Arlington Town Manager Jim Feeney announced that Waste Management (WM) will be the Town's new waste hauler beginning July 1, 2025. On that date the Town will move to an automated curbside collection program, which requires the Town to purchase new standardized trash and recycling carts that will be delivered to all households throughout June. 

"Through a competitive bidding process, an automated curbside collection program was chosen as the most cost-effective option for Arlington, " said Arlington Town Manager, Jim Feeney. “Over the life of this contract, Arlington is expected to save at least $10 million compared to the manual collection program we use today. It is also anticipated there will be cleaner streets because all carts will have lids.” 

In June, on a rolling basis, all Arlington households will receive dedicated trash and recycling carts with an information packet detailing the program. Each 65-gallon cart will be assigned to an address. Public Works will maintain these records. WM will repair them at no cost to residents. The wheeled and rugged carts are easy to maneuver and include heavy-duty lids to reduce wildlife activity and litter.  

There will be no changes to your collection day. The new program does have a couple of other notable changes, including: 

• Yard waste collection will be biweekly in the spring/summer and weekly in the fall. 

• Bulky items will require a fee and appointment for collection. 

Additionally, consideration will have to be given to how you place trash and recycling at the curb for successful automated curbside collection. Ideally, carts should be placed at the edge of driveway, within three (3) feet of the curb line/road edge and at least three (3) feet away from each other and any obstacles, so the mechanical arm can collect them. Arrows on the lid will provide placement direction. If cars park in front of your carts, the driver will collect them. 

A 65-gallon cart size was chosen as the size that best serves the collection needs across all households community-wide.  However, the Town recognizes some residents may have a hardship that makes the 65-gallon carts challenging to maneuver. To accommodate these residents, the Town has ordered a limited number of 35-gallon trash and recycling carts. Residents who prefer the 35-gallon carts for reasons other than hardship can also submit their information, as the Town evaluates additional downsizing options, which may include making smaller carts available for a one-time fee.  

To read additional details about the new automated curbside collection program, the carts, and possible downsize options, please visit the FAQ page at arlingtonma.gov/recycle. 

The Town would also like to thank the Recycling Partnership for their financial support of approximately $276,000 and for their guidance in transitioning Arlington to this new program. We understand this new program represents a significant change, and thank the community in advance for their patience as we navigate this transition alongside our partner, WM.