the carts to be delivered to your home and service to begin on July 1, 2023. Residents may make a partial payment equal to half the annual fee for service July 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Online payment options are available.
When residents are trying to figure their annual trash costs, they must remember to include the per bag fees. For example:
| Current | New |
Single Family annual fee | $ 174.00 | $410.00 |
One bag per week @$1.50 ea. | $ 78.00 | One bag included |
Total per year | $252.00 | $410.00 |
Increase per year |
| $158.00 |
Increase per month |
| $13.17 |
New cost per month |
| $34.17 |
The Board of Health believes that the town sponsored program for single-family homes offers a better value at $34.17 per month for most of our residents than private haulers.
NEW COLLECTION CARTS
Each paying household will be provided a 35-gallon sized trash cart and a 64-gallon sized recycling cart. The cart will be delivered to your home. No containers other than those provided by the town will be serviced with the automated collection arm. Residents may dispose of their old barrels and recycling bins at the Recycling Center for free.
TRASH - 35-gallon sized cart
Trash that can fit into the town provided 35-gallon cart, with the lid closed, WILL NOT require a trash sticker. The cost for disposal is included in the annual fee. All trash must be bagged. Generally, you can fit two 17-gallon sized kitchen bags into the cart. Trash that does not fit in the cart can be put curbside in an “overflow bag” with a $1.50 trash sticker attached to the neck of the bag, just as you do now. The bag cannot exceed a maximum 35-gallon size and 35-pound weight limit. You may use a 35-gallon maximum sized trash barrel to hold the stickered overflow bag (a barrel is preferred to reduce rodent activity). The “overflow bag” sticker price will not increase; however, it is recommended you do not over buy trash stickers as you may not need as many after July 1, 2023.
RECYCLING - 64-gallon sized cart
All acceptable recyclables that fit into the town provided 64-gallon sized recycling cart will be serviced with the automated collection arm. No containers other than those provided by the town will be collected. If the cart contains unacceptable recycling, it will be rejected. Please refer to the acceptable recycling list or visit https://recyclesmartma.org/. To maximize space in the recycling cart please remember that cardboard can be brought to the Recycling Center on Mondays & Saturdays for no charge, with a valid recycling center pass.
BULKY WASTE
Any non-metal, household item too large to fit in the 35-gallon trash cart or overflow bag is considered bulky waste (does not include mattresses and box springs and some other exceptions may apply). You must call E. L. Harvey & Sons at 800-321-3002 to schedule and pay them directly for collection. Special waste stickers will no longer be required for bulky items. The cost for collection is:
- $25.00 per item that is 4’ x 4’ or smaller and 50 lbs. or less that can be handled by one person;
- $50.00 per item that is over 4’ x 4’ and 75 lbs. or less and can be handled by one person.
- For extra large items call E.L. Harvey for pricing.
MATTRESSES & BOX SPRINGS
You must call a mattresses & box spring recycler to schedule and pay them directly for collection. E.L. Harvey will take them for a fee but there may be more cost-effective options. Please visit the Trash & Recycling website for additional information.
PROGRAM HISTORY
In March of 1998, the Plainville Laidlaw Landfill closed. Up until that time, Laidlaw provided the Town of Plainville, as the host town, with free trash & recycling services. Upon its closure, for the first time, residents had to pay for trash & recycling services when the town initiated a “Pay As You Throw” collection program. That program in the beginning only required $1.25 stickers on trash bags. Those stickers prices increase to $3.00 per bag by June 2000.
In 2001 the program was restructured to include an annual fee for single family homes of $120.00 per year and the bag stickers was reduced back to $1.25 per bag. For 17 years there was not a price increase until 2018 when the annual fee went to $150.00 per year and the bag price to $1.50 per bag. The last increase was in 2022 when the annual fee was increased to $174.00 per year and the sticker price remained the same at $1.50 per bag. It should be noted that at no time was the cost to collect, dispose or recycle included in the tax base.
