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Solid Waste & Recycling
For information about the DPW Solid Waste Program in 2023 please visit the DPW Information page and look for DPW Presentations.
For trash and recycling collection issues please call EL. Harvey: 800-321-3002.
- Service Updates
- Regular Trash Collection
- Trash Sticker Usage & Prices
- Holidays
- Recycling
- Yard Waste
- Fluorescent Bulbs
- Sharps
- Dumpsters
- Reuse Opportunities
- 2020 Rate Increase Frequently Asked Questions
- Resources
Effective December 1, 2022
Bulk Item pick-up will No Longer be collected curbside by EL. Harvey under the towns pay as you throw service. Residents can coordinate directly with private haulers and companies for bulk item removal needs, examples… Use: Google, local businesses in our area, bagsters, Waste Management or other dumpster rentals.
Other Changes - Effective November 1, 2022
The Department of Environmental Protection has issued an order adding Mattresses and Textiles to the list of materials banned from disposal or transport in the solid waste stream in Massachusetts.
Mattresses: Mattresses and box springs are made up of almost entirely recyclable materials including metal, wood, textile, and polyurethane foam. They are difficult to manage at landfills and incinerators because they are bulky, hard to compact and can get caught in incinerator processing equipment. That is why most facilities currently apply surcharges to the disposal of these items.
Maynard residents will have the ability to use recycle center at the drop off location at the Highway Garage, 38 Winter Street, during our Recycle Center Saturdays. Cost will be $40 per item, Mattress and or Box spring. Residents will also have the ability to have curbside pickup services by Tough Stuff Recycling.
The town has also contracted with Tough Stuff Recycling to have curbside pickup services by contacting directly with Tough Stuff Recycling at 800-273-4137 or by going to their website. The cost for each item, Mattress and or Box spring will be $50.
Textiles: CMRK, Inc. has been contracted for clothing, textile and shoe recovery services. There are recovery bins located outside the gate of the Highway Garage located at 38 Winter Street. These bins are accessible 24/7. For additional information, please visit their website.
Trash is collected every week.
In order to be collected, every bag or barrel (up to 32 gallons or 38 pounds.) of trash set out for trash collection must have a sticker(s) on the bag or on the top item in the barrel. Please have solid waste curbside by 7 am on your regular trash day.
There are two choices in stickers depending on the volume/weight set out:
- Bags or barrels up to 15 gallons/38 pounds require a Yellow sticker - cost $2
- Bags or barrels up to 32 gallons./38 pounds require a Orange sticker - cost $4 (or 2 Yellow stickers)
Helpful Hints
- Use the right size barrel - Any barrel size over 32 gallons is not permitted.
- Have your solid waste curbside by 7 am on your regular trash day.
- Use the right sticker tag.
- Buy sticker tags ahead.
- You'll need stickers weekly.
- 2 Yellow = 1 Orange
The below link is in the printable brochure format
2023-2024 CURBSIDE COLLECTION CALENDAR
The Town of Maynard's "Pay-As-You-Throw" program sticker price and usage requirements for Town wide solid waste pickup are as follows:
Trash Item | Price |
---|---|
15-gallon bag sticker | $2 |
32-gallon bag sticker | $4 |
No bulk items are allowed |
Sticker Colors
Town of Maynard residents can purchase:
- Orange stickers worth $4 for use on 32-gallon bags.
- Yellow stickers are worth $2 for use on 15-gallon bags. These stickers can be combined for 32-gallon bags ($4)
Where to Purchase Stickers
Stickers can be purchased at:
- Bud's Variety, 180 Main Street
- Corner Store, 49 Walnut Street
- Cumberland Farms, 54 Acton Street
- Market Basket, 6 Digital Way
- Maynard Town Hall, 195 Main Street
- Russell's Convenience, 193 Main Street
- Aubuchon, 117 Great Road, Stow
- 7-11, 5 Waltham St. This location is no longer participating in selling stickers as part of the trash program
Trash stickers are also available from the Town of Maynard via mail. Solid waste stickers can only be purchased by mail in sheets of five. To order trash stickers from Town Hall please mail the following to the Town of Maynard, 195 Main Street Maynard, MA 01754:
- A check to purchase the stickers. The check should be written to "Town of Maynard" (minimum order $20)
- Include your preference for $2 or $4 stickers
- Self addressed, stamped envelope
Please contact the Treasurer/Collectors Office with any questions about ordering trash stickers by mail at 978-897-1305
The street schedule, including holidays and recycling details is available in the Curbside Collection Calendar from the Resources section below.
Barrel Size & Stickering
The Department of Public Works strictly enforces the 32-gallon barrel rule. Every bag or barrel (up to 32 gallons or 38 pounds) of trash set out for trash collection must have a sticker tag(s) on the bag or on the top item in the barrel in order to be collected.
