City of Newton Trash Schedule

The city of Newton, Massachusetts provides trash and recycling collection services for residential properties and some small businesses. This article provides an overview of Newton’s trash and recycling schedule, collection days, accepted materials, and other key details to help residents and small businesses properly set out waste for collection in the city.

Overview of Trash and Recycling Schedule

• Curbside trash collection occurs once per week on a designated day depending on location. View the online map tool to find your collection day.

• Curbside recycling collection occurs every other week on a designated day depending on location. Check the online map tool to confirm your collection weeks.

• Yard waste is collected weekly from April to the second week in December on the same day as trash collection. From mid-December to March, yard waste collection stops.

• Bulk item collection occurs by appointment only. Residents must schedule pickups in advance.

• Household hazardous waste drop-off days are held periodically throughout the year. See the schedule for upcoming events.

Trash Collection Guidelines

• Trash must be placed curbside in covered barrels or trash carts before 7 AM on collection day.

• Each trash barrel/cart cannot exceed 32 gallons in size and 50 pounds in weight.

• Extra trash must have a city trash sticker affixed to be collected. Stickers can be purchased at local vendors.

• Trash cannot be set out earlier than 5 PM the evening before scheduled collection.

• Empty containers must be removed from the curb by the end of the collection day.

Recycling Collection Guidelines

• Accepted curbside recyclables include paper, cardboard, glass bottles/jars, metal cans, aluminum foil, plastic containers labeled #1-#7, and empty aerosol cans.

• Recyclables should be clean and placed loose in a recycling bin, paper bags, or cardboard boxes curbside before 7 AM on collection day.

• Do not bag recyclables together or they will not be collected.

• Extra recycling can be placed in clear plastic bags and will be picked up.

Yard Waste Collection Guidelines

• Yard waste must be placed in biodegradable paper bags, rigid containers labeled as “yard waste”, or bundled with string or twine.

• Branches cannot exceed 4 feet long and 50 pounds.

• Grass clippings must be emptied from plastic bags into approved containers.

• Yard waste cannot be placed in plastic bags, which contaminate the composting process.

Bulk Item Collection Guidelines

• Accepted bulk items include furniture, mattresses, appliances, carpeting, toilets, sinks, and scrap metal.

• Freon must be removed from appliances and red tagged by a licensed technician beforehand.

• Construction debris, tires, electronics, and hazardous waste are not accepted.

• Residents can schedule 1 pickup per week of 3 cubic yards of bulk items.

• Items must be curbside by 7 AM on the pickup day. Allow 3 business days’ notice to schedule.

Drop-Off Options

In addition to curbside collection services, Newton residents can drop off recycling and yard waste at the Resource Recovery Center located at 115 Rumford Ave:

• Recycling drop-off is accepted when the center is open year-round. Materials must be sorted.

• Yard waste drop-off is accepted year-round on Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM. Fees apply for commercial loads.

• The center also holds periodic household hazardous waste drop-off days.

Holiday Schedule Changes

Trash and recycling collection are delayed by one day when a holiday falls on a Monday through Thursday. Collection proceeds normally after a Friday holiday. See the holiday collection schedule.

The Resource Recovery Center is closed on holidays. Christmas and New Year’s closures extend to the surrounding weekends.

Contact Information

For questions regarding Newton’s trash and recycling services, contact the Public Works Department:

Phone: 617-796-1450

Email: [email protected]

Website: newtonma.gov/gov/publicworks

Use the city’s online map tool to look up your collection schedule. Sign up for collection day reminders through the Recycle Coach app.