Town of Dedham
Home MenuHow to Recycle in Dedham
Recyclopedia (provided by Recycle Smart MA)
Enter the name or type of material you have in the field below and find out in seconds how it can be recycled (if applicable) or safely disposed:
Collection Schedule:
Please visit our Recycling & Trash page for current information and schedules.
Recycling Guides
Download a copy of the Recycle Smart MA Guides to help you determine what items can and cannot be recycled in Masschusetts:
- Download the English Recycling Guide (PDF)
- Download the Spanish Recycling Guide (PDF)
- Download the Arabic Recycling Guide (PDF)
- Download the Haitian Creole Recycling Guide (PDF)
- Download the Vietnamese Recycling Guide (PDF)
Learn More about Single-Stream Recycling
With the single-stream recycling program, residents do not need to sort paper, plastics and cardboard. These items can be combined in the recycling toter.
The Town of Dedham is striving to become a leader in sustainability. In 2009 the Town was one of three communities to receive the Leading by Example Award from the State for outstanding efforts to establish and implement policies and programs resulting in significant and demonstrable environmental benefits in the realm of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and waste reduction. The Town has been proactive in its recycling efforts and in November 2009, the Town of Dedham introduced Single Stream Recycling and Automated Collection.
The purpose of a single stream recycling system is to make recycling easier for residents by eliminating the need to sort recyclable materials. Each resident was given a ninety six gallon recycling toter free of charge. Recycling barrels were designed to be larger than the trash bins to encourage residents to recycle more and trash less. As a result of this program, trash tonnage dropped by 4,000 tons and recycling rates in Dedham doubled from 12 tons to 25.29 tons in just the first seven months since its implementation.
Items that CAN be recycled
- Paper – Paper includes colored, construction, craft, fax, packing paper, glossy paper, corrugated cardboard and paperboard. Office paper (staples and paperclips do not have to be removed). Newspaper (with inserts), magazines, catalogs, soft cover books, manila envelopes, folders, greeting cards, flyers, lottery tickets, envelopes (windows are okay), cereal boxes, shoe boxes, clean pizza boxes, and Post-It notes.
- Metal - Tin-foil, tin-cans, steel containers, aluminum food containers and lids.
- Glass - All glass drinking bottles and jars (including wine and liquor bottles, soda and beer bottles, juice containers, ketchup bottles and food containers)
MassDEPs Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory http://recyclesearch.com/profile/ma
Annual Recycling Events
The Sustainability Advisory Committee offers recycling days twice a year for items that residents cannot recycle curbside. These include electronics, Styrofoam, paper for shredding, textiles, and stuffed animals.
Fall events: The fall recycling event and the Board of Health's hazardous waste collection are typically scheduled in October. Information will be posted on the Town calendar in the weeks prior to these events. View the calendar.
Spring event: A recycling day is also scheduled each spring, typically in April or May. Information will be posted on the Town calendar in the weeks prior to the spring event. View the calendar.
For more information about upcoming recycling events, please visit our website calendar (linked above) and subscribe to receive email notifications at www.dedham-ma.gov/subscribe. For information on hazardous waste collection, please contact the Health Department.
Recycling Drop-Off Locations
| DROP OFF LOCATIONS | ||
|---|---|---|
| ORGANIZATION | WHAT THEY RECYCLE | COST |
| Staples | Computers, monitors, laptops, desktop printers, faxes, ink cartridges, toner cartridges, cell phones and rechargeable batteries | $10 per piece of large equipment.. Smaller items such as keyboards, mouse, and speakers are accepted at no charge. Ink cartridges get $3 back if rewards member. Rewards membership is free. |
| Best Buy | Computers, monitors, laptops, desktop printers, faxes, ink cartridges, toner cartridges, cell phones and rechargeable batteries |
$25 to recycle all TVs and computer monitors. All other acceptable items on this list are no charge.
Drop off at Geek Squad in Best Buy |
| Sleepy’s | Will pickup and recycle your old mattresses with purchase and delivery of a new mattress | Dependent upon purchase |
| Baystate Textiles | Clothes, shoes, linens, stuffed animals, purses, belts and other accessories (look for boxes outside of each school) |
free
|
*We will do our best to keep this information up to date but information is determined by each vendor listed above and pricing and availability is subject to change at any time.
Composting
Compost Bins
As part of the Town's effort to divert waste away from landfills the department sells the Earth Machine Compost Bin each spring. Compost bins are available to Dedham residents at a reduced rate. Please contact us for current pricing and availability.
The Earth Machine has a capacity of 11 Cubic feet and is 33 inches deep and 30 inches wide. It features a locking cover, and sliding door for easy removal of compost. It is made from 50% post-consumer recycled HDPE and has a self aerating, cone shaped base.
Why Compost? Composting will make your garden and lawn healthier and less dependent on chemicals, fertilizers, and watering.
What Can I Compost? Almost everything in your kitchen and yard can be composted - fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, grass clippings, leaves, plant trimmings, cut flowers, and more.
To purchase an Earth Machine Compost Bin, please contact the Town Manger's Office.