Somerville Trash & Recycling Information

Trash and recycling bins may be placed on the curbside no earlier than 4 p.m. the day prior to your scheduled pickup, and no later than 7 a.m. on pickup day. Empty barrels must be removed fromthe sidewalk by 7 p.m. on trash collection day. Look up your collection day by clicking on the Pickup Schedule tab above.

Trash barrels must be stored with covers during the week, but covers may be removed once barrels are placed on the sidewalk for collection to avoid damage to the cover or loss. Keeping your barrels covered keeps litter off our streets by preventing trash from blowing out of the barrel and helps with rodent control.

These items may disposed of with your regular trash.

• Appliances: Small household appliances including radios, VCRs (including tapes), toasters, irons, etc. can be disposed with regular trash, but please consider dropping them off for Electronics Recycling any weekday at DPW, One Franey Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Basketball poles/nets: The pole must be cut down to three feet in length.
• Alkaline batteries: Only regular household alkaline batteries (such as A, AA, C, or D) may be disposed of with regular trash. Rechargeable batteries, button cell batteries, and lithium batteries must be disposed of as Hazardous Waste. Laptop battery packs should be disposed of with Electronic Waste.
• Bicycles
• Camping stoves: The City will pick these up if there is no propane tank attached.
• CDs/DVDs and covers (But please consider dropping them off for Electronics Recycling any weekday at DPW, One Franey Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• China/ceramics
• Christmas trees: Place curbside on regular trash day after removing all decorations. Do not place in a plastic bag. Trees picked up through January are mulched. Pick up free mulch through February at DPW yard. Constituents must contact 311 to arrange for pick-up of a Christmas tree February to mid-April by City staff. Once yard waste collection resumes in mid-April any remaining uncollected trees may be placed out on the regular yard waste collection day.
• Computer accessories: The tower, printer, keyboard, computer laptops, and toner and ink cartridges can be placed with regular trash. But please consider dropping them off for Electronics Recycling any weekday at DPW, One Franey Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Dehumidifiers
• Doors: Wooden doors must be cut in half. Tape storm doors with glass to prevent shattering. Multiple doors would be considered construction material, which requires private disposal.
• Fans
• Fire Extinguishers: Small, empty household extinguishers can be disposed with regular trash. Larger or non-empty ones (regardless of size) must be brought to the DPW on Hazardous Waste Days.
• Furniture: The City will pickup two pieces of furniture per week. Any mirrors or glass should be taped on both sides to avoid shattering. Drawers and doors should be tied down or removed to avoid injury.
• Glass: Wrap the glass in heavy paper and/or with tape to ensure that it won't break easily. If wrapped in paper, please write on it that it is glass and must be handled with care. (Includes mirrors, tabletop glass etc.)
• Kitty Litter
• Ladders: Wooden and metal ladders may be put out for pickup, but must be broken down into pieces no longer than 4 feet in length.
• Lawnmowers: Non-motorized mowers may be placed with regular trash; motorized mowers must be disposed of privately.
• Medical equipment: Call 311 to arrange a pickup of hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. Some of these items can be donated to Council on Aging, if in good condition. To donate, call 311.
• Mattress and box spring (bed bug-infested only): Items must be wrapped in plastic and clearly marked. Note that constituents must contact 311 to schedule the pickup for recycling of non-bed bug-infested mattresses and box springs.
• Microwave ovens (But please consider dropping them off for Electronics Recycling any weekday at DPW, One Franey Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Pools: Children's rubber pools may be placed with regular trash; adult, aboveground rubber pools must be cut down to pieces no longer than 3 feet in length and tied with string or twine. Metal pools must be disposed of privately.
• Paint cans: If they are dry and empty, place in regular trash. Non-empty cans must be brought to the DPW on Hazardous Waste Days.
• Pots and pans
• Rugs/carpets: Must be rolled and tied with string/twine. Roll must not exceed three feet in length.
• Sewing machines
• Styrofoam: Peanuts/pellets must be disposed of with regular trash. Do not place in recycling. But please consider saving clean Styrofoam for drop-off at one of our twice-yearly Styrofoam Recycling days.
• Swing sets: A wooden set must be dismantled in order to be picked up. A metal set must be disposed of privately.
• Trash barrels/recycling bins: To dispose of damaged barrels or bins, place a sign indicating that item is broken and you wish to dispose of it.
• Vinyl records
• Wood: Small quantities cut into pieces no longer than 3 feet in length and tied into a bundle with string or twine. Large amounts are considered building/construction materials, which require private disposal.

All trash bags must be stored inside a covered barrel prior to trash collection day. No trash bags may be placed on the ground at any time. However, an extra trash bag may be placed on top of the barrel on trash day once the barrel has been placed on the curb for collection.

If your trash cart was lost or stolen, please contact 311 and an inspector will attempt to locate your cart by its serial number. If the cart cannot be located, a replacement bin will be provided. A replacement fee will be assessed at the discretion of the City for any additional replacements. The fee will be the cost of the cart to the City, which is approximately $50. Please be sure to write your address on your carts in permanent marker or paint to prevent loss or confusion.

