Trash and Recycling Pickup Schedules in Somerville, Massachusetts

Knowing the schedule for trash and recycling collection is important for residents of Somerville, MA. This guide provides key details about trash pickup days, holiday changes, recycling, yard waste, and other waste services in Somerville.

How Trash and Recycling Pickup Works in Somerville

Trash and recycling collection in Somerville is handled by the Department of Public Works (DPW). Here are some important facts about how pickup works:

• Trash is collected weekly on designated days based on your address.

• Recycling is also picked up each week on the same day as trash.

• Collection occurs on one of four routes – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

• Holidays delay collection by one day.

• Special rules apply for bulk items, yard waste, and hazardous waste.

Knowing your specific collection day is key to ensure your trash and recycling are picked up properly each week.

Finding Your Trash and Recycling Collection Day

You can easily look up your collection day:

• Go to the Somerville Trash & Recycling Page.

• Enter your address in the search bar.

• It will show your collection days for trash, recycling, and yard waste.

You can also view a map of the different collection routes here.

Holiday Trash and Recycling Schedules

Trash collection gets delayed by one day on holidays observed by the City of Somerville:

• View the full holiday schedule.

• Major holidays like Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day impact pickup.

• Friday collection moves to Saturday after a holiday.

Plan accordingly if your pickup gets pushed to a different day due to a holiday.

Somerville Trash and Recycling Policies

Here are some key policies and rules to follow for trash and recycling collection in Somerville:

• Place bins curbside after 4pm the day before pickup, and remove empty bins by 7pm on collection day.

• Extra trash requires purchase of an overflow bag sticker.

• Two bulky items can be picked up weekly with regular trash.

• Special pickup must be scheduled for hazardous waste, electronics, and large appliances.

• Yard waste is collected seasonally – place in paper bags or rigid containers.

See the DPW website for full guidelines on trash, recycling, and yard waste.

Somerville Single Stream Recycling

Somerville offers single-stream recycling so you don’t have to sort items. Most household materials can go into your recycling bin, including:

• Plastics #1-7
• Glass bottles and jars
• Metal cans
• Paper and cardboard
• Cartons and boxes

See the full list of accepted recyclables.

Recycling gets processed at a local Casella facility in Charlestown.

Yard Waste and Leaf Collection

• Yard waste is collected seasonally on designated weeks between April and December.

• Grass clippings, leaves, twigs can be placed curbside in paper bags or open containers.

• Brush must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 feet.

• The City also provides special leaf vacuuming in the fall.

Check the yard waste calendar for the seasonal schedule.

Hazardous Waste and Special Item Disposal

• Household hazardous waste like chemicals, batteries, and paint must be dropped off on designated collection days.

• Appliance and electronic waste can be dropped off weekdays at the DPW or require special pickup.

• Needles, propane tanks, tires, and other special wastes have disposal guidelines.

See the DPW website for full details on hazardous waste and special item disposal.

Getting Help with Trash and Recycling

Contact the Department of Public Works if you need assistance:

• Phone: 311 or 617-666-3311

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: www.somervillema.gov/dpw

The DPW website also contains helpful FAQs about waste services in Somerville.

Summary of Trash and Recycling Pickup in Somerville

• Trash and recycling are collected weekly on designated days
• Find your schedule using the online lookup tool
• Holidays delay pickup by one day – check the holiday calendar
• Recycling is single-stream – no sorting required
• Special rules apply for yard waste, bulk items, and hazardous materials
• Contact DPW if you have questions or need assistance

Following the collection schedules and guidelines will help residents keep trash and recycling pickup running smoothly in Somerville. Check the DPW website or call 311 if you need help.