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Recycling in Boston, MA

Boston Public Works collects furniture with curbside trash, picks up mattresses and box springs by appointment, and collects Freon appliances and CRT TVs and monitors through scheduled special-item pickups (10 items a year). Residents bring hazardous waste, electronics, tires and batteries to Zero Waste Day drop-offs; Boston Building Resources (Roxbury) and the Habitat ReStore (West Roxbury) take reusable appliances and furniture.

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Where this information comes from (40)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

  • City of Boston Public Works: Mattress Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Boston Public Works Department
    • Boston requires an appointment to collect any mattress or box spring; they are not collected with curbside trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The City picks up mattresses only from residents of buildings with six units or fewer; larger buildings must go through their property manager. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Curbside mattress pickup is limited to 10 items per calendar year. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Boston accepts memory foam, box springs, innerspring, hybrid and latex mattresses. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Boston will not collect futons or mattress toppers as mattresses; those items may go out with curbside trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Place the mattress at the curb by 6 a.m. on the appointment day (or after 5 p.m. the night before); do not crush or cut it, and bag and seal soiled or bed-bug mattresses. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Soiled, dirty or bed-bug mattresses must be bagged and fully sealed. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • City of Boston Public Works: Special Collection Items (opens in new tab) · City of Boston Public Works Department
    • Because state law bars Freon and CRT items from the trash, Boston provides special collection of these appliances and electronics. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Fridges and freezers are special-collection items; doors must be removed and all food taken out, or they will not be collected. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Items with cathode ray tubes collected by appointment: televisions, laptops and computer monitors. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Special item collection is limited to 10 items per calendar year, with at most 5 items per appointment. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Boston does not collect any special items without an appointment and does not collect commercial-grade items. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • TVs and computers must be freestanding, not boxed, when set out; wipe data from computers first and do not smash electronics. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Furniture does not need special collection in Boston: donate it or put it out with curbside trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • City of Boston Public Works: Zero Waste Days (opens in new tab) · City of Boston Public Works Department
    • Zero Waste events are for Boston residents only, with a photo ID, utility bill or lease as proof; business waste is not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • There is a 20-gallon limit on paint, motor oil, gasoline and all chemicals, in containers of 5 gallons or less. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Electronics accepted at Zero Waste Days include cell phones, computers, computer monitors and TVs, cords, keyboards, microwaves, printers, tablets and VCR/DVD players. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Oil-based paint is accepted at Zero Waste Days. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Latex and acrylic (water-based) paint can be dried out and put in Boston's regular trash; only oil-based paint must go to drop-off events. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Bike tires and car tires are accepted at Zero Waste Days, up to 8 tires per person, along with car batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Lithium and nickel-cadmium batteries are accepted as hazardous chemicals at Zero Waste Days. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9-volt) are not hazardous in Boston and go in regular trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • City of Boston Public Works: Trash (opens in new tab) · City of Boston Public Works Department
    • Furniture can go out with normal curbside trash and recycling on the scheduled collection day. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Pickup of appliances such as refrigerators, TVs and air conditioners must be requested through 311. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • City of Boston Public Works: Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Boston Public Works Department
    • Cardboard that doesn't fit in the blue bin must be flattened, bundled, tied with string and set next to the bin; pieces no longer than 3 feet. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Cardboard (shipping boxes, cereal boxes, egg cartons, paper towel rolls) goes in the blue recycling bin, flattened, clean and dry. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Boston Building Resources: Donate Building Materials (opens in new tab) · Boston Building Resources
    • Boston Building Resources is a nonprofit reuse center at 100 Terrace Street, Boston, MA 02120. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Boston Building Resources: Reuse Center store information (opens in new tab) · Boston Building Resources
    • Donation drop-off is Tuesday and Saturday 10–2 or by appointment; shopping Wed 12–5, Thu 10–7, Fri 10–6, Sat 10–5. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Habitat for Humanity: Local ReStore search (West Roxbury) (opens in new tab) · Habitat for Humanity International
    • The Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston ReStore is at 1580 VFW Pkwy, West Roxbury, MA 02132, phone (617) 327-1170. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston: ReStore (opens in new tab) · Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston
    • ReStore donations are accepted Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 1580 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries: All Locations & Hours (opens in new tab) · Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries
    • Goodwill Allston/Brighton is at 965 Commonwealth Avenue, 02215; all Goodwill stores accept donations. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Donation center hours: Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–6 p.m.. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Goodwill Boston (Harrison Avenue) is at 1010 Harrison Avenue, 02119; all Goodwill stores accept donations. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Donation center hours: Mon–Sun 8 a.m.–5 p.m.. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Goodwill Hyde Park is at 892 River Street, 02136; all Goodwill stores accept donations. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Donation center hours: Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 12–5 p.m.. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Goodwill Jamaica Plain is at 678 Centre Street, 02130; all Goodwill stores accept donations. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Donation center hours: Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–6 p.m.. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Goodwill South Boston is at 470 West Broadway, 02127; all Goodwill stores accept donations. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Donation center hours: Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 12–6 p.m.. Checked October 26, 2026.

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