Curbside Collections (solid WASTE, RECYCLING, YARD WASTE, BULKY ITEMS, AND BUSINESS CARDBOARD)

SOLID WASTE COLLECTION

The information below pertains to all areas of the City except downtown.  If you are a business or resident of downtown, please call (508) 961-3008 for more information.

Residential Solid Waste Collection

Solid waste is collected weekly from residents by Capital Waste Services. Residents should place trash carts curbside prior to 7:00 a.m. on the designated collection day but no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection. Questions regarding collection schedules may be directed to Capital Waste Services at (617) 569-1718. All trash must fit in the cart provided.

Holiday collection schedules are advertised in The Standard Times or call DFFM at (508) 961-3008

To find out your solid waste collection day, click here.

Solid Waste Collection from Commercial Establishments

Solid waste is collected from Commercial Establishments curbside.  Commercial establishments should place trash carts curbside prior to 7:00 a.m. on the designated collection day but no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection.

Single Stream Recycling

The information below pertains to all areas of the City except downtown.  If you are a business or resident of downtown, please call (508) 961-3008 for more information.

What Can I Recycle in My Recycling Cart?

All of the items below can be placed loose in the recycling cart with the orange lid.  Please do not place plastic bags, plastic wrap, or Styrofoam in your recycling cart.

METAL CANS (please rinse):  Includes empty aerosol containers, clean aluminum foil and pie plates, and metal cans.  Examples: soda cans, juice cans, soup cans, vegetable cans, pet food cans, and tuna fish cans. No paint cans. 

GLASS (please rinse): Includes clear and colored glass food and beverage containers.  Examples: salsa jars, pickle jars, and beverage bottles.  Caps can be discarded or placed back on the bottle or jar.  No broken glass, pane glass or light bulbs.

#1 through #7 PLASTIC CONTAINERS (please rinse): Includes food and beverage bottles, jugs, jars, cups, and clear plastic clamshell containers.  Examples: water bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, yogurt cups, clear plastic egg cartons, peanut butter jars, milk jugs, iced coffee cups (no straws, no lids), plastic strawberry containers, and medicine bottles.  No plastic bags, no plastic wrap, no Styrofoam, no straws, and no lids. 

PAPER (must be clean): Includes newspapers, magazines, catalogs, office paper, white and colored copy paper, junk mail, paperback books, folders, phone books, index cards, greeting cards, paperboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, paper egg cartons, paper towel tubes, etc.), white and manila envelopes with or without windows, and corrugated cardboard.

How Do I Recycle?

Recyclables are picked up on your regular solid waste collection day each week. Click here to find out your recycling collection day.

Carts should be set out by 7:00 a.m. (or put out the night before after 5:00 p.m.).

Where can I call if I have a question?

Residents can call the following phone numbers if they have a question or a problem:

(508) 979-1493, Marissa Perez-Dormitzer, New Bedford Recycling Coordinator
(508) 961-3008, DFFM
(508) 763-5924, Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District

Bulky Waste Collection

Capital Waste Services picks up bulky waste at the curb by appointment. Call Capital Waste Services at (617) 569-1718 to make an appointment.  Examples of bulky waste include a couch, mattress, wooden furniture, television, computer monitor, white good (washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator, water heater, etc), air conditioner, and large metal items (bicycle, file cabinet, etc.). Capital Waste Services will collect three (3) bulky items per appointment.

Curbside Yard Waste Collection

Grass and Leaves

Capital Waste Services collects grass and leaves on a weekly basis from April to December. Call 508-961-3008 yearly for updates. Grass and leaves are collected on the day following the regular trash and recycling collection:

Monday Solid Waste Collection — Tuesday Grass Collection
Tuesday Solid Waste Collection — Wednesday Grass Collection
Wednesday Solid Waste Collection — Thursday Grass Collection
Thursday Solid Waste Collection — Friday Grass Collection
Friday Solid Waste Collection — Monday Grass Collection

All grass and yard clippings must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or loose in barrels. Grass and leaves in plastic bags will not be collected. Branches that are 1/4″ or less in diameter will be collected with the grass and leaves. Branches that are greater than 1/4″ in diameter will be collected as brush. See below.

Questions? Call Capital Waste Services (617) 569-1718.

Branches & Brush

Capital Waste Services collects branches and brush on the last Wednesday of each month, beginning in April and ending the last full week of November.

This collection is by appointment only. Please contact Capital Waste Services at (617) 569-1718 to schedule an appointment.

The branches may be no more than four (4) inches in diameter and must be tied securely in bundles not to exceed four (4) feet in length and two (2) feet in width. No brush will be collected unless it has been previously scheduled.

Business Cardboard Collection

Cardboard Collection from Commercial Establishments

Cardboard is collected weekly from Commercial Establishments located in commercial districts. Cardboard should be flattened and tied in bundles or consolidated by placing smaller boxes into larger boxes. Cardboard should be free of plastic, styrofoam or other packaging.

The collection days are the following:

Monday – Downtown
Tuesday – South End
Friday – North End

Cardboard collection takes place between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Place cardboard at the curb by 8:00 am and no earlier than 5:00 am on the day of collection.

Please call (508) 961-3008 to be included on the collection route.

See Rules and Regulations for more detailed information.

Where can I call if I Have a Question?

(617) 569-1718 Capital Waste, questions about the new automated collection program, bulky item appointments
(508) 961-3008 Facilities and Fleet Management, questions about the new automated collection program
(508) 979-1493 Recycling Office, questions about recycling