Trash and recycling bins/barrels must be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. |
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Click on one of the groups listed below: |
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| Cardboard | Glass | Metal | Paper | Plastic | Styrofoam | |
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| CARDBOARD | prepare it | put ⁄ bring ⁄ drop it |
| corrugated cardboard | cut to 3' x 3', tie or tape into 1' bundles :: WHY?? | bin |
| cream/half & half cartons | remove lid (recycle lids with symbol), rinse, place in bin with bottles/cans | paper bag within bin |
| egg container, WITHOUT egg-goo | (you can flatten the container to fit more in one bag) | paper bag within bin |
| egg container, with egg-goo | - | compost |
| juice carton | remove lid (recycle lids with symbol), rinse clean, place in bin with bottles/cans | bin |
| milk carton | rinse clean (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin), place in bin with bottles/cans | bin |
| pizza boxes | recycling no longer accepts pizza boxes | COMPOST |
| shipping box (corrugated cardboard) | cut to 3' x 3', tie or tape into 1' bundles :: WHY?? | bin |
| REMINDER: You don't have to remove labels or tape prior to recycling. | ||
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| METAL | prepare it | put ⁄ bring ⁄ |
| aerosol cans (spray oil, whipped cream, etc.) | remove cap (recycle lids with symbol), make sure can is empty | bin |
| auto parts | please do NOT put item in recycling | recycle flyer |
| alumninum foil, clean only | remember, it has to be clean! | bin |
| aluminum plates (foil and pie-type plates) | rinse clean | bin |
| cans (food, dog/cat food, beverages, etc.) | rinse clean | bin |
| engine parts | please do NOT put item in recycling | recycle flyer |
| foil coated paper | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| foil coated paper box | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| large metal items (furnace, boiler, radiator, wood stove,
metal storage shed, metal bulkhead, snow blower, lawn mower, metal bathtub, treadmill or garage door opener, or just about anything else made of metal) |
CONSIDER donating items that are in good condition | curbside program flyer |
| pie plates | rinse clean | bin |
| plumbing parts | please do NOT put item in recycling | recycle flyer |
| propane tank | please do NOT put item in recycling | recycle flyer |
| trash barrels that are no longer usable | please do NOT put item in recycling | recycle flyer |
| Metal is recyclable and valuable. For large metal items that cannot be placed at the curb, consider bringing the items to scrap metal companies. | ||
| GLASS | prepare it | put ⁄ bring ⁄ drop it |
| auto glass | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| bottles (any color) | rinse clean, place metal lid in bin | bin |
| bottles, deposit | rinse clean, CONSIDER donating to the Friends of Music, www.cfom.org | return for deposit, donate to CFOM, or bin |
| broken glass | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| ceramics | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER donating items that are decorative and in good condition | donate, or trash |
| dinnerware | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER donating items that are in good condition | donate, or trash |
| harzardous materials containers | please do NOT put item in recycling | recycle flyer |
| light bulbs, incandescent | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| light bulbs, fluorescent (CFL) | please do NOT put item in recycling as they contain Mercury | |
| medical bottles | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| mirrors | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER donating items that are in good condition | donate if in good condition, or trash |
| plate glass windows | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| pyrex | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER donating items that are in good condition | donate if in good condition, or trash |
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| PAPER | prepare it | put ⁄ bring ⁄ drop it |
| It's OKAY to recycle paper with paper clips, staples, plastic envelope windows, self-stick labels, and metal spiral notebooks. PLEASE NO ... candy wrappers, envelopes with bubble wrap, paper towels/napkins/tissues, tyvek, label backings, or photographs. |
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| blue-lined paper | WHY does paper have to go in a paper bag?? | paper bag within bin |
| books (soft and hard cover) | CONSIDER donating to library or other organizations (e.g., Got Books) NO MORE THAN ONE PAPER BAG PER RECYCLING WEEK |
donate, or paper bag within bin |
| booklets | - | paper bag within bin |
