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How Can I Get Rid of.....?
Please refer to the following list to learn how you can recycle or dispose of certain items in your home. If your item is not listed, call the Department of Public Works at 781-942-9077
A
Appliances/White Goods: Call JRM at (800) 323-4285 to schedule an appliance pick-up for items like stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and water heaters. Once payment is received, no refunds are granted.
Asbestos: You must use a licensed asbestos removal contractor to dispose of asbestos. Check the yellow pages for licensed contractors.
B
Batteries:Alkaline batteries manufactured after 1994 can be thrown out with the regular trash. All alkaline batteries manufactured before 1994, NiCad, button, zinc and lithium batteries should be disposed of through the of Town Reading Household Hazardous Waste Day. To recycle rechargeable batteries, call (800) 8-BATTERY or visit Call2Recycle
Bicycles: Bikes not Bombs, a non-profit organization located in Roxbury, is working to promote community development and alternative transportation. Donated bikes are shipped to third world countries and used locally to train young people as bicycle mechanics. Kids can also build/recondition a bike through the Earn-A-Bike program. Part of the program involves the kids participating in community service (617) 522-0222.
Books: Donate almost any kind of book to Got Books?, is a registered professional fundraiser that sells donated books and gives the proceeds to local non-profit organizations. Donations are not tax deductible. (978) 664-6555
Broken Fluorescent Bulbs: Dispose of expended or broken fluorescent bulbs at the Department of Public Works Facility, 75 New Crossing Rd. Fluorescent bulbs, including energy saving compacts, contain a small amount of mercury. If a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, do not inhale the vapor and do not use a vacuum for cleanup. Sweep the pieces together with a brush or broom - not with your hand - and clean up bits of glass with a wet rag or towel, then place the towel and the pieces into a plastic bag. Fluorescent bulbs emit no mercury unless they are broken.
C
Carpet: May be disposed of curbside if cut into 3 ft. lengths, rolled and tied. Carpet is considered a bulky item and each household is allowed only one bulky item per week.
Cell Phones: Drop off your old cell phone at Staples, 34 Walkers Brook Dr. Reading, MA 01867, 781-944-0563 or visit Call2Recycle for other drop off locations.
Christmas Tree Recycling: Picked up curbside one week in January, may also be brought to the Compost Center on Strout Ave Reading MA, one Saturday in January, dates TBA must have Compost Access Sticker or Compost Card Permit to enter the site.
Computers, Keyboards, Printers, Monitors: See CRTs
Construction Debris: This will not be accepted for curbside disposal. Insulation, brick, drywall/plaster soil, gravel, asphalt, shingles and other similar materials are considered construction debris. Residents should properly dispose of this waste by having the contractor completing this work be responsible for removing it. Or contact a local disposal company listed in the yellow pages or newspaper. See Construction Debris
CRTs: Cathode Ray Tubes like televisions, or computer monitors may be disposed of curbside by appointment. Call JRM at (800) 323-4285 to have them picked up on your regular trash day. Once payment is received, no refunds are granted.
EWaste Solutions will do door to door CRT removal for a fee, call 800-781-0987 or 781-933-0709 or e-mail them at info@ewastesolutions.com
or you can recycle your old computer or monitor through a manufacturer. These manufacturers will recycle any brand of computer hardware.
Clean Harbors Environmental, Inc. Clean Harbors holds collections Saturday mornings from April 1 - October 31 at their facility in Braintree. Click through for their hours, cost, directions and contact information.
D
Doors: Doors may be disposed of curbside. Considered a bulky item and each household is allowed only one bulky item per week.
E
Electronics: See CRTs HP and Staples Make It Easy, Free to Recycle Electronics Nationwide. You can also throw away electronic equipment, other than computer monitors and TVs, in the trash.
Eyeglasses: recyclable, collected by the Lions Club.
F
File Cabinet: Call JRM at (800) 323-4285 to schedule a pickup for metal file cabinets, or keep for our annual metal pickup each Spring.
