Omar Khalid
The City of Medford is committed to diverting household solid waste from landfills and encouraging residents to recycle. Medford accepts a variety of items for recycling, including glass, aluminum, plastic, white goods, appliances, metal items, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and exercise equipment. Plastic bags, however, are a significant problem at Materials Recovery Facilities, as they can bind machinery and cause safety issues. While plastic bags are not accepted in curbside recycling bins, many Medford supermarkets and retailers provide specific recycling services for plastic bags and wraps at no cost. Residents can also refer to online resources, such as Recyclopedia and the Wrap Recycling Action Council, to learn more about proper plastic recycling and drop-off locations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic bags | Accepted by most supermarkets and retailers in Medford, MA for recycling at no cost. |
| Plastic wraps | Accepted by most supermarkets and retailers in Medford, MA for recycling at no cost. |
| Plastic bottles, jars, jugs, or tubs | Accepted if clean and empty. |
| Styrofoam | Not recyclable. |
| White goods, appliances, metal items, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and exercise equipment | Accepted for a fee of $26 per item. |
| Televisions and monitors | Accepted for a fee of $40 per item. |
| Cell phones | Accepted for recycling at City Hall Room 304 (DPW). |
| Fluorescent tubes | Accepted for recycling at City Hall Room 304 (DPW). |
| Mercury-bearing items | Accepted for recycling at City Hall Room 304 (DPW). Examples include button cell batteries, cell phones, CF bulbs, and thermometers. |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic bags can be recycled at most supermarkets
- Clean and empty plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs are accepted
- Styrofoam is not recyclable and should be placed in the trash
- White goods, appliances, and metal items can be recycled for a fee
- Hazardous household waste should be stored until community collection or taken to a regional facility
Plastic bags can be recycled at most supermarkets
Plastic bags are a major problem at Materials Recovery Facilities in Medford, MA, as they bind up machinery at sorting facilities, decreasing efficiency, increasing costs, and creating a safety risk for workers. Despite this, most Medford and surrounding area supermarkets accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling at no cost.
If no stores near you accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling, throw these items in the trash. The City of Medford also partners with Helpsy to collect unwanted clothing and other textiles to keep clothes out of landfills. Helpsy requires a three-bag minimum for pickups to optimize routes and reduce environmental impact.
In addition to supermarkets, you can recycle plastic bags at the following locations in Medford:
- Stop & Shop
- Shaw's
- Whole Foods
- Foodmaster
- Market Basket
- Staples
- Lowes
- JC Penny
The City of Medford is committed to diverting household solid waste from landfills and educating residents on what can be recycled, how to sort these items, and offering tools to make the recycling process easier.
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Clean and empty plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs are accepted
The City of Medford is committed to diverting household solid waste from landfills and encouraging residents to recycle. Medford accepts clean and empty plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs for recycling. However, it's important to note that the numbers on plastics are not a reliable indicator of whether an item can be recycled.
Plastic bags, wraps, and packing materials, such as polystyrene foam (Styrofoam), should not be placed in your recycling bin. These materials can cause issues at recycling plants by tangling in processing equipment, reducing efficiency, increasing costs, and creating safety risks for workers. Most Medford and surrounding area supermarkets and retailers accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling at no cost. The Wrap Recycling Action Council provides information on nearby drop-off locations.
For other types of waste, Medford offers innovative ways to recycle, including water conservation with rain barrels, composting, and recycling of cell phones, fluorescent tubes, and mercury-bearing items. White goods, appliances, metal items, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and exercise equipment can be recycled for a fee, while televisions and monitors incur a higher charge.
Medford's waste management services provide a curbside program and a drop-off site for recyclables. The city also offers a Single Stream Recycling Program to benefit the preservation of the environment for future generations.
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Styrofoam is not recyclable and should be placed in the trash
The City of Medford is committed to diverting household solid waste from landfills and encouraging residents to recycle. Medford's Single Stream Recycling Program allows residents to place all recyclables in one bin for collection.
