Trash & Recycling

TRASH COLLECTION & RECYCLING INFORMATION - RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION ONLY
Issues or questions regarding trash/recycling collection? Call 1-800-323-4285 or visit the new Republic/JRM website for customer service and service alert information: https://www.republicservices.com/customer-support
 
 
 
 

COMPOST FACILITY CLOSED FOR THE SEASON NOVEMBER 18, 2023. The Town Administrator is working to streamline the program. Please check back in April when we will know more about an opening date.

DEP Waste Ban on Textiles and Mattresses in curbside collection started November 1, 2022

TEXTILE BAN
The ban on textiles includes:
  • clothing
  • footwear
  • bedding
  • towels
  • curtains
  • fabrics

For more information on where to recycle textiles, visit the Mass.gov website: https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-textile-recovery#-how-&-where-to-rec...

Other options to recycle textiles:

  • Epilepsy Foundation Textile Collection (lime green box)
  • 368 Boston Street in the GasNGo parking lot, Topsfield
  • 124 River Road in the Trinity Episcopal Church parking lot, Topsfield
  • 239 Boston Street in the Petco parking lot, Topsfield
  • BayState Textiles  (White boxes at Masconomet Regional High School, 20 Endicott Road, Boxford)

Gently used clothing:

By reducing disposal, the waste bans also help us capture valuable resources, save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lessen our reliance on landfills and incinerators.

MATTRESS BAN
Effective November 1, 2022, mattresses that are left out for regular curbside collection will receive a rejection sticker and will not be picked up. Repeat violations will result in further action.

For more information on recycling a mattress, visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/mattress-recycling

The closest facilities for disposing of mattresses are: UTEC ($30/unit) in Lowell, MA and Tough Stuff ($22/unit) in Fitchburg, MA. Both require a scheduled drop-off appointment.

TRASH STICKERS 
You may purchase Trash Stickers ($2.00 each) at
  • The Essex County Co-Op on Route 1
  • Country Farms at 20 Main Street
  • Lela's Variety at 49 Main Street
  • Dawson's Hardware in the Topsfield Village Shopping Center
  • Gil's Grocery in the Topsfield Village Shopping Center.
Contact the Topsfield Board of Health if you need a replacement trash barrel decal or if you are a new Topsfield resident requesting a decal:

Please Note:

  • Trash is collected weekly; recycling is collected every other week.
  • The Town's contract with JRM/Republic allows only one (1) decalled barrel per residence.
  • Decals are not allowed for commercial businesses.
  • No plastic bags allowed in recycling or containing recycling. This includes plastic bags marketed as recyclable. If recycling is left in any type of plastic bag, or plastic bags are in with recycling, it will not be collected.
  • Maximum size barrel allowed under JRM contract is 36 gallons and containing < 40 pounds of trash.
  • Trash barrels may be filled to the waterline - overstuffed barrels will receive a rejection sticker.
  • You may not tear a $2.00 sticker in half to use half a sticker on multiple bags - this will be rejected.
  • You may not make a do-it-yourself trash sticker on yellow paper - this will be rejected.
  • No radioactive waste allowed in curbside collection.
  • Trash / Recycling must be curbside by 7am on your collection day.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Topsfield trash is collected weekly and recycling is collected every other week. Collection days are Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. During holiday weeks, trash and recycling collections are generally delayed one day. For example, if a holiday falls on Monday, collection would take place Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
TRASH COLLECTION
 
To dispose of additional units of waste:  Trash stickers, $2.00 each, are available at
  • Essex County Co-Op on Route 1 across from the Fairgrounds
  • Country Farms at 20 Main Street
  • Lela's Variety at 49 Main Street
  • Gil's Grocery in the Topsfield Village Shopping Center
  • Dawson's Hardware in the Topsfield Village Shopping Center
 If using a second, non-decalled trash barrel for additional bagged trash, please place the sticker on the top item in the trash barrel, clearly visible. DO NOT place stickers on the barrel itself or on its cover. Additional trash bags may be put out for curbside pick-up. Each must have a $2.00 trash sticker affixed to the bag, clearly visible.
 
BULK ITEMS: Larger items may be placed curbside for weekly pickup with $2.00 trash stickers attached.
  • One bulk item allowed per household per week.
  • No items longer than 6 feet in length.
  • No construction materials, appliances or electronics accepted in weekly collection.
  • No yard waste allowed - see Compost Facility.
  • Toilet two $2.00 stickers
  • Counter top microwave one $2.00 sticker (over-the-range microwaves are not allowed in weekly curbside, must be put out for Spring/Fall White Goods/Metals collection)
Rule of thumb for large item stickers:
  • 3 stickers (at $2.00 each) examples:  couch, love seat, sectional couches, large pieces of wooden furniture (dressers, kitchen/dining room tables etc.).
  • 2 stickers (at $2.00 each) examples: for the following items: over stuffed chairs, recliners, small size wooden furniture (desk, end table etc.), toilet.
  • 1 sticker (at $2.00 each) for the following items:  a bicycle, dining room/kitchen chairs, counter-top microwave.
  • If you aren't sure, put an extra $2.00 sticker on the item. 
  • TV sets and Computer Monitors will not be picked up at the curb. (see Recycling Information for how to dispose of CRTs). 