| boxes (cereal, pasta, toiletries, etc.) | remove plastic liner, if present (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| brochures and fliers (including glossy paper) | - | paper bag within bin |
| cake mix boxes | remove plastic liner (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| calendars | - | paper bag within bin |
| carbon paper | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| carbonless paper | - | paper bag within bin |
| catalogs | - | paper bag within bin |
| cereal boxes | remove plastic bag (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| charlie cards (MBTA) | WHY does paper have to go in a paper bag?? | paper bag within bin |
| clasp envelopes | - | paper bag within bin |
| colored paper | - | paper bag within bin |
| computer paper | - | paper bag within bin |
| construction paper | - | paper bag within bin |
| cookie boxes | remove plastic liner (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| craft paper | - :: WHY does paper have to go in a paper bag?? | paper bag within bin |
| file folders | - | paper bag within bin |
| frozen food boxes | (you can flatten items to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| gift boxes | remove tissue paper (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| greeting cards, WITHOUT foil, glitter, or glued items | - | paper bag within bin |
| greeting cards, WITH foil, glitter, or glued items | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| hanging file folders | - | paper bag within bin |
| ice cream containers | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| junk mail | pick up a stop junk mail kit at the Recycling Office | paper bag within bin |
| letterhead | - | paper bag within bin |
| lottery tickets | - :: WHY does paper have to go in a paper bag?? | paper bag within bin |
| magazines | - | paper bag within bin |
| manila folders | - | paper bag within bin |
| matt board (used in picture framing) | - | paper bag within bin |
| newspaper | - | paper bag within bin |
| newspaper inserts | - | paper bag within bin |
| office paper | - | paper bag within bin |
| packing paper | - | paper bag within bin |
| paper bags (brown and colored) | use for smaller paper recyclables (you can fold item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| paper bags with handles | use for smaller paper recyclables (you can fold item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| paper plates, CLEAN | - | paper bag within bin |
| paper plates, SOILED or USED | please do NOT put item in recycling | compost (if non-meat), or trash |
| paper towels | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| paper towel tube | (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| phone book | - | paper bag within bin |
| post-it notes | - | paper bag within bin |
| photographs | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER checking with other family members | trash |
| receipts | - | paper bag within bin |
| shredded paper | tape the paper bag closed to prevent shredded paper from blowing out of bag | paper bag within bin |
| spiral notebooks | - | paper bag within bin |
| stamps | - | paper bag within bin |
| telephone books | - | paper bag within bin |
| toilet paper tube | remove toilet paper (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) | paper bag within bin |
| wax paper | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| white paper | - | paper bag within bin |
| window envelopes | - | paper bag within bin |
| wrapping paper | no foil paper | donate unused paper, trash used paper |
| wrapping tissue paper | please do NOT put item in recycling | donate unused paper, trash used paper |
| writing tablets | - | paper bag within bin |
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| PLASTIC :: #1-7 Symbols | prepare it | put ⁄ bring ⁄ drop it |
| bakery container | rinse clean (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) :: WHY?? | bin |
| body wash bottle | rinse thoroughly, remove cap (recycle caps with symbol) :: WHY?? | bin |
| bubble bath bottle | rinse thoroughly, remove cap (recycle caps with symbol) :: WHY?? | bin |
| cottage cheese container | rinse clean | bin |
| cutlery | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER washing and reusing | trash |
| deli container | rinse clean | bin |
| egg container | rinse clean | bin |
| hair conditioner bottle | rinse thoroughly, remove cap (recycle caps with symbol) :: WHY?? | bin |
| hair shampoo bottle | rinse thoroughly, remove cap (recycle caps with symbol) :: WHY?? | bin |
| hazardous material container | please do NOT put item in recycling | recycle flyer |
| juice bottles | remove lid (recycle lids with symbol), rinse clean (you can flatten to fit more in one bin) | bin |
| laundry products | rinse thoroughly, remove lid (recycle lids with symbol), (flatten to fit more items in one bin) | bin |
