Recycling A-Z
Recycling Everyday Items
First, make full use of the municipal curbside recycling program.
Next, check below to see if items can be reused or recycled. Have something not listed? Visit RecycleSmartMA.gov.
Appliances/White Goods
Working appliances can be donated to Goodwill. Appliances that have outlived their usefulness can be brought to the transfer station for recycling. For curbside service, call Republic Services to prepay (781-289-0500) and schedule a pickup.
Batteries
Rechargeable, vehicle and household batteries can be recycled at the transfer station. Tedford's Hardware, Best Buy and Staples also take rechargeable batteries for recycling. Button-cell batteries (watches, hearing aids, remote car starters, etc.) may contain Mercury and are collected at Town Hall at the Treasurer's office, the Department of Public Works office and the Council on Aging.
Berry Boxes
Clean paper berry boxes (no fruit!) can be placed in the recycling bin.
Boat Shrink Wrap
Bring rolled or folded clean wrap to the transfer station from March 1st to August 31st.
Books
Book donations can be placed in the More Than Words bin at the transfer station. The Ipswich Public Library will accept small donations of newer books that can be resold.
Bulky Items (Wooden Furniture, Carpet, etc.)
Carpet, wooden furniture, sofas, patio umbrellas, etc. are considered bulky items and require a $10 sticker, which is available for purchase at Aubuchon's, Conley's Drug, Cumberland Farms (Central Street), DJ's Variety, Richdale, Shaw's and Tedford's. One bulky item per week.
Please note that MATTRESSES AND BOX SPRINGS are not included and must be recycled.
Cars and Trucks
Several charities in Massachusetts will recycle your car and/or other vehicles, and guidelines for donating are offered by the Attorney General’s office. Here are some charities that accept vehicle donations: American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Goodwill, Make a Wish, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, Vehicles for Veterans MA. Also check with your favorite charity to see if they have a program.
Cardboard
Small amounts of cardboard can be put at the curb with the recycling if they are empty and flattened. More than five should be tied together with twine. Large amounts of cardboard can be brought to the transfer station (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 AM to 3:30) at 180 Town Farm Road or to the Public Works yard at 100 County Road. Please make sure boxes are emptied and flattened before loading your vehicle.
CDs, DVD and Video Games
Unwanted but still-good CDs, video games and DVDs can be donated in the More Than Words collection box at the transfer station.
Cell Phones and MP3 Players
Bring these to the Public Works office for recycling. Phones and MP3 players in working order can be sent to Cell Phones for Soldiers or other nonprofit organizations in need of devices.
Christmas Trees
Live trees (decorations removed) should be brought to the transfer station (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 AM to 3:30 PM). Artificial trees are considered a bulky item and require a sticker.
Clothing and Textiles
Clothing, linens and other textiles are banned from the waste stream in Massachusetts. Drop your BAGGED, CLEAN and DRY clothing and textiles in the Ecosmith box at Ipswich schools or Ecosmith and the American Red Cross boxes at the transfer station.
All textiles, including ripped or stained items, must be CLEAN AND DRY. Need a curbside pickup? Helpsy offers curbside pickup by appointment! Go to Helpsy.co/ipswichma to sign up.
Computers & Electronics
At a special collection event on May 20th, electronics can be recycling for a small fee that supports Ipswich's environmental efforts. For curbside pickup, call Republic Services at 781-289-0500 to schedule and prepay a pickup. Goodwill accepts some electronics (No TVs) that are in working order at their donation sites. Staples and Best Buy will recycle electronics for free and monitors and computers for a fee even if they were not purchased there. Call before you go.
Construction Debris
These materials (doors, cabinets, sinks, toilets, lumber, etc.) are banned from the trash in Massachusetts and must be brought to a facility that accepts them. Hiltz (Gloucester) and Mello (Georgetown) are open to the public and charge by weight. Call or check their websites before you go.
Eyeglasses
The Ipswich Lions Club collects eyeglasses at the Council on Aging (Town Hall) and in their mailbox in the parking lot of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church at One Pineswamp Road. The mailbox for eyeglasses is clearly marked in the corner of the lot, next to the clothing bins.
Flags
Market Basket has an American flag receptacle at the entrance of their stores. American Legion Posts and VFW Posts also accept flags for proper disposal.
Flower and Plant Pots
Bring EMPTY AND RINSED plastic pots and cases to the garden center at Lowes or Home Depot for reuse/recycling. Plastic, ceramic, and glass pots cannot go in the curbside bin.
Fluorescent and CFL Bulbs
Bring unbroken fluorescent and CFL bulbs to the transfer station during operating hours (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 AM to 3:30 PM). Broken bulbs should be cleaned up carefully.
Holiday Lights
Holiday lights can be recycled, but NOT in the curbside bin! Lights can be dropped off at the transfer station or mailed year-round to HolidayLEDs or Christmas Light Source. Remove any decorations (tinsel, greens, etc.) and broken bulbs. Small amounts of light strands can be brought to town hall (second floor).
Household Items
Donations of working, gently used household items can be given to the Goodwill Store, Savers and Project Home Again. Some organizations, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Epilepsy Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul will pick up reusable household items from our home on a schedule or by appointment.
