2025-2026 Waste Collection Calendar and Yard Waste Program 

Frequently Asked Questions and Program Information

How Do I Report a Missed Trash or Recycling Collection?

How to put trash and recycling in your cart?

• Recycling should be placed loose in the cart. No plastic bags.
• Trash should be in trash bags, then placed in your cart for disposal.
• All trash or recycling will need to fit into its respective cart, lid closed, for collection each week. Cardboard will need to be inside the cart to be collected.

Instructions about placement of carts at the curb?

• 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. Consider placing carts at either edge of your driveway apron. If cars are parked in front of your carts, the driver will get out of the truck and collect the carts manually.
• Carts may be placed on the curb, but do not place carts behind trees, mailboxes, lamp posts, or parked cars. If parked cars are a concern, place carts against the curb as described above.
• If your residence does not include a driveway, or if your residence is a multi-family building with a shared driveway, place carts on the street against the curb for collection.
• If your cart placement prevents collection (due to accessibility or location issues), observe where your neighbors successfully place their carts, or contact the Recycling Coordinator for additional guidance.

Optimal placement of carts on the curb

How can I dispose of bulky items that do not fit into the trash cart?

WM will be collecting bulk items curbside; however, there will be a fee. Contact WM at wm.com or by calling 1-800-972-4545. Payments are by AHC and credit card. Credit card payments will incur a fee ($1.99), AHC payments have no fee.

• Burnable Bulky, Appliances, Large Metal Items, and Porcelain (sinks & toilets): $32
  (sofa, dining chair set, desk, washer, dryer, fridge, range, exercise machine, gas grill, sink, and toilet (no tubs).
• Screens/CRTs: $55
  (TVs, computer monitors)
• Small Metal Items $22
  (trash barrel, metal side table)

Will there be changes to Yard Waste Collection?

Yes. Yard Waste will be collected seasonally 21 weeks per year on your collection day. Biweekly collections spring/summer and weekly collection in the fall. View the 2025-2026 Collection Schedule.

Christmas tree collection will be offered one week in January instead of two.

I'm a small business how can I get my trash and recycling collected by WM?

Please visit the small business program page for details.

About the carts: assignments, reusing, recycling

Can I label or swap my carts with a neighbor?

Do not swap out carts with a neighbor. Each trash and recycling cart has a serial number and will be assigned to an address, which is necessary for future repairs or replacements. If you feel you must label your cart, please use a non-permanent method, like house or mailbox number stickers, a piece of tape, ribbon, or other method that can be removed without damaging the cart. 

What if my cart is stolen?

Our cart is missing the metal bar. Is that needed?

For most households, an automated arm will reach out to grab your cart and empty it into the truck. However, for about 1/3 of households—those on one-way streets, dead ends, and in locations with tricky maneuvering—your trash and recycling will be collected with a semi-automated arm, which requires the driver to leave the truck and requires your carts to have a metal bar for lifting. You will discover which style of truck services your house once collection begins. If you find that your cart is not being collected because it lacks a metal bar, you can request cart maintenance by contacting WM at wm.com or by calling 1-800-972-4545.

What if my cart is damaged?

If your cart is damaged, schedule an appointment with WM for repair at no cost to you. Contact WM by calling 1-800-972-4545 or online at wm.com.

What if I need more trash or recycling capacity?

If you need more capacity for trash or recycling, you may lease additional carts through the waste hauler for a fee, or purchase overflow bags (trash only) from a local hardware store. Contact WM to lease additional carts by calling 1-800-972-4545. You must call WM to lease extra carts. Payments are by AHC and credit card. Credit card payments will incur a fee ($1.99), AHC payment do not have fee.

33-Gallon Orange Bags: $30 (sold in rolls of 10 at Walgreens in the Heights, 1425 Mass Ave))
65-Gallon Trash Carts: $200, annually
65-Gallon Recycling Carts: $145, annually
95-Gallon Recycling Carts: $165, annually

What if I want to change the size of my carts? 

For the possibility of changing the size of your cart(s), please email  recycle@town.arlington.ma.us.  

35-gallon cart specifications (19.8 lbs, 38" tall, 19.8" wide, and 24.8" deep)
65-gallon cart specifications (29.5 lbs, 42.38" tall, 25.1" wide, and 29.5" deep)

What can I do with my old trash barrel or recycling bins?

Reuse & Recycle:

• Residents are encouraged to reuse barrels for seasonal yard waste collection if labeled with a "Yard Trimmings" sticker. Stickers are available at DPW, Robbins Library, and Town Hall and are free.
• Residents have reported great success in giving away their old barrels and bins on a variety of digital platforms (registration/sign up required) including:
  • Freecycle.org
  • Everything is Free Arlington
  • Craigslist posting
• Barrels and recycling bins may be dropped off at the Reuse & Recycling Center, by appointment. Visit the Recycling and Reuse Center page for details and to sign up for an appointment

Are there any changes to items banned in trash collection?

Items currently banned from trash collection such as hazardous materials, mattresses, textiles, electronics, and appliances remain banned from regular weekly curbside pick-up.

View disposal instructions for household hazardous waste at arlingtonma.gov/hhw.

View disposal instructions for other items on the Recycling/Trash home page under the tab "Large (bulky) Items (TVs, ACs, mattresses, wood, appliances)" at arlingtonma.gov/recycle.

My question wasn't answered, who can I ask?

You may call 781-316-3108 or email recycle@town.arlington.ma.us.