FAQs • Westford, MA • CivicEngage

How do I get a new or additional bin for recycling?: You may: - Purchase any sturdy bin at a hardware store - Use a regular trash can - Buy a wheeled toter from the Recycling Commission. Bins and trash cans should have a "recycle" sticker on them, which are free from the Town Clerk's office at the Town Hall. To obtain a wheeled 64-gallon recycling toter, send a check for $60 payable to Westford Recycling Commission, 55 Main Street. A member of the Commission will contact you and let you know when and where to pick up your toter. Several years ago, the Town's recycling contractor distributed free toters to about 2000 Westford households which are part of the household. Buying your own recycling bin is the best bet.

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Recycling Commission

1. Is there any place where I can recycle my plastic bags?: Plastic bags cannot be recycled at curbside because they get caught in the conveyor belt at the recycler processing and sorting facility. Many of the larger grocery store chains accept bags for recycling, such as Whole Foods, Stop and Shop, Hannafords, Star Market, Shaw's, Roche Brothers, Market Basket. In addition to shopping bags, these stores accept other plastic bags, such as clean, dry produce bags, bread bags, sandwich bags, and more. Better than recycling bags, of course, is reusing bags or using reusable Cloth shopping bags. It is notoriously difficult, even for those with the best of intentions, to remember to bring reusable bags on a shopping trip. Here are some tips to help you remember: - Write on your shopping list "remember to bring bags." - Hang cloth bags on your kitchen door. - Use a cloth bag to hold deposit bottles and cans, that way you will have at least 1 cloth bag with you when you get to the store. - Tape a reminder on your dashboard. - Don't get discouraged when you keep forgetting your bags. Keep trying.

For missed pick up of recycling - please contact:

Waste Management Phone: 800-972-4545 Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Review the Town's Trash/Recycling pages for more information.

3. Why would some of my recycling be left behind?: Some possible reasons: - It was not a recyclable item - It was cardboard that was not flattened and cut into 3 x 3 foot bundles. Larger cardboard will not physically fit in the recycling truck. - Mixed paper was put in a plastic bag. We cannot accept paper in plastic bags. Plastic bags contaminate the paper so it cannot be recycled. - Dirty or contaminated items. Jars full of peanut butter is one example of a non-recyclable items. Cans and bottles put out for recycling must be not be contaminated with food. Call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 if you have questions about an item left behind.

4. How do I get a new or additional bin for recycling?: You may: - Purchase any sturdy bin at a hardware store - Use a regular trash can - Buy a wheeled toter from the Recycling Commission. Bins and trash cans should have a "recycle" sticker on them, which are free from the Town Clerk's office at the Town Hall. To obtain a wheeled 64-gallon recycling toter, send a check for $60 payable to Westford Recycling Commission, 55 Main Street. A member of the Commission will contact you and let you know when and where to pick up your toter. Several years ago, the Town's recycling contractor distributed free toters to about 2000 Westford households which are part of the household. Buying your own recycling bin is the best bet.

5. How can I get rid of a computer or a television?: The Westford Recycling Commission conducts two Saturday fee-based collections per year in the Spring and Fall at the Westford Highway Garage, 28 North Main Street. For collection dates, view the How to Recycle Most Everything (PDF).

6. What do I do with alkaline batteries? Are they hazardous?: Alkaline batteries are not considered as hazardous waste and can be placed in your regular trash. Nickel Cadmium and NiMH rechargeable batteries are considered hazardous waste and can be recycled at BestBuy, Home Depot and other hardware stores. Save lithium batteries for Westford's next hazardous waste collection.

7. What can I do with latex paint?: Latex paint is not considered hazardous waste and, after hardening, should be put in your trash. Paint hardener, good for about 3.5 gallons of paint, is available at minimal cost from Lynch Paint on Littleton Road (Route 110). Kitty litter also works as an absorber hardener but is not quite as effective.