If your trash and recycling were put out on time but were not picked up, please call 311 or submit a 311 request online. Keep in mind that trash and recycling pickup is delayed one day when there is a holiday. (View holiday schedule)

Place curbside on regular trash day after removing all decorations. Do not place in a plastic bag. Trees picked up through January are mulched. Pick up free mulch through February at DPW yard. Constituents must contact 311 to arrange for pick-up of a Christmas tree February to mid-April by City staff. Once yard waste collection resumes in mid-April any remaining uncollected trees may be placed out on the regular yard waste collection day.

Not sure how to dispose of something?

Use the Somerville Waste Wizard tool to find out.

Somerville Waste Wizard

Trash and recycling bins may be placed on the curbside no earlier than 4 p.m. the day prior to your scheduled pickup, and no later than 7 a.m. on pickup day. Empty barrels must be removed from the sidewalk by 7 p.m. on trash collection day. Look up your collection day by clicking on the Pickup Schedule tab above.

The City of Somerville offers free mattress and box spring recycling to residents who receive City trash services. You just need to schedule a pickup. Click here for more information.

The City of Somerville offers a a free curbside textile recycling program. When you have clothing, shoes, or accessories to donate, just put them out curbside in a pink Simple Recycling bag on your regular trash and recycling day and they'll be picked up for reuse or recycling. Click here for more information.

Most household packaging, plastics, papers, and aluminum can go in your City-issued Zero-Sort recycling cart. No need to sort. It all goes in one cart. Here's an A to Z list of clean items you can put in your Zero-Sort cart:

• Aerosol cans (metal): Must be empty. Remove cap from can. PLEASE dispose of paints, cleaners, automotive sprays via household hazardous waste drop-off. 
• Aseptic packaging: Wax-covered or foiled line containers such as juice boxes
• Aluminum cans
• Aluminum foil: Only completely clean foil can be recycled.
• Books: Paperbacks only (hardcover books are not recyclable).
• Bottles: Glass bottles and glass containers
• Boxboard and paperboard: Cereal boxes, dry food boxes, paper egg cartons, shoe boxes, tissue boxes, paper towel and toilet paper cores, pizza boxes. PLEASE remove all food waste and remove plastic liners. Large amounts of cardboard boxes must be broken down into 3ft x 3ft pieces, bundled up and tied together.
• Cans (metal): Food and beverage cans only. Labels are OK. Place lids in can.
• Cans of compressed gas/air duster: Make sure there is no compressed air left in the can. Once it is empty, puncture the can.
• Cardboard (corrugated): Empty. Staple, tape and labels are OK. NO strapping or string, NO wax-coated cardboard, no paint or oil stains, no foam/Styrofoam packing materials.
• Envelopes and opened mail: White, colored, gummed and window envelopes. Remove non-paper items such as plastic cards or CDs. Labels are OK. NO Tyvek or plastic envelopes or bubblewrap-padded envelopes.
• Egg cartons (except foam)
• Foil: Clean
• Glass: Rinse clean. Food and beverage containers only. NO lightbulbs, window glass, Pyrex, or ceramics.
• Magazines: Staples and labels are OK.
• Newspapers: All sections and advertising inserts. NO plastic wrapping. Do not tie with string.
• Paper (white & colored): Plain and glossy, printed, letterhead, copier paper, brochures, file folders (leave on plastic tabs and metal strips), manila folders, craft paper, index cards, construction paper, non-metallic wrapping paper, tissue paper, cards. Stapels are OK. NO paper towels, facial tissues, stickers, or sticker backing paper.
• Paperback books: Paperback books, phone books, and catalogs. NO hardcovers. NO plastic wrapping.
• Pie pans (aluminum): Clean
• Pizza boxes: Only clean boxes
• Plastics 1-7: Any plastic item numbered 1-7 (look on the bottom for the number), as well as rigid plastics such as plastic toys, plastic chairs, etc. Includes plastic bottles, jugs, containers, dairy tubs (for yogurt), laundry baskets, take-out containers (except for black containers), flower pots and trays. PLEASE NOTE: No foam #6 items can be accepted, nor can filmy products such as plastic bags, utensils, motor oil containers, or biodegradable plastics. While some foam items are labeled as #6 recycleables, they cannot be processed by single stream recycling & must be placed in the trash. Foam packing materials such as bracing and peanuts may be brought to City Styrofoam recycling events, but foam egg cartons and food containers cannot.
• Wrapping paper: Matte, glossy, non-metallic. NO metallic papers.

If your trash cart was lost or stolen, please contact 311 and an inspector will attempt to locate your cart by its serial number. If the cart cannot be located, a replacement bin will be provided. A replacement fee will be assessed at the discretion of the City for any additional replacements. The fee will be the cost of the cart to the City, which is approximately $50. Please be sure to write your address on your carts in permanent marker or paint to prevent loss or confusion.

If your trash and recycling were put out on time but were not picked up, please call 311 or submit a 311 request online. Keep in mind that trash and recycling pickup is delayed one day when there is a holiday. (View holiday schedule)

Not sure how to dispose of something?

Use the Somerville Waste Wizard tool to find out.

Somerville Waste Wizard