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 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.

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.

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. For more information click here

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

The mattresses you bring to the recycling center will be deconstructed into their various components (wood, fiber, metal).

Mercury

Thermostats, thermometers, etc. Bring to the gate house for safe disposal.

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 include donation quality clothes, sheets, towels, rags, and other items made of fabric.

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..

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.

MA Bottle Deposit

Massachusetts is one of 10 states in the United States with container deposit legislation popularly called "bottle bills".

Don't

Top Contaminants

Plastic Bags
Bagged Recyclables
Tanglers
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?

Preview of our Disposal Dictionary. Type "paper egg carton" above to test it out!

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

When in doubt, leave it out!