RECYCLING
Recycling is collected every other week on the same day as trash collection. No plastic bags are acceptable either in with or containing recycling items. JRM is no longer accepting garden container plastics in recycling. The following recyclable materials are collected for recycling at the curb:

All items for recycling may go in one container EXCEPT paper. Paper items must be placed in a separate container.  If you wish to use a barrel for recycling that is larger than a standard recycling bin, please contact the Board of Health for a free RECYCLING sticker so your recycling won't be confused with trash collection. Maximum size: 36 gallons or 40 lbs.
 
The following items should NOT be left curbside as recyclables:
  • Garden Plastics such as plastic flower pots
  • Plastic bags (can be brought to supermarkets or large retail stores)
  • Styrofoam (put in trash)
  • Containers that still contain food or liquid, especially dirty jelly jars & maple syrup containers
  • Loose bottle lids. Bottles do not have to have a lid to be recycled, but lids need a bottle to be recycled
  • Soiled cardboard or paper products, example: greasy parts of pizza boxes
  • Envelopes with plastic films
  • Rigid plastics, such as children's toys
CELL PHONE RECYCLING
 
ADDITIONAL WASTE COLLECTION
Large items (other than appliances, computers, TVs and hazardous materials) may be placed out with the trash with appropriate number of stickers clearly visible on the item, as noted above.
 
COMPOST / YARD WASTE - CLOSED UNTIL SPRING 2024
The compost site facility at the Topsfield Public Works location, at 279 Boston Street will reopen for the Season in the Spring of 2024. Please check back for more information on dates/hours and purchasing a pass. PLEASE NOTE: The Town Administrator is working to streamline the compost process. Please check back in April for more information on an opening date and the process to obtain admission.
Compost site requirements:
  • Topsfield Residents Only
  • Maximum 2 cubic yards
  • Grass clippings, leaves, brush up to 4 inches in diameter allowed
  • No stumps, logs or animal waste
  • If using a Contractor, the resident must purchase a Contractor One-Time Access Ticket for $40 each, available online.
  • Contractors may not use a Resident One-Time Access ticket or season pass.
 
2024 HOUSEHOLD METALS AND WHITE GOODS PICK UP -  STILL TO BE SCHEDULED - PLEASE CHECK BACK
  • Free (no sticker required) Pickups are held in the Spring and Fall. Please be patient - the truck fills up quickly so there may be slight delays in collection.
  • Household metal objects allowable include items that contain at least 80% metal. Items that are mostly wood or plastic with some metal will NOT be picked up.Items must NOT be longer than 6 feet. Examples of acceptable items: bicycles, lawnmowers, snowblowers (gas and oil must be removed) metal desks and gutters.
  • Household white goods allowable include stoves, washers, dryers, microwaves, dishwashers.
  • We do not accept items that contain freon (including freon 134a) such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, etc. Refrigerators, freezers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers may be taken to the Boxford Recycling Center, 7B Spofford Road (behind DPW Garage) on Saturdays from 8 am - 3:30 PM. FEES APPLY.
  • Please note that all gasoline powered appliances must have gasoline and oil removed for safety reasons.
COMPUTERS & TVS
These items are not allowed in Topsfield curbside collection. The Town has an agreement with Boxford that Topsfield residents are permitted to take computer monitors and TV's to the Boxford Drop Off Recycling Center, 7 Spofford Road, on Saturdays from 9am - 1pm. Fees apply. Click here for fee schedule.
 
FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS, THERMOSTATS & MERCURY THERMOMETERS 
Fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats and old thermometers contain mercury, so they are not allowed in curbside collection.These items may be taken to the Boxford Recycling Center 7 Spofford Road on Saturdays from 8am - 1pm, or placed in the Fall Household Hazardous Waste Event at Masconomet Regional High School. 2024 date still to be determined. Other resources: Click here for the State's interactive map with locations where these types of items may be disposed of safely.
 
AIR CONDITIONERS, REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS
These items are not allowed in Topsfield curbside collection. They are accepted at the Boxford Drop Off Recycling Center, 7 Spofford Pond Road, Saturdays from 9 am - 1 pm. Fees apply. Click here for fee schedule.
The National Grid appliance recycle/rebate program has been temporarily suspended.
 
 
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENTS CALENDAR
Many chemicals, materials, and products commonly found in the home are toxic and can be harmful to your health and our environment. These items need to be handled with care, and recycled or disposed of responsibly and not included in the weekly curbside collection. Several local communities hold collection events that allow non-residents to participate for a small fee. Below are links to helpful resources for identifying and disposing of harmful hazardous household materials.
SHARPS DISPOSAL
The Board of Health, in conjunction with the Topsfield Fire Department, placed a Sharps/Needles Disposal Kiosk at the Topsfield Fire Station, 27 High Street. Sharps must be placed in a plastic container - no loose needles allowed. The Disposal Kiosk is outside the station on the left side of the building. No charge for disposal. Topsfield Residents Only.