Download flyer (pdf)
New Trash Program InformationRecycling Center & Compost Area - Spring Hours
April - November
Compost Bins Available
There are limited supplies - visit the Board of Health office to purchase. They cost $35.
See additional information on Compost Bins.
Online Bill Pay
Mattress & Box Springs
Effective immediately the towns trash hauler, EL. Harvey and Sons, will no longer pick up mattresses and box springs as they have been added to the State's "Waste Ban" list.
Some local options include:
Green Mattress Recycling
www.greenmattressco.com
800.837.9611
e-mail: pickup@greenmattressco.com
Tires
Effectively immediately, passenger car tires will cost $5 each, payable in orange $2.50 trash stickers; therefore you will need two stickers. Large tires are not accepted.
Recycling Center & Compost Area Hours
Residents are reminded a current Recycling Center Pass is required for access.
April to November
- Mondays, 8 am to 3 pm
- Saturdays, 8 am to 3 pm
December, January & March
- Mondays, 8 am to 3 pm
- Saturdays, 8 am to 1 pm
Closed the month of February.
Bulky Good Collection
Call EL. Harvey and Sons at 800-321-3002 to schedule a Monday Collection. This service is for those on the Municipal trash program only.
Trash Stickers Available At
Trash stickers may be purchased at the following locations:
- Ava's Market - 80 Taunton Street
- Cumberland Farms - 139 South Street
- Hilltop Stop - 56 Washington Street
- Mobil Fuel Mart - 11 Taunton Street
- Plainville Smoke Shop - 120 South Street
- Shell Gas Station - 10 Taunton Street
- South Liquor Mart - 431 South Street
- Stop and Shop - Taunton Street
Residents may request trash sticker by mail as follows:
Send a standard size (Number 10, 4 1/8-inch by 9 1/2-inch) self-addressed stamped envelope with a check payable to Town of Plainville for the appropriate number of trash stickers requested. Do not include postage in the check. Please include a phone number. Allow 1 week for delivery.
Mail to:
Board of Health
P. O. Box 1717
Plainville, MA 02762
1 to 14 stickers require one $0.55 stamp.
Maximum amount of stickers by mail is 14.
Recycle Smart Massachusetts
Visit this website for information on statewide recycling education. There is also a search tool where residents can search for hundreds of items to find out how to properly manage them.
Recycling Center Closures
The following holidays are the only ones that result in a delay or the recycling center being closed:
- New Years Day
- Memorial Day
- July 4th
- Labor Day,
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
Further Recycling Information
- See a list of what can be recycled curbside
- What do the recycling symbols mean? (PDF)Note: Not everything with a symbol is recyclable curbside
- Recycling is in trouble. Are you part of the problem?
- Massachusetts State Waste Bans - You cannot legally dispose of as trash these items.
Only properly prepared and acceptable recyclables will be collected curbside. Items placed in the recycling bin/container that are not acceptable will result in the bin/container not being emptied. Please visit the town website under "Trash and Recycling", Plainville Curbside Collection, Recyclables Material Preparation" for information on recycling.
Because of high contamination rates, recycling facilities have begun to charge to process recyclables. We are attempting to keep costs at a minimum and appreciate your understanding. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Board of Health office at 508-695-3010, ext. 5.
New Clothing & Textile Recycling Bin Located at the Recycling Center
Trash & Recycling Weather Delay Information
Weather delay information will be posted here and on Plainville Cable channel 11.
Visit the Town home page website to sign up for news and announcements.
If the weather is very snowy, please do not put out your trash and recycling so that it gets either buried by the plows or covered with falling snow.
Please try and place your trash and recycling in a spot that the drivers can reach without climbing high snow banks.
Please make sure recyclables are covered or contained during windy days to prevent blowing material.
The trash and recycling drivers will do their best to make sure the routes are collected on time. However, safety is a priority for the drivers and others on the road.
Severe Weather delays sometimes cannot be posted in advance.