Fire Extinguisher: Empty fire extinguishers can be thrown away in the curbside trash. If an old fire extinguisher is full, discharge it into a trash bag and then dispose of the bag curbside.
Fence: For wood fences, see "Wood" below.
Furniture: Mattresses, box springs, sofas, chairs, recliners, table book case may be disposed of curbside. Considered a bulky item and each household is allowed only one bulky item per week. Several area charities will also accept donated furniture. To arrange a pickup of furniture and other items at your home call Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (781) 595-7570 x13, Second Time Around toll free (866) 768-3325, St. Vincent DePaul (800) 675-2882, or the Salvation Army (617) 542-5420, Mission of Deeds (781) 944-9797
G
Grill: Considered a bulky item may be placed curbside. Each household is allowed only one bulky item per week. Propane tanks must be removed. Empty propane tanks must be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Day collection.
H
Household Goods: Donate items in good condition like clothing, linens, household goods, etc, to charitable organizations such as Coalition for the Homeless 781-482-3733, The Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries.
I
Ink and toner recycling: Recycle your empty ink and toner cartridges at any Staples store and get $2 back in Staples Rewards®. Not only do you earn Rewards to use at Staples, (Crossing at Walkers Brook) 34 Walkers Brook Dr. Reading, MA 01867, 781-944-0563 You are also reducing landfill waste and saving resources. Now that's rewarding for both you and the planet!
J
Juice Boxes: Milk and juice cartons are made largely from paper sources and fall under the material category of paperboard.
There are two types of cartons; the first kind, aseptic or shelf-stable cartons, is made from paper with a thin layer of polyethylene plastic and aluminum to preserve products without refrigeration. You’ll find aseptic cartons in the non-refrigerated aisles of a supermarket to store broth, soup, soy milk and even wine.
The second type of carton – refrigerated cartons – is used to package juice, milk and egg substitutes and, as the name suggests, is found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Cities and towns are making carton recycling more convenient for their residents by offering curbside recycling programs.
K
Keyboards: recycle your old computer or monitor through a manufacturer. These manufacturers will recycle any brand of computer hardware.
L
Lawn Mower: Considered a bulk item, Lawn mowers may be disposed of curbside as long as the gas and oil are drained. Each household is allowed only one bulky item per week.
M
Mercury-Containing Products: The Health Department will accept mercury-containing products on a limited basis. Acceptable products include thermostats, switches, thermometers, blood pressure cuffs and barometers. Long fluorescent bulbs and energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, however, will not be accepted but can be disposed of through the Department of Public Works Facility 75 New Crossing Rd,
Metal: Large metal items like a desk, exercise equipment, file cabinet may be disposed of by calling JRM at (800) 323-4285 to schedule a pickup. Once payment is received, no refunds are granted.
Scrap Metal: The Town of Reading will schedule 1 scrap metal pickup annually – date TBD
Metal clothes hangers (recyclable – bring back to dry cleaners)
N
Newspaper: Newspapers and cardboard are collected curbside each week. Put in paper (not plastic) bags or tie in bundles. Place on top of or beside your recycling bin. Keep paper free of food and plastic wrapping and NO PLASTIC BAGS
O
Oil: Old motor oil can be refined, reconditioned or reprocessed to become usable again. Most auto shops recycle their oil, and those that do DIY oil changes should recycle or dispose of their oil properly through household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities, auto shops or other collection sites. May also bring to the DPW Facility Monday thru Friday from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM at 75 New Crossing Rd.
P
Paint: Dried out latex paint can be disposed of in the trash, curbside. For small amounts, leave the lid off the paint until dry. For larger amounts, mix with kitty litter or an additive that can be purchased your local hardware store. Dispose of dry paint in trash. Oil based paint will not be accepted curbside, but may be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Day event that Reading holds each Spring and Wakefield holds each Fall – date TBD
Paper Towels: compostable and trash, not recyclable
Plant pots: recyclable if your town has a bulky rigid plastics recycling event, reuse if your garden center accepts, or trash
Plastic Bags: Any plastic bag with the recycling triangles on it may be taken to local grocery stores for recycling, including Stop and Shop on Walkers Brook Dr and Market Basket on Walkers Brook Dr in Reading.
