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Recycling

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1. How do I dispose a television or computer monitor?

You may purchase a $30 Appliance/TV sticker at the DPW.  Our hauler will provide a curbside pickup once a month (the first Thursday of each month); these stickers are available only at the DPW.  

2. There was a holiday this week - will my trash pickup be delayed a day?

Yes; when there is a holiday, trash pickup is delayed one day. Friday pickups will be made on Saturday.

3. How do I properly dispose of paint?

Depending upon whether it’s latex or oil-based paints, there are different disposal methods: To properly dispose of latex paint, simply leave the lid off the can and let the paint dry up. Or, you can also add kitty litter or Speedy Dry to accelerate the process. Then, you may dispose of it in your regular trash. To properly dispose of oil-based paints, you must wait until the DPW holds it’s Household Hazardous Waste Day, which is usually held the last Saturday in September.

4. How do I properly dispose of batteries?

Depending upon which type of battery you have, there are different methods of properly disposing - DISPOSING OF GENERAL PURPOSE & ALKALINE BATTERIES: Alkaline batteries can be safely disposed of with normal household waste. Due to concerns about mercury in the municipal solid waste stream, manufacturers have voluntarily eliminated all of the added mercury from alkaline batteries since 1993. Alkaline batteries are composed primarily of common metals — steel, zinc, and manganese — and do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal. It is important not to dispose of large amounts of alkaline batteries in a group. Used batteries are often not completely ’dead’. Grouping used batteries together can sometimes bring these ’live’ batteries into contact with one another, creating safety risks. Proven cost-effective and environmentally safe recycling processes are not yet universally available for alkaline batteries. RECYCLING BATTERIES WITH OTHER CHEMISTRIES: Due to the chemicals in some batteries, you should recycle rechargeable, lithium, lithium ion, and zinc air batteries. In addition to “traditional” rechargeable batteries like AA or AAA, rechargeable batteries like the ones found in everyday household items such as cameras, cell phones, laptops, and power tools should also be recycled. Look for the battery recycling seals on rechargeable batteries. These types of batteries can be brought to the DPW and Home Depot for disposal.

5. How do I dispose of something that does not fit in the City issued trash bags?

To dispose of an item that does not fit in the City issued trash bag, you will need to purchase a $10 Bulk Item Sticker. These may be purchased at The Building Center, Stop & Shop, and also the DPW. Examples of some of the types of items used with Bulk Item Stickers include: furniture, plastic cased vacuum cleaners, mattresses, rugs, entertainment centers, toilets.

6. What day is trash pick up on my street?

Please see the Trash Pick Up by Street page. There is a complete listing of all city streets and their respective pick up days.

7. When is the next Household Hazardous Waste Day?

Household Hazardous Waste Day is typically held once annually and is typically held on the last Saturday in September.

8. My trash and/or recycling was missed, what do I do?

Please call JRM Hauling & Recycling directly at (800) 323-4285 or the DPW at (978) 325-5600.

9. What type of metal is accepted at monthly metal recycling days?

Metal items that are at least 80% metal are generally acceptable; these include bicycles, water heaters, tools, washers, dryers, dishwashers, file cabinets, metal chairs, and gas grills (without the propane tanks).

THE DPW CANNOT ACCEPT: PROPANE TANKS OR ANY ITEM CONTAINING FREON SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONERS, REFRIGERATORS, OR DEHUMIDIFIERS

10. What type of items are accepted during the monthly Automotive Recycling?

We can accept two tires (without rims), oil filters, car batteries, and clean motor oil (cannot be contaminated). We use the motor oil to heat the DPW garage.

11. Can I use a regular trash barrel with a cover for my recycling?

Yes. The trash barrel must be 50 gallons or less and be clearly marked with recycling stickers (stickers are available at no charge from the DPW).

