Recycling & Trash

  1. Town-wide Spring Cleanup

    The Shade Tree and Town Beautification Committee and the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee are cosponsoring a town-wide spring cleanup event until May 20th. Special trash bags can be picked up at the DPW office (town hall, second floor). Read on...
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All containers must be at the curb by 6 AM on your pickup day.

The trucks cannot return for recycling or trash not out on time.
Trash Routes

JRM strictly enforces the inspection of recycling contamination. The crew must leave behind contaminated recycling along with a sticker explaining the reason for the bin's rejection. What can I put in the curbside bin?

There's much more that can be recycled than just what goes in the curbside bin. Check out Additional Resources and MassDEP's Beyond the Bin.

Household Hazardous Waste -- Ipswich's HHW Day is Saturday, September 17th. Residents who cannot wait until September or who will miss this year's collection may attend an event in a reciprocal city or town. Check the 2022 Hazardous Waste Reciprocal Event List and note hours and costs.

Fluorescent and CFL Bulbs -- Bring unbroken fluorescent and CFL bulbs to the transfer station during working hours (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 AM to 3:30 PM). Broken bulbs should be cleaned up carefully by following these instructions.


Questions?

  • Can I Recycle This? Check RecycleSmart.
  • What Goes in the Curbside Bin?
  • Gift Wrap, Ribbons, Bows -- These items should be bagged and put in the trash.
  • Appliances -- Freezers, Air Conditioners, Dryers, etc.
  • Boat Shrink Wrap -- Bring rolled or folded clean wrap to the transfer station from March 1st to August 31st.
  • Bulky Items -- Carpet, Furniture, etc.
  • Clothing and Textiles -- Drop your CLEAN and DRY clothing and textiles in the Ecosmith box at Ipswich schools. Need a curbside pickup? Go to Helpsy.co/ipswichma to sign up.
  • Flower Pots -- Bring your EMPTY and RINSED plastic pots and cases to the garden center at Lowes in Danvers to be reused/recycled. These pots do NOT go in the curbside bin.
  • Holiday Lights -- Holiday lights can be recycled, but not in your curbside bin! Lights can be dropped off at the transfer station or town hall (second floor) or mailed year-round to HolidayLEDs or Christmas Light Source.
  • Household Hazardous Waste -- The next Ipswich HHW Day will be Saturday, September 17, 2022. Residents who cannot wait until September or who will miss this year's collection may attend an event in a reciprocal city or town. Check the 2022 Hazardous Waste Reciprocal Event List and note hours and costs.
  • Library of Things -- Borrow items you need only occasionally or to try out before buying. Items include lawn games, sewing machine,  household tool kits, electronics equipment (mini projector, Roku stick, etc.). 
  • Overthrow Bags for are required for trash exceeding one 35-gallon barrel or bag.
  • Paper Berry Boxes -- If clean (no fruit!), these can be placed in your recycling bin.
  • Pizza Boxes -- Brown or white pizza boxes (without pizza and/or liner) can be put in your recycling bin. Frozen-pizza boxes must be put in the trash.
  • Plastic Bags and Plastic Film -- Check here for a list of locations that accept plastic bags and film.
  • Specific Items NOT Accepted in the Bin
  • Plastics: What's Recyclable, What Becomes Trash, and Why
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Medical Sharps -- In addition to sharps mail back services, you can use the sharps disposal kiosks in the lobbies of Beverly Hospital (85 Herrick Street, Beverly) and Addison Gilbert Hospital (298 Washington Street, Gloucester). 
  • Shredded Paper -- Please note that shredded paper must go in the trash (bagged), not in your recycling bin.
  • Styrofoam -- The next free styrofoam recycling event will be Saturday, May 14, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Ipswich High School. Check back here for details in the Spring. Can't wait until May? Then place your styrofoam in your trash bag or in overthrow bags for curbside pickup.
  • Textiles
  • Transfer Station -- On Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 AM to 3:30 PM (excluding holidays), the Transfer Station accepts "household recycling" and many other items not collected curbside. A free transfer station sticker may be obtained at the DPW office. Bring your vehicle registration and proof of residency.
  • Yard Waste -- Bring yard waste to the transfer station on Wednesdays and Saturdays from  8 AM to 3:30 PM.


Trash and Recycling Policy

One 35-gallon bag or barrel (50-pound limit) is allowed per residence.
Please make sure trash is not loose in the barrel.

Recycling is mandatory.

Trash will not be collected if recyclables are not at the curb. All recyclables should be placed in a collection bin (NO plastic bags). There is no limit for recycling, but containers cannot be larger than 45 gallons.

Policy Enforcement

JRM strictly enforces the town’s disposal limit of one barrel or bag and places stickers on any trash or recycling not in compliance with town policy.

Overthrow Bags

Additional trash must be placed in an overthrow bag, available for $2 (in packs of 5 for $10) at Aubuchon Hardware, Conley's Drug, Cumberland Farms, DJ's Variety, Richdale, Shaw's and Tedford's Hardware.

Holiday Pickup Delays

Please check the trash and recycling 2022 holiday schedule.

Food Scraps -- Join the curbside composting program.

Sign up online!
Toss all of your food scraps, houseplants, pizza boxes and much more in a cart for curbside pickup! The curbside compost collection program costs less per week than one overthrow bag. Questions? Call 978-356-6612 or email IpswichComposts@gmail.com.

Recycling Bins

The DPW provides ONE recycling bin to residents. Additional bins are $10 each and Ipswich Recycles stickers are free for residents (both at DPW office at town hall).

Construction Debris

Hiltz at 24 Kondelin Road in Gloucester (978-283-3335)
Mello at 95 Tenney Street in Georgetown (978-352-8581)
 
Recycling and Trash Pickup Issues

Call Public Works at 978-356-6612.

Questions?

Email IpswichRecycles@gmail.com.


Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste Day 2022

Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Transfer Station from 9 to noon.
Ipswich residents may bring accepted household hazardous waste items to this September event.

Residents who cannot wait until September or cannot attend the event may also bring their HHW to another community with an open event. Check the 2022 HHW Reciprocal Events List. Note hours and costs for nonresidents.

Need to dispose of items before or after open events occur?
Check MassDEP's website for alternatives.

HHW Emergency Response Lines

ACV Enviro (800-7-SPILLS -- 800-777-4557)
Clean Harbors (800-645-8265)



Ipswich is plastic bag- and styrofoam-free!

Ipswich businesses are using alternatives to single-use plastic bags and styrofoam. Please note that trash bags are not affected by this ban. Learn more here.

Contact Us

  1. Marlene Faria Connelly


    Waste Reduction Program Manager
    Email

    Town Hall
    25 Green St.
    Ipswich, MA 01938
    Ph: 978-356-6612
    Fx: 978-356-6616

    Hours


    Mondays
    8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
    Tuesdays - Thursdays
    8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Fridays
    8 a.m. - Noon

    Staff Directory