Recycle Smart- only recycle these four categories of material at the curb:

Remember, recycling is the beginning of the remanufacturing process. All these materials will be used to make something new.

Please keep your recycling clean and free of contamination!

Revised Bulky Fee Schedule - find options and fees
Bulky Wood Waste Guide Here

TVs, Computers, other Electronic Waste

• Televisions and computer monitors are required to be recycled
  • Drop off by appointment - $20 each
  • Curbside collection- $38 for 32" and smaller, $50 for larger than 32", call Republic to pay and arrange pickup, 781-289-0500
• Other electronics are optional (but encouraged!) to recycle, such as printers, laptops ($5), computer hard drives, cords, phones, batteries (alkaline go in the trash), lamps, stereo equipment- all free to drop off by appointment
• We care about your data protection. We use a certified e-waste recycler, Complete Recycling Solutions.

Appliances

• $20 each, curbside collection only (no drop off option)
• By appointment, call Republic at 781-289-0500 to collect
  • refrigerators, water bubblers, wine fridges
  • air conditioners and dehumidifiers
  • clothes washers and dryers
  • Water heaters and oil-filled space heaters
  • kitchen appliances: dishwashers, ranges, ovens
  • microwaves are $15
  • smaller items such as toasters can be brought to the Reuse & Recycling Center

Mattresses and Box Springs

• Banned from the trash starting Nov. 1, 2022. These will no longer be collected curbside for free as trash
• Mattresses will be recycled, here are some options
  • Drop off in Arlington, $45 per unit (check or cash only), make an appointment here or call 781-316-3108
  • Curbside collection by ToughStuffRecycling.com, $45 per unit, credit card online payment, pickup a free plastic bag after you have an appointment - at DPW, 51 Grove St. during business hours, 8 AM- 4 PM weekdays. 
  • When you buy a new mattress, have the old one collected by the store
  • Sell or give away a mattress in good shape via online platforms
  • Donate a mattress (not stained, in good shape) to Household Goods in Action, MA

Large/Bulky Item list

 95% of all clothes/shoes/sheets/towels, or "Textiles," are reusable and/or recyclable, and now it's the state law to keep them out of the trash.

• Drop off bins located throughout town collect textiles 24/7.  [Map Here]
• You can continue to support the nonprofit/charity of your choice: Veterans, Epilepsy Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Red Cross, Goodwill Industries, St. Vincent de Paul, Planet Aid...
• Curbside collection is easy with Helpsy.co (yes .co, not .com) To sign up and learn about the program, visit helpsy.co/arlingtonma or call 1-800-244-6350.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, textile waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the United States, occupying nearly 5% of all landfill space. Recycling clothing and textiles through Helpsy gives them the longest life possible. 

Arlington is pleased to be partnering with Helpsy to help divert more textiles from the trash. Helpsy is a Certified B Corp on a mission to radically change the way we think about, dispose of, recycle, and buy second-hand clothing.

Food scraps make up to 25% of the weight of our trash.

Have you considered separating your food scraps from your trash?

We have three ways in Town of managing this heavy, organic material:

1. Back yard composting
2. Food scrap drop off (Free!)
3. Food scrap subscription services that collect your food scraps on your regular trash and recycling day.

Read More and 

Get Involved in Reducing Arlington's Trash Weight!

• Check out the Zero Waste Arlington Committee - all are welcome to attend a meeting and volunteer with us
• For harder-to-recycle materials check out our Reuse & Recycling Center
• Plastics Recycling Podcast from MassRecycle, Big Oil and Plastics Recycling: The Rest of the Story
• Plastics can be very confusing, this NPR project provides a simple explanation from a natioanl perspective
• Beyond the Bin is a great tool from MA Department of Environmental Protection 
• Videos here on ACMi.tv about the Reuse & Recycling Center, common recycling mistakes, and visiting the recycling sorting facility
• Dates on food, what do they mean? FoodLink provides consumer advice
• Free Shelves FAQ- get started on your own neighborhood mini-swap with these great tips from an East Arlington neighbood with a decade of experience, more at Freeshelves.org

During the DPW renovation (2021-2023) most recycling activities have moved away from 51 Grove Street and are run by appointment-only out of our 33 Ryder Street location. Please see the Reuse & Recycling Center web page to make an appointment, or call the recycling/waste diversion contact number: 781-316-3108.

DPW Administration remains at 51 Grove Street and is open 8 AM to 4 PM weekdays, except Holidays.

Feed FiDO continues strong at 51 Grove Street during construction!

• Quick Guide to Arlington's curbside trash and recycling program rules
• Find your trash/recycling/yard waste collection day
• Moving Guide for helpful tips moving in or out of Arlington

Moving can be super stressful. Help reduce your stress by planning ahead as much as possible. Don't let our trash limits surprise you- 100 gallons per household per week plus one burnable bulky item- that's it. Everything additional you will need to find a private hauler to take away for you.

If you're new to Arlington, Welcome!
If you have tons of moving boxes, we're glad to tell you that we have unlimited recycling at the curb. Just be really super sure you are not mixing any soft plastics in with your cardboard. Packing peanuts, foam, bubble wrap/air pillows, and shrink wrap kind of stuff are all contaminants in the curbside recycling. Contaminated recycling is left behind for the resident to fix and place back out the following week.

Latex paint and oil-based paint need different solutions.

Download pdf

Latex / water based / acrylic paint and stain

Water-based paints clean up with just soap and water. They are not considered household hazardous waste (HHW) and will not be accepted at HHW events.

Water-based paints are basically liquid plastic. Once they are dry they are considered trash. The trash truck will only collect paint they are confident is fully dry, as wet paint is dangerous to workers and damaging to trucks.

Wet paint in good condition can be recycled through Recolor Paints if is is less than 10 years old.

Dried paint should be placed at the curb for collection as trash in this manor:
• Lids off
• In a box (one box is considered a bulky trash item)
• Don’t place out on a rainy day (it makes the paint look wet) 

Oil-based paint and stain

Paint, stain, sealers and adhesive products require mineral spirits for cleaning up, and that’s a great way to determine that they are considered household hazardous waste, or HHW.

HHW is toxic and hazardous to people, pets, and the environment. This material should never be poured down a sink drain, flushed, or poured outdoors onto grass, waterbodies, or storm drains.

Arlington provides eight opportunities each year for residents to drop off HHW at the Minuteman HHW Facility in Lexington, MA. More information and appointments can be found at arligntonma.gov/hhw

FixIt Clinics are offered spring and fall in Arlington, and year-round in the Boston area and even globally online!

More about FixIt Clinics everywhere

Sign Up to coach at a FixIt Clinic in Arlington or other nearby communities

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