What to Recycle
All recyclables including all colors of glass, metal cans, cardboard, plastics, aluminum, and paper products, including newspapers, magazines, brown bags, and other non-shredded paper can be placed in your recycling container. All items must be free-flowing in your bin, not in bags. Not sure if it can go in the recycling bin? Use the Recyclopedia from Recycle Smart MA to see if it can be recycled in Massachusetts. https://recyclesmartma.org/results-materials/#
- All glass bottles and jars (Empty, rinse, or wipe thoroughly, and replace cap)
- Aluminum (Empty and rinsed or thoroughly wiped trays, covers, and foil)
- Cardboard- breakdown/flatten all cardboard to fit in your recycling bin or nest the boxes inside a box and place next to your recycling bin
- Cardboard recycling includes pizza boxes. Remove all contents. if cardboard is extremely greasy place it in the trash.
- Detergent bottles (Empty, rinse, and replace cap)
- Holiday Items (PDF)
- Metal food cans (empty, rinse or wipe thoroughly and replace cap)
- Paper products, including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, telephone books, office paper, cereal boxes with the bag removed, cardboard egg cartons, all non-waxed food boxes
- Plastic and glass milk, juice, soda, and water jugs (Empty, rinse and caps replaced)
- Plastic bottles marked with numbers 1,2,3,5,6,7 and HDPE.
- Plastics (excluding black plastic)Single-serve plastic, glass, aluminum beverage bottles and cans (Empty)Not Accepted For Recycling
What NOT to Recycle
- Any plastic bags (store bags, even if they are marked recyclable, food storage bags, bread bags, and tags, plastic wrap from product packaging ) Many local stores have a drop-off bin at their entrances for these plastic bags.
- Appliances, white goods, hot water tanks
- Bagged recyclables- all items in your bin should be free-floating
- Batteries
- Black Plastics
- Broken glass
- Carpeting
- Clothing, textiles, pillows, and stuffed toys: These items should be brought to the light blue Town Textile Recovery and Recycling Bins at The DPW, the Public Landing, or the Walden Street Basketball courts
- Computers, TVs, electronics
- Construction, Household Improvement Debris and Materials
- Diapers
- Food waste or liquids- empty, rinse, or wipe thoroughly and replace caps for all bottles, cans, jars, and jugs
- Glassware, cookware, and plates
- Hangers. plastic or metal
- Hoses, cables, electric cords, string lights, chains
- Large cardboard cartons (empty and flatten to recycle)
- Light bulbs
- Lighters
- Medical waste including face masks and rubber gloves
- Mirrors
- Motor oil containers
- Paint or aerosol cans
- Plastic marked with HDPE numbers 4
- Propane tanks
- Snack bags and wrappers (i.e., chip bags, granola bars, candy wrappers)
- Soiled paper
- Styrofoam
- Used tissues, napkins, or paper towels
- Vases, drinkware, plates
- Waxed paper or black plastic take-out/ beverage containers, straws, and lids
- Window glass
