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1. How often is recycling?

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

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

Recycling is mandatory for trash pickup, so both must be at the curb by 6 AM. Also, make sure your trash is bagged and/or you haven't exceeded the one-barrel limit. 

If it's your usual trash day (and not a holiday), call the DPW at 978-356-6612. If it's a holiday week, your trash and recycling must be at the curb the following day by 6 AM.   

If you exceeded the one-barrel limit and did not put your extra trash in an official overthrow bag, you can purchase overthrow bags at the following stores in Ipswich: Aubuchon, Conley's Drug, Cumberland Farms, DJ's Variety, Richdale, Shaw's and Tedford's. Please remember that trash bags cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each.

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

Recycling is mandatory for trash pickup, so both need to be at the curb by 6 AM. Also, check to make sure your trash is bagged and/or you haven't exceeded the one-barrel limit. 

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

If you exceeded the one-barrel limit and did not put your extra trash in an official overthrow bag, you can purchase overthrow bags at the following stores in Ipswich: Aubuchon, Conley's Drug, Cumberland Farms, DJ's Variety, Richdale, Shaw's and Tedford's. Please remember that trash bags cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each.

  

4. What is the Curbside Compost Collection Program?

Household organics are collected by participants, placed in a provided cart and picked up by a special truck on Wednesday mornings. Residents pay $95 per year to participate and the DPW subsidizes this program with grant funds and provides a free compost cart. 

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

The Ipswich Waste Reduction 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.

5. How much do the Ipswich Overthrow Bags cost?

Ipswich’s official Overthrow Bags cost $2 per bag and are sold in a 5-bag pack for $10. These bags are necessary only when you dispose of trash in excess of one 35-gallon bag or barrel per week.

Please remember that all trash needs to be in a bag. Overthrow bags should be placed on top of or next to the first free bag/barrel.

Overthrow bags can be purchased at Aubuchon, Conley's Drug, Cumberland Farms, DJ's Variety, Richdale, Shaw's and Tedford's.

6. Where can I purchase the Overthrow Bags?

Ipswich’s official Overthrow Bags cost $2 per bag and are sold in a 5-bag pack for $10 at these locations: Aubuchon, Conley's Drug, Cumberland Farms, DJ's Variety, Richdale, Shaw's and Tedford's.