However, Styrofoam is not accepted in the recycling bins and should be placed in the trash. Other items that should not be placed in the recycling bin include plastic bags, plastic wraps, and packing materials. These items can cause damage to machinery at Materials Recovery Facilities, decreasing efficiency, increasing costs, and creating a safety risk for workers.
Medford and the surrounding area's supermarkets accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling at no cost. The Wrap Recycling Action Council website provides information on the nearest drop-off location. If no stores nearby accept these items for recycling, they should be thrown away in the trash.
The City of Medford provides a list of acceptable recyclables, which includes clean and empty plastic bottles, jars, jugs, or tubs. Labels are acceptable, and caps should be replaced after emptying. Additionally, clear and colored glass of all sizes can be recycled, but lids should be removed.
Medford also offers recycling for white goods, appliances, metal items, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and exercise equipment for a fee. Televisions and monitors can be recycled for a higher fee. Bulky items will be collected on the regular recycling day, but residents must schedule a pickup in advance.
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White goods, appliances, and metal items can be recycled for a fee
The City of Medford offers its residents a variety of ways to recycle their waste. While plastic bags are a major problem at Materials Recovery Facilities, Medford and the surrounding area's supermarkets accept them for recycling at no cost. Most other plastics can be recycled if they are clean and empty plastic bottles, jars, jugs, or tubs. Labels are okay, but residents should ensure that the caps are empty and replaced. Styrofoam, on the other hand, cannot be recycled and should be placed in the trash.
The City of Medford also provides other recycling services. Bulky items, such as chairs, tables, and shelves, can be collected for $15 per item. Residents must schedule these collections through Waste Management. Additionally, the city offers a network of open household waste events, and items like cell phones, fluorescent tubes, and mercury-bearing items can be recycled at City Hall Room 304 (DPW).
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Hazardous household waste should be stored until community collection or taken to a regional facility
The City of Medford is committed to diverting household solid waste from landfills and encouraging residents to recycle. The City offers a range of innovative and exciting ways to recycle, including water conservation with rain barrels, composting, and recycling of cell phones, fluorescent tubes, and mercury-bearing items.
Regarding plastic recycling, it is important to note that plastic bags should not be placed in your curbside bin. Plastic bags can be recycled at most Medford and surrounding area supermarkets, as well as through the Wrap Recycling Action Council. Many grocery stores also accept plastic bags and similar materials for recycling.
For other types of plastics, clean and empty plastic bottles, jars, jugs, or tubs are acceptable for recycling. Labels are okay, but be sure to empty and replace the cap. It is important to note that Styrofoam and plastic bags are not recyclable in your curbside bin.
Medford also offers a range of options for recycling other materials, such as white goods, appliances, metal items, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and exercise equipment. These items can be recycled for a fee, and collection can be scheduled with Waste Management. Additionally, there is a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Site located at the Township Garage at 2 Commonwealth Drive, available to Medford Township residents during posted hours. This site accepts hazardous materials for disposal, while materials from businesses and commercial entities are not accepted.
In conclusion, hazardous household waste should be stored until community collection or taken to a regional facility, such as the Medford Township Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Site. By properly disposing of hazardous waste and recycling plastics and other materials, Medford residents can contribute to the city's efforts to reduce landfill waste and protect the environment for future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic bags, plastic bottles, jars, jugs, tubs, and wraps can be recycled in Medford, MA.
Most supermarkets and other retailers in Medford accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling at no cost.
Food and beverage cans, aluminum foil, glass, white goods, appliances, metal items, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and exercise equipment can be recycled.
You can search for the item in Recyclopedia or visit RecycleSmartMA.org to find out how and where to recycle specific items.
Styrofoam, plastic bags, and wraps should not be placed in your curbside recycling bin. These items can be taken to a local supermarket or retailer for recycling or thrown in the trash if no other options are available.
