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1. What items can be recycled curbside?

Single Stream Recycling Guidelines

For residents with curbside pickup (95 Gallon Carts)

• All recycling can be comingled in one cart. Do not place items in plastic bags!
  • Plastic: bottles, jars, jugs and tubs
  • Metal: cans, tins and foil
  • Glass: bottles and jars
  • Paper: newspaper, magazines, paperboard and flattened cardboard 
• Condo and Apartment residents without curbside pickup (>4 units) can bring their recycling to the Transfer Station Monday through Saturday from 7 am - 4 pm (Users must enter by 3:45 pm).

For more information, see Curbside Collection.

2. I have some useful items I no longer want, but don’t want to throw them away. How do I go about finding a place that can reuse them?

Do you have worn clothing, outdated electronics or other items that don't belong in your household recycling bin? Don't throw them away. Find out where to recycle, reuse, or repurpose them in Massachusetts by entering the material(s) you want to recycle in the  Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory | RecycleSearch.

You can Google the item name along with the word "reuse" or "recycle" and see what comes up. There are a number of charities that would pick up your unwanted items from your home. In addition, there are several online communities you can post your unwanted items for sale at low or no cost.

3. Can I recycle my vehicle?

You can! There are too many sites out there for us to list just one. You can Google "Vehicle Donation" and pick a charity where you'd like to donate your vehicle. Do your research - some organizations donate more proceeds than others directly to charity.

4. How do I recycle plastic bags and plastic film packaging?

Plastic bags and plastic film packaging can be brought to your local grocery or retail store. Locations that recycle these items can be found here on the PlasticFilm Recycling site.

5. Does Danvers collect recycling from condominiums, apartments or businesses?

Danvers only picks up trash and recycling from households with 4 units or less. For larger residential complexes and businesses, recycling pickup is the responsibility of the property owner. If you are a tenant and don't have recycling where you live or work, you should contact your landlord directly and encourage them to add recycling services to their refuse pickup. State bans prohibit recyclable materials from being disposed of with trash.

The State offers a recycling assistance program for businesses and institutions at the Recycling Works Site.

6. How do I get my documents shredded?

Danvers offers two zero waste weekend recycling events annually in the spring and fall. One of the services offered is paper shredding. The first two boxes of shredding are accepted at no charge. After two boxes, we request a $5 donation per box with proceeds being donated to the Danvers Food Pantry. Please see our Events for details. You can also hire a professional shredding service for home or off-site shredding.

7. How do I recycle items containing mercury including fluorescent lamps (CFLs), thermostats, thermometers, etc.?

Any item containing mercury can be brought to the Transfer Station on East Coast Road in Danvers. Mercury containing items are placed in a shed and collected by Covanta for proper disposal. Other locations that recycle CFLs can be found on the Lamp Recycle Site.

8. How do I recycle rigid plastic items?

Danvers offers two zero waste weekend recycling events annually in the spring and fall. One of the services offered is rigid plastic recycling at no charge. We have a number of roll-offs you can deposit your items in. In addition, the Transfer Station offers rigid plastic recycling year round at no cost.

For more details and to see examples of rigid plastics, please visit the section on the Transfer Station.

9. How do I recycle metal items?

Danvers offers two zero waste weekend recycling events annually in the spring and fall. One of the services offered is metal recycling at no charge.  We have a number of roll-offs you can deposit your items in.  In addition, the Transfer Station offers metal recycling year round for $0.10 per pound.

You can also recycle scrap metal by contacting a local vendor. Please refer to the Earth911 site for locations.

10. How do I recycle textiles?

Danvers residents with curbside trash and recycling pickup can recycle unwanted textiles. Details are in the following: (Service Update June 2021)

• For Curbside Textile Recycling managed by Simple Recycling you must schedule an appointment on their website or call 866-835-5068.
• Items no longer need to be in pink bags. Place textiles in either a bag or a box curbside or by your back door on the morning of your scheduled pick up.

The Danvers Department of Public Works (DPW) is providing this service, free to the residents of Danvers, in partnership with Simple Recycling. Please see the below link for details.

Textile Recycling - Town of Danvers

Danvers offers two zero waste weekend recycling events annually in the spring and fall. One of the services offered is textile recycling. We accept clothing, shoes, purses, linens, bedding, etc. Please see our Events for details. Many charities will also recycle textiles, you can contact them directly for pickup or you can drop your textiles in any labeled bin.

11. How do I recycle books, DVDs, CDs, video games and other media?

Danvers offers two zero waste weekend recycling events annually in the spring and fall. One of the services offered is media recycling. We accept books, DVDs, Blu Rays, CDs, records and video games. Please see our Events for details.

You can also recycle media at the Used Book Superstore. Please refer to their website for details.

12. How do I recycle electronics?

Danvers offers two zero waste weekend recycling events annually in the spring and fall. One of the services offered is electronics or e-waste recycling. Small electronics are accepted at no charge, but there is a nominal charge for some items - especially if they contain cathode ray tubes or Freon. Please see our Events for details.

Some electronics can be picked up curbside for recycling if you purchase a Bulky Item sticker.

You can also recycle some electronics at Best Buy. Please refer to Electronics and Appliances Recycling at Best Buy for details.

13. How do I recycle rechargeable (Nickel Cadmium or Lithium) or button batteries?

Rechargeable or button batteries can be brought to the Transfer Station on East Coast Road in Danvers. These items are placed in a shed and collected by Covanta for proper disposal.

Other locations that recycle these types of batteries can be found on the Call2Recycle Site.

Please note that ALKALINE batteries (dry-cell single-use AA, AAA, C, D, etc.) can be disposed of in your regular trash.