Ink Cartridges
Cartridges can be dropped off at Staples and Best Buy.
K-Cups
These should be put in the trash.
Medical Sharps
Use the sharps (lancets, needles and syringes) disposal kiosk on the lower level of Town Hall outside of the Council on Aging cafeteria. No loose sharps -- personal sharps containers that fit easily through the kiosk door are available to those who need them. There are also sharps mail-back services and sharps disposal kiosks in the lobbies of Beverly Hospital (85 Herrick Street, Beverly) and Addison Gilbert Hospital (298 Washington Street, Gloucester).
Medications
Expired or unused medicine, including prescription drugs, should not be flushed, poured down the drain, or thrown in the trash. Secure dropoff boxes are located in the lobby at the Ipswich Police Department (15 Elm Street) and at Town Hall (25 Green Street, lower level near the Council on Aging). NO liquids or medical sharps. Questions? Call Ipswich Police at 978-356-4343.
Metals
Any item at least 60% metal can be brought to the transfer station. A beach sticker or a transfer station sticker is required. Transfer station stickers are available free at the Department of Public Works – bring your Ipswich car registration or other proof of residency.
Overthrow Bags
These bags are required for trash exceeding one 35-gallon barrel or bag.
Pizza Boxes
Brown or white pizza boxes (no pizza or liners) can be put in the curbside recycling bin. Frozen-pizza boxes must be put in the trash.
Plastic Bags & Film
Plastic bags and film (case wrap, paper towel wrap, etc.) can be recycled! Many grocery and retail stores (Shaw's, Market Basket, Target, Kohl's, Staples, Lowe's) have recycling bins for plastic grocery bags (labeled #2 or #4) and plastic film. Recycle them during your weekly shopping trip, or consider reusing them for some other household purpose. Avoid using them completely by investing in reusable bags, which are available at most grocery and retail stores or online.
Plastics: What’s Recyclable, What Becomes Trash, and Why
Prescription Drugs
Expired or unused medicine, including prescription drugs, should not be flushed, poured down the drain, or thrown in the trash. Secure dropoff boxes are located in the lobby at the Ipswich Police Department (15 Elm Street) and at Town Hall (25 Green Street, lower level near the Council on Aging). Questions? Call Ipswich Police at 978-356-4343.
Records
Vinyl records can be donated at Savers (139 Endicott Street) or Goodwill (301 Newbury Street) in Danvers.
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Remove the batteries (see above for battery recycling) and then put these items in the trash.
Sharps (Medical)
Use the sharps (lancets, needles and syringes) disposal kiosk on the lower level of Town Hall outside of the Council on Aging cafeteria. No loose sharps -- personal sharps containers that fit easily through the kiosk door are available to those who need them. There are also sharps mail-back services and 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 the recycling bin.
Sneakers/Athletic Shoes
Items that can still be worn may put in the collection bin at any Ipswich school. But worn-out athletic shoes can be recycled! Nike collects all brands of worn-out athletic footwear (no cleats or dress shoes) in their Reuse-A-Shoe Program at Nike and Converse locations (Nike stores with collection bins – Somerville MA, Kittery ME, and Merrimack and Tilton NH. Converse stores are in Somerville at Assembly Row and in Merrimack NH).
Sporting Goods
Baseball mitts and bats, volleyballs, basketballs, ski equipment, snowboards, weights, etc. can be donated. Vietnam Vets of America accepts these items. Passback, a donation program of the US Soccer Federation, accepts clean soccer cleats, balls, shin guards, pads nets, shirts or short.
Styrofoam
Styrofoam should be put in the trash or in overthrow bags for curbside pickup. Check IpswichRecycles.org for any white-foam-only collection events in May or September.
Textiles
Clothing, linens and other textiles are banned from the waste stream in Massachusetts. Bring your BAGGED textiles to the Ecosmith box at any of Ipswich's schools or to the Ecosmith or American Red Cross boxes at the transfer station. All textiles, including ripped or stained items, must be clean and dry.
Need a curbside pickup? Visit Helpsy.co/ipswichma to sign up.
Transfer Station
The Ipswich Transfer Station is a recycling facility open to residents 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 beach sticker or transfer station sticker is required. A free transfer station sticker may be obtained at the DPW office (town hall, second floor). Bring your vehicle registration and proof of residency.
Wire Hangers
Wire hangers in good condition can be returned to the dry cleaner for reuse. Wire hangers are also accepted in the metal dumpster at the transfer station.
Wrapping Paper, Ribbons, Bows
These items should be bagged and put in the trash.
Yard Waste
Bring yard waste (leaves, twigs, sticks, brush and branches SMALLER THAN 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet long) to the transfer station on Wednesdays or Saturdays from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. A beach sticker or transfer station sticker is required. A free transfer station sticker may be obtained at the DPW office (town hall, second floor). Bring your vehicle registration and proof of residency.
MORE?
Other useful items not listed? Offer them on Buy Nothing Ipswich, Freecycle.org, NextDoor, Craigslist or other community social media sites. Check the DONATION GUIDE or email IpswichRecycles@gmail.com.