| milk jugs | rinse clean, remove cap (recycle caps with symbol), (flatten to fit more items in one bin ) | bin |
| packaging peanuts | please do NOT put item in recycling | UPS Store, Drum Hill |
| peanut butter jar | wash, wash, wash thoroughly :: WHY?? | bin |
| plastic bags | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER using canvas bags to start reducing the number of plastic bags going into the environment | return to supermarket for recycling |
| salad dressing bottles | rinse clean, remove lid (recycle caps with symbol) :: WHY?? | bin |
| soda bottles | rinse clean, remove cap, (flatten item to fit more in one bin) :: WHY?? | bin |
| STYROFOAM | AT THIS TIME, STYROFOAM IS NOT COLLECTED FOR RECYCLING EVEN IF IT HAS A RECYCLE SYMBOL ON THE ITEM | trash |
| toys | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER donating items in good condition | donate, or trash |
| toys, large plastic (e.g., Little Tyke Toys) | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER donating items in good condition | donate |
| trash barrels that are no longer usable | break down and take out to curb with a sign that it should be taken as trash | trash |
| water bottles or jugs | remove lid (recycle caps with symbol), (you can flatten item to fit more in one bin) | bin |
| yogurt containers | remove lid (recycle caps with symbol), rinse clean :: WHY?? | bin |
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| OTHER ITEMS... | prepare it | put ⁄ bring ⁄ drop it |
| appliances WITH FREON (refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, dehumidifier) | remove refrigerator and freezer doors;CONSIDER donating items in good condition | curbside program flyer |
| appliances WITHOUT freon (washer, dryer, stove, dishwasher, trash compactor, hot water heater) | CONSIDER donating items in good condition | curbside program flyer |
| battery, alkaline (post 1994) | please do NOT put item in recycling | trash |
| battery, button (from hearing aids, watches, calculators, etc.) | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | Recycling Office, or Senior Center |
| battery, car/boat | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | recycle flyer |
| battery, lithium ion | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | Recylcing Office, Radio Shack, or recycle flyer |
| battery, Nickel/Cadmium (NiCad) | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | Recylcing Office, Radio Shack, or recycle flyer |
| battery, non-alkakine (small) | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | Recylcing Office, Radio Shack, or drop-off event (pg 2) |
| battery, recharable | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | Recylcing Office, Radio Shack, or recycle flyer |
| Brita® pitcher filters | please do NOT put these filters in recycling or trash
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Whole Foods, Bedford, MA, or USPS mail |
| brush (yard waste) | - | compost, recycle flyer, or other lawn and yard waste location |
| cell phone | WHY is it important to recycle cell phones? | Recycling Office, Town Clerk, or Senior Center |
| Christmas trees | remove all tinsel and decorations | lawn and yard waste location |
| Christmas tree lights | please do NOT put strands of Christmas tree lights in trash |
Christmas Lights Recycling Program |
| computer | - | curbside program flyer |
| computer monitor (includes CPU, keyboard, mouse, and desktop printer) | - | curbside program flyer |
| construction/demoition debris | please do NOT put item in recycling OR TRASH | annual flyer |
| electronics (laptop computer, VCR, DVD players, and so on) | - | curbside program flyer |
| leaves, grass clippings | - | compost, or other lawn and yard waste location |
| light bulbs, flourescent (CFL) | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | Universal Waste Shed |
| prescription drugs | Chelmsford does NOT have a prescription drug take-back/collection program, to dispose:
|
view Federal Guidelines |
| printer cartridges (inkjet, laser, and toner) | please do NOT put item in recycling, CONSIDER refilling the cartridge at Cartridge World | refill, or box outside Recycling Office |
| television | - | curbside program flyer |
| thermometers (non-digital) | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | exchange at Recycling Office, Board of Health (BOH) or Town Clerk for a free digital replacement! |
| thermostats | please do NOT put item in recycling as it contains Mercury | bring to Recylcing Office or Town Clerk |
| tires (automobile, SUV, or truck) | - | curbside program flyer |
| trophies/awards | please do NOT put item in trash or recycling; send to trophy recycling | trophy recycling |
| yard waste | - | compost, or other lawn and yard waste location |