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1. My trash wasn't picked up. What should I do?

If it's your usual trash day (and not a holiday), call the DPW at 978-356-6612. If it's a holiday, make sure your trash is out for pickup the following day by 6 AM.

2. Some of my trash was not picked up. What happened?

If you exceeded the one-barrel limit and did not put your extra trash in an official overthrow bag, your trash will be left behind.

3. What is the Curbside Organics Collection Program?

Household organics are collected by the resident in a provided cart and picked up by a special truck on Wednesday mornings. The DPW subsidizes this program with grant funds and residents pay $95 per year to participate and receive a free compost cart. 

Finished compost is available for participants, up to 50 gallons twice per year. 

The Ipswich Recycling Advisory Committee, with the Department of Public Works and MassDEP, started this curbside collection pilot in Fall 2011. More than 1,074 tons of organics have been composted instead of incinerated with the trash.

4. How often is recycling?

Recycling is weekly on the same day as your trash pickup. Please put your recycling at the curb by 6 AM to ensure that both your recycling and trash will be picked up.

5. How much do Ipswich’s Overthrow trash bags cost?

Ipswich’s official Overthrow Bags cost $2 per bag and are sold in 5-bag pack for $10. Residents need to use these bags only when they dispose of trash in excess of one 35-gallon bag or barrel per week.

6. Where can I purchase these special Overthrow Bags?

Aubuchon Hardware, Conley's Drug, Cumberland Farms (both), DJ's Variety, Richdale, Shaw's and Tedford's sell these bags.