Trash & Recycling

Department of Public Works
Noah Buscher Photo of plant in cupped hands

 

 

If your trash is not picked up on your scheduled day please call 1-888-532-2735.

 

Why is our trash and recycling going in the same truck?

Wachusett Earthday - Confidential Shredding - May 18th, August 17th, October 19th, 9am - 12pm.  First 2 boxes are free, $2 additional boxes.

Wachusett Earthday - Household Hazardous Products Collection - April 27th and October 26, 9am-1pm.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions When Switching to Automated Trash and Recycling

Visit this link to search for items you can and cannot put in your recycle bins -  https://recyclesearch.com/profile/ma

Visit this link for Casella's tips on recycling - http://www.casella.com/services/recycling/recycle-better?tab=Basics#tabs

                 Sterling Recycles!

The Town of Sterling provides curbside trash pickup and curbside recycling for all residential households with Municipal Trash Collection through our contractor Casella. We service approximately 2700 households each week.  Recycling reduces the amount of trash that must be brought to transfer stations and landfills and directly lowers the cost to the town.  We encourage you to participate in curbside recycling and visit the Wachusett Watershed Regional Recyling Center in West Boylston.

Please put out all trash and recyclables out to the street between 6AM and 7AM on the day of your collection.  If your scheduled pick-up day falls on any of the following holidays; New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day the collection MAY take place on the next day.  Please reference the calendar which is printed on the Trash and Recycling Information flyer that is mailed to each residence for the holiday schedule collection.  If the collection is canceled due to a snowstorm, your pick-up MAY take place on the next day.  Please reference the town's website - main page or call the DPW office 978-422-6767 for snowstorm delay or cancellation of curbside pickup.

Snow cancellations will be announced on our website or call Casella at 1-888-532-2735.

If your trash is not picked up on your scheduled day please call 1-888-532-2735.

Curbside Trash

Trash will be picked up weekly.  All rubbish must be placed in the 65 gallon tote with black lid marked “trash”.  Please have your new carts placed at the curb by 7am on your collection day and place them at least 5-feet from any objects, such as a mailbox, trees, pole, or automobiles, at least 1-foot from the street, and 3-feet apart from recycling bin to allow for Casella’s drivers to effectively lift and empty the cart with their new automated trucks.   All trash must be placed in the cart with the lid closed. Bags of trash outside of the cart will not be picked up.

The following items are banned from disposal at solid waste disposal facilities in Massachusetts and should not be place in your rubbish:  wood, metal, asphalt, brick & concrete, cardboard & recyclable paper, #1, #2 & #3 plastic, metal or glass food containers, leaves & yard waste, major appliances, tires, lead acid batteries, TVs and computer monitors.  If any of these items are found in your trash, it may not be picked up.

Note: If you are looking to have a bulky item picked up, please see the Bulk Items Cost Sheet and YOU will need to call Casella directly to schedule and pay for the bulky item pick up. Please note the DPW staff cannot schedule or pay for bulk items.  For any other items please visit the Wachusett Watershed Regional Recycling Center.

Curbside Recycling

Recycling will be picked up every other week.  You will no longer need to separate your recyclable materials into plastic, glass, metal, paper and cardboard; they can now all go in one zero sort recycling cart.  Please place recycling in your 96 gallon wheeled cart with the light blue lid marked “Zero-Sort Recycling”.  Please visit www.recyclesmartma.org for more information on what can be recycled and what cannot. Keep in mind, recycling the improper materials will cost the Town money. NEVER PUT YOUR RECYCLABLES IN PLASTIC BAGS.  Please have your recycling bin placed at the curb by 7am on your collection day and place it at least 5-feet from any objects, such as a mailbox, trees, pole, or automobiles, at least 1-foot from the street, and 3-feet apart from the trash bin to allow for Casella’s drivers to effectively lift and empty the cart with their new automated trucks.   All recycling must be placed in the cart with the lid closed. Recycling out of cart will not be picked up.