Recycling & Trash

Recycling and trash details for 2021.

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.

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.

Read about A Day in the Life of a Recycling Facility.

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.
Bulky Items -- Carpet, Furniture, etc.
Clothing and Textiles
Flower Pots -- These cannot be recycled in your bin, even if they have the symbol and number on them. If you cannot reuse them, please put them in your trash bag.
Holiday Lights -- Holiday lights can be recycled, but not in your curbside bin! Lights can be mailed year-round to HolidayLEDs or Christmas Light Source.
Household Hazardous Waste -- The next Ipswich HHW Day will be Saturday, September 18, 2021. Residents who cannot attend on September 18th may attend an event in a reciprocal city or town. Please check the schedule and note hours and costs.
Library of Things -- Borrow items you need only occasionally or to try out before buying. Items include sewing machine, lawn games, 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 -- Updates
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.
Textiles
Transfer Station -- On Wednesdays and Saturdays (8 AM to 3:30 PM), 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 2021 holiday delay schedule.

Food Scraps -- Join the curbside composting program.

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)

Pickup Issues

Call Public Works at 978-356-6612.

Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste Day 2021

Saturday, September 18, 2021, at the Transfer Station from 9-12

Residents may bring accepted household hazardous waste items to this September event.

Residents may also bring their HHW to another community with an open event. Please note that communities charge a fee to 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.