- 32-gallon barrels of trash must be filled only to the level where a cover if applied would fit. Over filled barrels will be left at curbside. Put sticker tag on top item in barrel. Do not place sticker tag on barrel.
- Any bags over the 32-gallon max will be stickered non-compliant. This means it will not be removed until properly put in an accepted size bag with necessary stickering!!!
- Enforcement of proper bag size and stickering: Maynard DPW encourages residents to inform the department with locations and pictures as it relates to the violation.
In cold weather, sticker tags don't stick well to cold bags, so, stick the sticker tag to a warm bag, or to itself wrapped around drawstring or bag neck.
2023-2024 CURBSIDE COLLECTION CALENDAR
Whenever a scheduled collection day falls on a holiday, that day's collection and all remaining collections for the week will be delayed one day (e.g, Friday's collections will be on Saturday). See (printable) Curbside Collection Calendar below and in the Resources section for specific holidays and recycling collection.
2023-2024 CURBSIDE COLLECTION CALENDAR
Your recyclables are collected every other week
- All containers should be clean.
- Remove and discard caps and rings from all containers
- Set bins out by 7 am, clearly separated from trash.
- Bins containing improper materials will be left behind.
In the summer of 2017 the Town of Maynard announced automated curbside collection of single stream recycling. Every residence received a 95-gallon cart. Additional carts may be purchased by calling EL. Harvey. 38-gallon carts are also available for those that need a smaller cart. 1-800-321-3002
No separation of material is needed, i.e. glass, paper and plastic. All material must be in the cart to be collected and the cart must be curbside away from trash, mailboxes, etc. Set bins out by 7 am clearly separated from trash. Bins containing improper materials will be left behind.
The DPW periodically opens a Recycling Drop Off Center. Check schedule for dates/times and what can be dropped off.
2023-2024 CURBSIDE COLLECTION CALENDAR
We have two Yard Waste (leaves and clippings) pickups per year.
The spring seasonal curb side waste pickups are scheduled in May. The fall seasonal curb side yard waste pickups will be held in October/November.
- 2023 - May 22, 2023 - May 26, 2023
- 2023 - October 30, 2023 - November 3, 2023
- 2023 - November 13, 2023 - November 17, 2023
- 2024 - May 20, 2024 - May 24, 2024
Place leaves, grass, wood chips and all other easily raked material in paper yard waste bags at curbside by 7 am on your normal trash collection day during these weeks.
Brush (3" x 3' or smaller) is no longer picked up at curbside. It is now chipped at drop-off Center. Brush Chipping dates and fees can be found on the Recycling Center page.
Fluorescent bulbs (tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs) contain mercury and should be disposed of properly. You can bring your smaller bulbs to Town Hall, there are marked bins along the sidewalk at the back door. Larger tubes should be brought to the Recycling Drop Off Center.
Sharps can be dropped off in puncture-free containers at the kiosk currently located in the front of the Police Station (197 Main Street).
Both permanent and temporary (30 days or less) dumpsters require a permit from the Board of Health. You can apply for the permit online.
Our “How Can I Get Rid Of …?” page has lots of specific examples for reusing items that you may no longer need. Visit our Business Directory to find other organizations that may be useful in helpful in reusing various items.
- When were the new trash sticker rates approved?
-
The Select Board discussed the potential increase at their meetings on August 27th and September 10th. A public hearing to determine new fees for trash stickers was opened on September 17th, 2019. The public hearing was continued to November 5th, 2019, where the board voted to increase the rate.
- Why are the trash sticker rates increasing?
-
Currently more than half of the cost of the program is subsidized by general taxes. The new rates are anticipated to reduce the burden on the general taxes from 56% in fiscal year 2019 to a projected 18% in fiscal year 2020. Taxpayer funds will continue to subsidize the program, but the new prices will shift the ratio so that the owner of the trash pays a higher rate for its removal, and the burden on the taxpayer is reduced. Trash sticker prices have not been increased since the program's inception in the 1990s.
- When do the new trash sticker rates apply?
-
The new trash sticker rates will be implemented on January 1, 2020.
- Can I still use the yellow and pink stickers?
-
Yes. You are welcome to use any trash stickers that equate to the new rate. For example, after January 1st, you will need two pink $1.00 stickers for a 15-gallon trash bag.
- What stickers will be available for purchase on January 1st?
-
Starting January 1st, retailers will sell $2 yellow stickers and $4 orange stickers. $1 pink stickers will be available until the supply is depleted.
RecycleSmartMA is an initiative by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The site features tips and videos on recycling and includes a "recyclopedia" where you can type in an item (e.g, empty motor oil container) and it will tell you the proper way to recycle or dispose of it.
Other Resources
- Download the 2023-2024 Curbside Collection Calendar (PDF)
- How Can I Get Rid Of ….
- Dumpster Permit Application (using our online permitting portal)