Recycling Guide

The Yarmouth Recycling Center accepts the following items.

Recycling Center Hours

Do

Mixed Paper

Junk mail, paperboard (cereal boxes and the like) brown paper bags. No Christmas wrapping paper. No shredded paper--it tangles recycling equipment.

Cardboard

Please breakdown your cardboard so that it is flat. Empty pizza boxes, even with some grease, can be recycled. What is cardboard? It is made of three separate layers of paper: an inside layer, an outside layer and fluting that runs in between.

Newspaper

Please don't put newspaper in bags, paper or plastic.

Magazines

Put magazines and catalogs in the Magazine shed or in the large container next to it marked "MAG."

Plastics

Recycle single use plastic containers that have a lid or cap. Examples: water bottles, yogurt containers, laundry detergent bottles, "clam shell" containers for lettuce, fruit, etc. Attach lids/caps. All items should be clean. No heavy-duty rigid plastics like toys, laundry baskets, etc.

Metal / Tin cans

Metal containers should be empty.

Aluminum / Foil

Aluminum cans should be empty. Foil should be clean.

Scrap Metal

Bulky metal materials. Fees may apply.

Small Metals

Small Metal items that can fit through a 2' by 2' opening.

Glass (all colors mixed together)

Bottles and jars should be empty. Remove corks and lids. No plate glass, lightbulbs, glassware, Pyrex. CFC and fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury. Please drop them off at the shed.

Food Waste

Residential food waste only, including vegetable and meat scraps, bones, and fat. NO plastic bags, cups, containers unless they are BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certified. An example of bags that are allowed are biodegradable Biobags which may be ordered online.

YES

Food Waste
  • coffee grounds and filters
  • BPI or CMA certified coffee pods
  • non-synthetic tea bags (okay to include staples)
  • eggs and eggshells
  • meat and seafood (including bones, shells and raw; lobster shell make the compost rich!)
  • fruits and vegetable (including skins, pits, seeds, corn cobs, fruit (from trees); stickers removed
  • dairy (including cheese, yogurt, etc.)
  • pasta
  • grains
  • bread
  • cookies
  • cake
  • candy
  • coconut and coconut shells
  • cooking oil and grease (leave in an aluminum can w/lid on if liquid, scrape into bin if solidified) 
Household items
  • wine corks (cork, not plastic)
  • pet food
  • hair, fur, feathers (human and animal)

NO

Packaging
  • ABSOLUTELY NO PLASTIC: cups, containers, food & candy wrap, chip bags, shopping bags, garbage bags, produce bags, plastic wrap, cellophane etc.
  • ABSOLUTELY NO CARTONS: milk, juice, ice cream, shelf-stable cream, broth & soup containers (they have hidden plastic & foil components)
  • NO PRODUCE STICKERS, RUBBER BANDS, TIES & ALL PRODUCE & MEAT PACKAGING • NO MEAL BOX INSULATION • NO BIODEGRADABLE PACKING PEANUTS
  • NO TAKEOUT CONTAINERS & CUPS (most are not compostable, check at purchase if BPI or CMA cert.*)
Household items
  • NO BODILY FLUID (blood, mucus, snot)
  • NO USED COMPOSTABLE DIAPERS (sorry)
  • NO SANITARY PRODUCTS
  • NO DOG or CAT WASTE (including cat litter)
  • NO DEAD ANIMALS
  • NO GRASS CLIPPINGS (subscribe to an approved organic yard care partner and we can take it!)
  • NO LAUNDRY LINT & DRYER SHEETS
  • NO TEXTILES (see textile entry)
  • NO DENTAL FLOSS or Q-TIPS
Paper
  • NO SHREDDED PAPER
  • NO MAIL, ENVELOPES, SHINY PAPER, MAGAZINES, CEREAL BOXES (due to colored ink & plastics)
  • NO PLASTIC or WAXED CARDBOARD
  • NO WAX or PARCHMENT PAPER (unless certified*)
  • NO CHEMICALLY SOILED PAPER (baby & disinfectant wipes, paper used w/ chemical cleaners, house paint, machine oil, etc.)

Books

Put hard and soft cover books in the large white receptacles.

Electronics

Computers, laptops, cell phones, TVs, cables, etc. Take to the scale house as fees apply

Eyeglasses

Put used eyeglasses (and hearing aids) in the yellow bin hosted by the Lions Club.

Fire Extinguishers

Take to the scale house. There is a $10.00 fee for disposal.

Hearing Aids

Put used hearing aids (and eyeglasses) in the yellow bin hosted by the Lions Club.

Light Bulbs

We accept fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) only.

Mattresses

Yarmouth residents are invited to recycle mattresses!  A fee of $25 for all mattresses and box springs still applies. Did you know that there are components of a mattress that can be recycled? Through a grant from DEP, the Town of Yarmouth will be sending all acceptable mattresses to a company called ACE Mattress Recycling. There are some limitations to the recycling program to which we want to alert you. Some of the key points are shown below. All mattresses must be as follows:

  • from Yarmouth residences
  • clean and unsoiled
Mattresses will not be recycled if they are as follows:
  • mangled and twisted in any way
  • have bedbugs
  • have covers of any kind, e.g., sheets, blankets, plastic covers
  • are wet and/or moldy
Mattress Recycling does not include the following:
  • futon mattresses
  • car seats
  • crib mattresses
Disposal Area staff will be happy to send you to the appropriate location to deposit your mattress. If it cannot be recycled, we can direct you to the right spot to drop it off.

Propane Tanks

Propane tanks do not need to be empty to be dropped off.

Returnable Containers

Returnable containers should be bagged and left at the designated area next to the Magazine shed. They will benefit local charities.

Textiles

Textiles can be either "donation quality" or rags.

U.S. Flags

U.S. Flags brought to the Recycling Center (or Yarmouth Town Hall) will be disposed of properly by a local Boy Scout troop or veterans organization.

Construction and Demolition Debris

Construction & Demolition debris includes concrete, lumber, roofing shingles, etc. Fees apply.

Yard Waste Grass and Leaves

Grass, leaves and small brush clippings. No branches larger than thumb width.

Christmas Trees

Christmas trees can be brought to the Transfer Station through mid-February and disposed of in a specially marked location. Look for directions at the gate house. This service is free to residents with a current transfer station sticker.

Holiday Lights

Defective/unwanted tree lights are being collected for recycling in a special bin next to the gate house through mid-February.

Pumpkins

Please bring your pumpkins and other large gourds to the grass and leaf compost area. Ensure any non-organic materials such as candle wax and battery powered votives are removed first.

MA Bottle Deposit

Massachusetts is one of 10 states in the United States with container deposit legislation popularly called "bottle bills". Redeem your redeemable bottles and cans at your grocery store or a package store.

Don't

Top Contaminants

Plastic Bags
Bagged Recyclables
Tanglers
Food Waste
Textiles
Styrofoam
Flower Pots
Black plastic

Paper

  • paper towels
  • tissues
  • Gift wrap

Plastic

  • styrofoam
  • plastic cutlery
  • bubblewrap
  • k cups
  • flower pots
  • Single use cups, lids and straws

Glass

  • glassware / Pyrex
  • window glass
  • lightbulbs

Don't Know?

Under construction. Please be patient while we finish developing our handy lookup tool.

Residents of Massachusetts can use the Recyclopedia while our Disposal Dictionary is under development.

When in doubt, leave it out!