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What should I do if my recycling was not picked up? |
Recycling must be set out at the curb by 7:00am on your collection day, or as early as 5:00pm the day before. If your recycling was missed, call the DPW to report your address. Always leave us your name and a return phone number. If the recycling truck is still out on the road, we may be able to get back to you on the same day, if not please leave your recycling at the curb, and it will be picked up the following business day.
Why would my recycling be left at the curb? |
There are several common problems to be aware of in terms of preparing your recycling for collection. Please avoid these common problems to ensure pickup of your recycling:
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No plastic bags -- The processing facility that receives our recyclable material does not accept plastic bags, so please do not put your newspapers or cans and bottles into plastic bags. In fact, plastic bags which can cause problems for the automated systems, have to be manually removed. Most plastic bags can be brought to your local grocery store for recycling. |
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Do not put paper loose in the recycling bin -- All paper items should be together in paper bags, and containers should be loose in the bin. The only exception to this is with cardboard, discussed next. |
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Unflattened and/or Large Cardboard -- Cardboard that is larger than 30 inches by 30 inches will not fit in the recycling truck, and unflattened cardboard causes the truck to fill up too quickly since the material is not compacted. All cardboard should be flattened and can be placed in the paper bag with the rest of your papers, or can be tied with string, stood up between a couple recycling bins, or placed under your recycling bin. |
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Dirty (Contaminated) Recyclables -- Containers that are not rinsed out and paper or cardboard with food waste can contaminate the rest of the truckload and result in additional processing costs. |
What types of items can I put in my red bin for recycling collection? |
Curbside recyclable items include paper (newpaper, magazines, phone books, mixed paper, beverage containers, paperboard such as cereal boxes, junk mail including window envelopes), cardboard (flattened and cut or folded to 30" by 30" or smaller), and glass, metal and plastic food containers #1, #2, and #6. Click here to be directed to our current recycling flier.
How do I get a red bin for recycling, and can I get more than one? |
Bins can be picked up from the Department of Public Works at 384 Osgood Street, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The town sells these bins at a subsidized rate of $3 each. You may purchase as many as you need, however you only need to have one red bin to get the truck to stop at your house. If you have more stuff than will fit in one bin, that's great...it means you are recycling a lot! You can put your overflow material in any other plastic container that is of comparable size. The DPW has big green 'bumper' stickers the say "RECYCLE" that you can put on your overflow bin. Be careful to keep the weight of the container less than 30 pounds.
When is yard waste collection and what is accepted? |
Leaves are collected for xx weeks in the Fall, usually in November. The timing is somewhat dependent on the weather and changes each year. Once the exact dates are decided, they will be posted to the Yard Waste page.
Our Spring collection is for sticks and small branches that have come down over the winter. No leaves are collected in the Spring, and the timing is again dependent on the weather. The sticks and branches are chipped curbside and then taken to the Cyr Recycling Center. The maximum diameter that can be processed by our chipper is 3 inches. Please leave your branches loose, and with the butt end toward the road.
For more information about our yard waste drop-off center, please visit the Yard Waste page.
Yard waste is one of the materials that is banned from disposal at incinerators and landfills, which is why we have set up programs to keep it out of the trash. Composting our yard waste either at the Cyr Recycling Center, or in our own back yards just makes sense. Click here for more information on the Massachusetts State Waste Bans, and our Town Bylaws about trash disposal.
I would like to get rid of some furniture, what are my options? |
Help the Town reduce waste and encourage reuse by donating furniture in good condition. Click here for more information. Our trash hauler will pick up one 'bulky' item per week with your regular trash. This includes a mattress, boxspring, sofa, wood filing cabinet, chair, etc. Carpet must be cut into 4' lengths, rolled and tied. Each roll must be less than 35 pounds, and they will take up to 3 rolls per week
What should I do with appliances? |
Appliances and large metal items are collected curbsidee metal items are collected curbside by appointment. The cost of disposal is not part of the DPW budget, therefore residents using this service send a check to the DPW to schedule an appointment. The Appliance Pickup Form is available online, and explains the process. If your appliance still works you may want to consider donating it. If you have a new appliance delivered to your home, it is usually possible to arrange for the delivery company to take away your old appliance at the same time. You may want to check out that option too.
Appliances, sometimes called White Goods, are banned from disposal at incinerators and landfills, which is why we have set up programs to keep it out of the trash. Click here for more information on the Massachusetts State Waste Bans, and our Town Bylaws about trash disposal.
How can I get rid of a computer or television? |
Computer monitors and televisions contain significant amounts of lead. Even the newer flat screen TVs and computer monitors contain mercury. These items must be dropped off at the DPW on the third Saturday of the month when the DPW is open from 9am until noon. The cost of disposal is not build into the DPW budget, therefore residents using this service pay for the disposal when their items are dropped off.
Computer monitors and televisions are banned from disposal at incinerators and landfills, which is why we have set up programs to keep it out of the trash. Click here for more information on the Massachusetts State Waste Bans, and our Town Bylaws about trash disposal.
How do I get rid of latex paint? |
Latex paint is not considered hazardous, but needs to be dry/hardened when put out with the trash. The best thing to do is either leave the lid off the can until the paint dries, or help the drying process along with kitty litter, or a waste paint hardener which can be purchased where paint is sold. When the paint is dry, and you put it out with the trash, leave the lids off so that the trash collectors know it is dry. They won't take it wet because it can make a real mess in a compactor truck, and subsequently on our streets!
We do not take latex at Hazardous Waste day, but will take it on any other 3rd Saturday of the month for a fee of $3 per gallon can.
Can Styrofoam (marked 6) be recycled in North Andover? |
#6 poly-styrene comes in two varieties…foam and rigid. Recycling rigid plastic and recycling foam are two different processes. We can recycle all rigid food and beverage containers, but cannot recycle foam.
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