Waste & Recycling

For any bulk item collection, please contact Waste Management at 800-972-4545 to schedule your pick-up. Please then follow their instructions.

Bulk items consists of the following:

Furniture: Sofas, chairs (metal & wooden), desks, tables, bookcases, entertainments centers

Bedding: Foot and head board, dressers, mirrors must be taped to prevent breakage

Area Rugs: Must be rolled and tied (with twine or duct tape)
Wall-to-wall rugs are NOT accepted

The following items CANNOT be taken – these are building/demolition materials and residents must make their own arrangements through a private outfit:

Sinks, toilets, bathtubs, doors, windows, screens, lumber, fencing, play structures, concrete, brick, stones/rocks, wall to wall carpet etc.

Smaller items that cannot fit into cart may be put in an overflow bag that can be purchased at:
the Collector’s Office at Medford City Hall (first floor), Stop and Shop, and Wegman’s.  The cost: 5 bags for $9.99

For bulk item removal, please consider donating items in usable condition rather than waste. You may contact the following organizations for instructions to schedule a pick-up or locate a drop-off facility.

Vietnam Veterans of America
800-775-VETS (800-775-8387)
https://vva.org/pickup-locations/massachusetts/

Salvation Army
800-SA-TRUCK (800-728-7825)
https://satruck.org/

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Does not accept mattresses or furniture
800-483-5503
https://www.bbbsfoundation.org/

Search for pick up services and drop off locations using the following services:

Donation Town http://www.donationtown.org/

Earth 911 https://earth911.com/

Recycle Search https://recyclesearch.com/

Recycling Works Massachusetts (for Businesses & Institutions) https://recyclingworksma.com/

Find additional information and resources regarding mattress recycling here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/mattress-recycling

The City’s trash + recycling pickup is conducted by Waste Management. To reach them directly: Call 800-972-4545 or visit https://www.wm.com/us

• 2024 Waste Management Trash & Recycling Schedule
• Recycling Information
• Street Lists
• Curbside Composting Program
• Recycling Compactor
  • VIDEO: What to do if the compactor is full
• Recycling Beyond the Bin Search

Recycling Compactor at DPW Yard Saves City Money, Increases Efficiency.

Read more about it here! 

RORR Widget 

Recycling White Goods, Appliances, and Electronics

This is a reminder that the proper recycling of white goods, appliances and electronics requires a disposal sticker. These are available for $26 from the DPW Office, Room 304 at City Hall or send a check and details on what you want recycled to DPW, City Hall, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford 02155.

Trashing Bulk Items

Bulk items are items such as mirrors, rugs, furniture, etc. Bulk items will only be picked up by reservation and only on your recycling day. Please call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 to schedule a pick-up. There is no fee for bulk items.

Fine

Remember, trash of any kind should not be put out on the sidewalk until the late afternoon or early evening of the day prior to your scheduled pick up.  Violations will be subject to a $300 fine. 

Please note we only accept checks

The following items require a $26 sticker in order for it to be collected curbside:

• Refrigerator
• Dishwasher
• Television
• Washer
• Hot Water Tank
• Monitor
• Dryer
• Water Cooler
• Air Conditioner
• Stove
• Dehumidifier

Due to Massachusetts Waste Bans, these items are banned from the landfills and therefore require individual dismantling for disposal/recycling.

Residents can come to Medford City Hall-Room 304 to purchase the collection sticker. Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 am. – 12:30 p.m.

A check may be mailed to the following address payable to “City of Medford” with a description of item being collected:

Department of Public Works
85 George P. Hassett Drive
City Hall – Room 304
Medford, MA 02155

Minuteman Hazardous Products Regional Facility
at the Lexington Compost Facility
60 Hartwell Avenue
Lexington, MA 02421

**Updated August 2022: Due to Covid-19, the regional facility is not available until further notice.

Products that may be brought to the collection site include:

Pesticides and herbicides:
Insecticides, rat poisons, slug bait, mothballs, weed killers, flea, ant and roach powders, insect repellant.

Paints, Solvents and Sealers:
Oil-based paints and stains, paint thinners and strippers, varnishes, shellacs and lacquers, metal polishes, aerosols.
No latex paint accepted!

Auto Care Products:
Engine cleaners, degreasers, tar remover, used oil, gas and oil mixtures, antifreeze, brake fluid, waxes and polishes, automotive batteries. NO TIRES

Cleaners:
Bleach, spot removers, oven cleaners, polishes, disinfectants, rug and toilet cleaners.

Miscellaneous:
Mercury switches or thermostats, poisons, pool chemicals, old chemistry sets, kerosene, dyes, and non-alkaline batteries.

Businesses are not allowed, Non-members cannot drop off propane tanks, fluorescent bulbs, and latex paint at these events.

Directions:
From Rte 128 take exit 31 (Rte 4/225 heading towards Bedford). At the first light take a right, via jug handle, onto Hartwell Ave. The composting facility site is ¼ mile on the left just after the bike path.

Medford residents must pay at site by check. The fee is $85.00 per carload.

Remove paint can cover and allow to air dry. Once at a solid state you can place in a trash bag and put into trash cart.

Hardware stores carry an additive to add into the paint to harden quickly. Once hardened dispose of properly.

Cans with less than ½ inch: add speedy-dry cat litter and dispose of properly.