New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
During the holiday season, around 25% more waste is produced than usual. By reusing, recycling, and giving experiences as gifts such as movie tickets or gift cards to restaurants, we can reduce that waste.
“Residents may have questions about which items can be recycled curbside or at the transfer station as well as what to do with their Christmas trees after the holiday. We are sharing this information now to help our residents prepare,” said Mark Champagne, Director of the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management.
Here are a few tips to help ensure holiday waste ends up in the right place:
• Wrapping paper is not recyclable. If you want to be able to recycle your gift wrap, use newspaper, grocery store flyers, paper bags, reuse packaging paper (or buy a roll). Or give gifts in reusable bags, jars, or tins. Bows and ribbons cannot be recycled; reuse when possible. Place cardboard boxes, gift boxes, greeting cards (no metallic inks, foil, batteries or glitter), catalogs, bottles, and cans in the recycling cart.
• Styrofoam blocks and string lights: Clean blocks of Styrofoam can be recycled at the Shawmut Avenue Transfer Station at 1103 Shawmut Avenue. String lights can be placed in the designated cart at the transfer station until January 31, 2020. These items do not belong in the curbside recycling carts.
• Experience gifts: Planning to give someone that ninth sweater they will struggle to fit in the dresser? Consider going out for breakfast, giving concert tickets, or going on a nature walk together instead.
And, once your Christmas tree has been undecorated, here are several ways it can be properly disposed of:
• Christmas tree collection: ABC Disposal will pick up real Christmas trees from January 6 to January 10. During this week only, residents may place trees at the curb by 7 a.m. the weekday after trash and recycling collection. Please note, if your trash is usually collected on Friday, Christmas trees will only be collected along your route on Monday, January 6th. If your trash is usually collected on Mondays, Christmas trees will only be collected along your route on Tuesday, January 7th and so on. The City will not collect Christmas trees curbside at any other time; if placed at the curb any other time, property owners may be issued a violation notice. Please remove all ornaments, stands, lights, and tinsel. Do not place trees in plastic bags.
• Christmas tree drop-off: Starting on Dec. 26, Christmas trees can be brought to the following locations:
◦ E Rodney French Blvd, beach parking lot, between Hudson Street & Seymour Street, ends 1/10/20
◦ Brooklawn Park, near Pony League Field, enter at Irvington Street, ends 1/10/20
◦ Shawmut Avenue Transfer Station, 1103 Shawmut Avenue, open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Transfer Station will be closed on 12/25/19 and 1/1/20.
For additional tips, visit the New Bedford Recycling Facebook page or follow @NBRecycling on Twitter. If you have questions, please contact the recycling office by phone at (508) 979-1493 or by email at recycling@newbedford-ma.gov.
For Dartmouth residents:
During the holiday season, around 25% more waste is produced than usual. By reusing, recycling, and giving experiences as gifts such as movie tickets or gift cards to restaurants, we can reduce that waste.
“When sharing gifts this holiday season, please make room for the new by donating, selling, or recycling items you no longer need. The reuse or recycling of items will save valuable landfill space. And as important, please remember to only place the correct materials in recycling carts to keep the recycling program running efficiently.” said David Hickox, Director of Public Works.
Here are a few tips to help ensure holiday waste ends up in the right place:
• Wrapping paper is not recyclable. If you want to be able to recycle your gift wrap, use newspaper, grocery store flyers, paper bags, reuse packaging paper (or buy a roll). Or give gifts in reusable bags, jars, or tins. Bows, ribbons, and string cannot be recycled; reuse when possible. Place cardboard boxes, gift boxes, greeting cards (no metallic inks, foil, batteries or glitter), catalogs, and other clean paper in the black-lid cart. Place empty bottles, cans, jugs, and jars in the gray lid cart.
• Styrofoam blocks and string lights: Clean blocks of Styrofoam can be recycled at the Dartmouth Transfer Station, 976 Russells Mills Road (transfer station sticker required). String lights can be placed in the designated cart at the transfer station until January 31, 2020. These items do not belong in the curbside recycling carts.
• Experience gifts: Planning to give someone that ninth sweater they will struggle to fit in the dresser? Consider going out for breakfast, giving concert tickets, or going on a nature walk together instead.
And, once your Christmas tree has been undecorated, here are two ways it can be properly disposed of:
• Christmas tree collection: SMART Program participants – real Christmas trees are scheduled to be picked up on the same day as your solid waste (separate truck) the weeks of January 6, 2020 and January 13, 2020. Collection begins at 7 a.m. Please remove all ornaments, stands, lights, and tinsel. Do not place trees in plastic bags. This schedule is subject to change with unforeseen weather conditions.
• Christmas tree drop-off: Dartmouth residents may drop off real Christmas trees at the brush area located at the Department of Public Works/Water Pollution Control Facility, 759 Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth. The hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. A Transfer Station sticker is required.
There will be no solid waste and recycling collection on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 or January 1, 2020.
For additional tips, visit the Dartmouth Recycling Facebook page. If you have questions, please contact the recycling office by phone at (508) 979-1493 or by email at recycling@newbedford-ma.gov.
