Recyclable Material Preparation

All material must be curbside by 7 am on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Recycling Collection General Information

All acceptable recyclables that fit into the town provided 64-gallon sized recycling cart. No containers other than those provided by the town will be collected. IF the cart contains unacceptable, it will be rejected. Please refer to the acceptable recycling list or visit RecycleSmartMA.org. To maximize space in the recycling cart, please remember that cardboard and Styrofoam can be brought to the Recycling Center on Mondays and Saturdays for no charge with a valid recycling center pass. 

All paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and metal bottles, cans, jars and jugs may be placed in the same container. You do not have to separate paper and cardboard from co-mingled (glass, plastic and metal). Only the material listed as acceptable recyclables will be collected curbside. All other items must be disposed of as trash or recycling in other ways.

Please help to keep cost down and only recycle acceptable materials and avoid contamination.

Recyclables and trash are collected on the same day at the same time with a co-collection vehicle.

Visit Recycle Smart to use the Recyclopedia to search specific items. 


What to Recycle How to PrepareUnacceptable

Paper:

  • Newspaper and inserts
  • Magazines and Catalogs
  • Paper and stationery (all colors)
  • Paper Cups (Hot and cold)
  • Office paper, folders
  • Telephone Books
  • Paperboard (e.g. cereal, pasta, tissue boxes)
  • Junk mail and envelopes (windows ok)
  • Place in recycling bin
  • Place in paper bags (no plastic bags)
  • Newspaper can be tied and bundled
  • No plastic bags
  • No soiled cardboard (paint, motor oil residue, etc.)
  • No paper towels, napkins, tissues, or plates
  • No wax or foil-coated items (milk or juice cartons)
  • No shredded paper
  • No hardcover books (-off available)
  • No black take-out containers (Clear, white, and lighter-colored okay)
Corrugated cardboard    
  • Cardboard must be flattened
  • Cardboard must be no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet
  • No soiled cardboard (paint, motor oil residue)
  • No larger than 2 feet by 2 feet (drop-off available)
Glass  -  Bottles and Jars only 
  • Rinse clean
  • Remove lids and corks
  • Labels and rings are OK
  • No broken glass
  • No lightbulbs, Pyrex, ceramics
  • No mirrors, windows or auto glass
  • No drinking glasses, vases
  • No plate glass

Plastic  -  Bottles, jars and jugs only

  • Used for beverages, food, kitchen, laundry, bath, household products, etc.
  • Rinse clean
  • Labels are OK
  • No plastic bags, plastic wrap
  • No motor oil/chemical containers
  • No Styrofoam or foam containers (meat trays, Styrofoam cups, etc)
  • No packaging peanuts
  • No flowerpots, toys, laundry baskets
  • No take-out containers
  • No plastic plates, cups, utensils, straws, etc.
Metal Cans  -  Aluminum and Metal food and beverage cans, lids
  • Rinse clean
  • Labels are OK
  • Flatten or nest for room
  • No metal item that is not a can
  • No paint or solvent cans
  • No aerosol cans
  • No scrap metal (drop-off available) 
  • No propane tanks (drop-off available)

Unacceptable Materials

All material that is listed in the above charts as unacceptable (except for items that have drop-off available) should be disposed of as trash

Items for which drop-off is available should be brought to the Recycling Center at the Highway Garage.