12. What type of items can be placed in my recycle bin?

Tin foil, tin cans (it's helpful to remove the label but is not required), plastic milk cartons, and laundry detergent bottles, all plastic bottles (even with the collars on) and all clear and colored glass (as long as it isn't broken). Caps can stay. If you see the numbers 1 - 7, you may place in the recycle bin.

13. How many recycling bins can I put out? Is there a limit?

There is no limit to the number of recycling bins you can put out.

14. How do I get a recycling bin?

They are available at the DPW. There is no charge for the first bin - additional bins are available for $5 each.

15. My recycle bin was lost or stolen, what should I do?

You may purchase a replacement bin at the DPW for $5.00.

16. Can I put styrofoam in my recycle bin?

Unfortunately, no. Styrofoam is to be disposed of as trash even though you may see recycle numbers stamped on it.

17. I put plastic lawn furniture out with my recycling and they did not take it, why?

At the present time, rigid plastics such as lawn furniture and outdoor toys, such as Little Tykes slides and play sets are not accepted at the facility that our recyclables are taken to. To dispose of these types of items, a $10 Bulk Item Sticker is required. You may stack 4 of the stackable lawn chairs out with one sticker. 

18. How do I dispose of furniture?

To dispose of furniture with your curbside rubbish, you can purchase a $10 Bulk Item Sticker; affix the sticker to the item and put it out on your regular trash day. You may also donate your clean furniture to Second Glance on Pond Road. Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., They also offer a pickup service by appointment. All proceeds from the sale of donations go to the Open Door Food Pantry which services all of Cape Ann. Call (978) 283-4298 for more information.

19. Where do my recyclables go after pick-up?

Massachusetts has seven recycling processing facilities that sort and bale over 500,000 ton of recyclables annually. After processing, your recyclables are ready to enter the "recycling marketplace".

20. Who uses recyclables after they leave the processing facilities?

Recyclables are valuable commodities in today's global economy. About half of the bottles, cans, and paper collected in Massachusetts are sold to manufacturing plants in the Northeast; the other half goes to markets overseas.

21. What is made out of all of the recyclable materials?

* Paper and cardboard are turned into cereal and cracker boxes, book covers, and game boards at a recycling paper mill in Fitchburg, MA. * Glass bottles and jars are melted and used to make new containers at facilities such as Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc. in Milford, MA. * Plastic soda bottles become polyester fiberfill for jackets and sleeping bags, or polar fleece made by Malden Mills in Lawrence, MA. * Milk jugs, detergent bottles, and other #2 plastics become landscaping timbers and whiskey barrel planters made my Smartware products in Leominster, MA.

22. I live in a condominium/apartment building that does not have curbside trash collection. What about my recycling...can that go out to the curb?

Unfortunately, your recycling can not go out for curbside collection. But you may bring your recycling to Essex County Recycle Center located at 24 Kondelin Road. They will accept your newspaper, cardboard, bottles, cans, and metal items at no charge. They also will accept rigid plastics (little tykes toys, 5 gallon water jugs, plastic lawn furniture etc.) for no charge.

23. Do I have to separate my recyclables???

No you do not - we are now a single stream! No need to sort!

24. How do I dispose of smoke detectors?

Smoke detectors containing the isotope Americium are not hazardous. These may be disposed of in the regular trash. They are NOT recyclable.

25. How do I dispose of fluorescent light bulbs?

Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury and cannot be disposed of with regular household trash. To dispose you can bring them to the DPW on the last Saturday of each month from 9:00 am -12:00 pm or you can bring them to the Building Center during normal business hours.

26. How do I dispose of a mattress and/or box spring?

EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2022: Clean mattresses and box springs must be recycled or donated for reuse (Per Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection). Residents can purchase a $40 sticker for each piece (mattress needs one sticker and box spring needs another) at the Department of Public Works.  We will provide a mattress bag at the time of purchase for the mattresses only. Bagged mattresses and box springs should be left outside homes on Thursday morning for curbside collection.