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Westford Recycling Commission (WRC)
Pickup Status: Westford collection of trash and recycling is on a NORMAL schedule this week. Thank you! Please Note: Holidays have changed this year. Your Trash and Recycling are DELAYED on the following holiday weeks ONLY: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Announcements:
Westford Recycling Guide for FY2019
Westford Recycling Notifications
Upcoming Events:
April 6 - Troop 95 Electronics Recycling Fundraiser
Ready for Spring Cleaning? Clean out your house and support Westford Troop 95’s 3rd Annual Electronics Recycling Fundraiser! The event will be held Saturday, April 6th from 10am to 1pm at the Miller School (1 Mitchell Way). More details on their website: www.westfordtroop95.com and click here for Price List and Accepted Items.
April 27 - Brush Chipping - Saturday 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Westford Highway Garage, 28 North Street ACCEPTED: Brush and branches up to 3 inches in diameter and 10 feet in length. Must be average residential brush categories and reasonable amounts: A load ranges from a trunk to pickup truck volume, includes a tow behind a full trailer. NOT ACCEPTED: Building materials (e.g. fences, boards), land clearing materials and debris (e.g., roots, bushes, anything mixed with poison ivy), grass, and leaves. Cost: $10 per load, checks preferred, payable to the Town of Westford. Proof of Westford residency required.
May 4 - Westford Electronics and More Recycling Collection
Our next town-wide electronics and more recycling event is May 4, 2019 from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Town of Westford Highway Garage 28 North Street! Most items are free of charge and is OPEN TO ALL! Download our event brochure here for more details. For items that require a small fee, Cash or Check Only (checks should be made out to “Northeast Materials Handling”). The Town of Westford receives no proceeds from this event.
May 18 - Westford Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Our next town-wide Household Hazardous Waste Collection is scheduled for May 18, 2019 from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Town of Westford Highway Garage 28 North Street. Event flyer and costs will be posted soon.
Meetings
- 7:00 PM
- 2nd Thursday evening of every month
- No meetings are held in August and December
- Westford Town Hall
55 Main Street
Westford, MA 01886. - View all meeting minutes
Trash
Issues with trash, please call: ACME Waste Systems (781) 935-6339: Mon-Fri 8AM - 4PM
Recycling
Issues with recycling, please call: Republic Services (800) 442-9006: Mon-Fri 8AM - 5PM. Note the Groton Transfer Station will take recycling free of charge if your curbside pickup is missed.
Hours and Notes:
Please call the phone number(s) above. If your issue is not resolved within 24 hours, contact the Town Manager's Office at (978) 692-5501.
NOTE:
Trash barrel 35 gallon max size, limit 3 barrels.
If there are recyclables in your trash and/or there is no recycling container out on your recycling day, the trash hauler will not pick up the trash.
Please do not put plastic bags in recycling bins or toters, or recycle items in plastic bags as these bags will jam the recycling sorting machines.
Recycling Vendor - Republic Services
Both residential and municipal recycling in Westford are picked up by Republic Services. Please review the following information for our best practices in making our recycling program successful:
- Recycling in plastic bags will be rejected. PLEASE NO PLASTIC BAGS.
- Please rinse and clean any glass, plastic or metal containers as best as possible.
- Recycling and trash must be at the curb no later than 7 a.m. for pick up.
- Recycling and trash pickups will be delayed by 1 day, the week of July 4 holiday and other holidays.
- Recycling and trash must be separated (either side of the driveway is best) and clearly marked.
- Cardboard must be flattened and cut into sizes no greater than 3 feet by 3 feet.
- Please continue to use existing yellow and black IPR toters (owned by the Town) and other acceptable recycling bins and toters.
Please note that Westford's plastic bag reduction program goes into effect on January 1, 2019. For more information, please contact the Westford Board of Health at (978) 692-5509.
Westford Recycling and Trash Statistics
In the FY 2018, Westford trash data show overall increase of 202.8 tons of trash, hence we had 2.8% more trash removal than the previous year and trash tipping fees were increased accordingly. Recycling data show decrease of 93.4 tons of recycling, hence we recycled 3.4% less than the prior year. In Westford, the 10-year trend of trash tonnage data show an overall reduction in trash generation by residents whereas the 13-year trend in recycling tonnage data shows an overall positive trend with an increase of recycling, barring the exception of the last 3 years, we’ve seen a decline in recycling activity.
The town budgeted $509K for the cost of collecting curbside recyclables this current fiscal year as compared to the $1.220 million budgeted for curbside collection of solid waste (trash). During the October Special Town Meeting, voters approved an additional $80K to cover the cost of tipping fees that jumped from $45K to $125K this fiscal year. A tipping fee is the amount charged for disposal based on weight.
For additional information view the Trends in Westford Recycling Efforts (PDF).
2018 Electronics & More Event Statistics!
The Westford Recycling Commission holds two events each year for residents to recycle electronics materials and more. These opportunities continue to be highly successful in eliminating recyclable materials from our waste stream and your support has been fantastic! Statistics from our May 2018 events yields the following data: 45,902 lbs of electronic devices, 25,000 lbs of mixed light metals and 12,356 lbs of TVs and monitors. This is a total of 83,258 lbs overall! During our September event, 8,880 lbs of Light Iron, and 40,236 lbs of Electronics (Plus: 14 Car Seats, 47 Monitors, 133 TV’s, 10 lbs of Batteries, 30 Sets of speakers and 27 lbs of Ink/Toner) for a total of 49,116 lbs!
Our next event is May 4, 2019 from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Town of Westford Highway Garage 28 North Street! See our video below... Thank you to all residents for reducing, reusing, and recycling!
Policy & Useful Tips
- Recycling & Trash Pick-up Policy (PDF)
- Bulk Sticker Price Reduced to $5
- How to Use Your Recycling Guide (PDF)
- Home Composting (PDF)
- Westford Litter League Green Team
- How to Recycle Most Everything (PDF)
- How to Reduce Your Waste
Agendas & Minutes
Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
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View Most Recent Agenda
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