Q
R
Rubber Bands: The United States Post Office reuses rubber bands. Leave them out for your mail carrier, take to the Post Office, or place in a bag in a blue mailbox.
S
Sink: A sink may be disposed of curbside. Considered a bulky item and each household is allowed only one bulky item per week.
Smoke Detectors: Most smoke detectors contain small amounts of a radioactive material, Americium 241 and are therefore, by law, labeled as having radioactive content. Smoke detectors may be disposed of through curbside trash collection or recycling (without the batteries and with a 3-triangle recycling symbol) or by returning them to the manufacturer for disposal as a hazardous waste. Send smoke detectors by surface or ground mail so they do not end up in an airplane. First Alert Corporation will take back any smoke detector made in Aurora, IL. Send to: First Alert, Radioactive Waste Disposal, 780 McClure Road, Aurora, IL 60504-2495.
Sneakers: Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program collects old sneakers of any brand. This program grinds up the shoes and uses them in the surfacing of playgrounds and athletic courts in underprivileged communities. See the website for details on where you can drop off or mail your old sneakers.
Snow blower: Snow blowers 5 hp or under may be disposed of curbside as long as the gas and oil are drained. Over 5 hp, call JRM at (800) 323-4285 to schedule a pick up. Once payment is received, no refunds are granted.
Styrofoam Peanuts: Bring these to the UPS store at 268 Main St. North Reading MA for reuse (978) 664-4815.
T
Thermometer: See Mercury-Containing Products.
Toilet: A-1 New & Used Plumbing and Heating Supplies in Somerville will accept toilets as long as they are not chipped, cracked or broken (617) 625-6140. Also considered a bulky item and each household is allowed only one bulky item per week in the regular trash.
U
V
Vegetable scraps: Food waste and many garden materials such as yard clippings are considered organic waste, which can be recovered through composting. Give composting a chance start your own pile.
Vinyl Records: Recycling options for vinyl (PVC) plastics are limited. There are no companies that specialize in taking large loads of vinyl, such records, and using them to manufacture new vinyl products.
However, there are a lot of reuse options. The Salvation Army, Goodwill, thrift stores, and some music stores accept and sell used vinyl 45's and albums. Freecycle Boston and Craigslist often has people interest in taking, and reusing, records.
There is also a reuse market for album covers and records for various arts and crafts projects uses such as bowls, clocks, handbags, and more. You can do an Internet search for these artists and see if they are interested in taking your records/covers or make the items yourself. You may find more reuse options by doing some additional online research.~ Ultimately, we would encourage you to find a reuse channel for your records.
W
Wood: They must be bundled and tied, less than 3 feet long. Wood fences, which have not been painted, stained or treated, may be cut down and prepared as stated above. For pressure treated wood, please click through to the DEP website.
Wood Stove: Call JRM to schedule a pickup (800) 323-4285.
X
RX Round up: Dispose of unused medications properly click here for information.
Y
Yard waste: The Town will schedule (5) weeks of curbside leaf collection per year. The contractor will pick up Kraft paper bagged leaves
(3) weeks in the fall and (2) weeks in the spring. There is no charge for curbside collection. Dates TBD
Yard waste drop-off?
The Town operates a compost site at Strout Ave that is opened from April thru November. See Compost Schedule Residents are allowed to bring leaves, grass clippings, branches up to 8 inches in diameter and 8 foot lengths. Residents must purchase a Community Access Sticker at the Police Station, or a Compost Card Permit at the D.P.W. Administration Office in Town Hall
Z
Zero waste: Zero Waste! Learn how you can reduce your household waste click here .
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