- Town Projects
- Recycling & Solid Waste
Recycling & Solid Waste
Reducing the average tonnage of household solid waste is a priority and the Selectmen encourage residents to challenge themselves to reduce their household solid waste by keeping more out of the trash bag.
Follow the links below for information on recycling at Weston's Transfer Station and how you can further reduce your household trash.
Don’t Treat it Like Garbage
There is so much that can be reused or recycled and reducing what goes into the solid waste stream and improving the environment begins with you.
If you are not an avid recycler or you are wishing to do more, start by making a small habit change and gradually increase from there.
The Goodwill trailer is a great place to start. The average Mass. resident throws away about 70 pounds of reusable textiles each year—and that’s not counting thrift store-quality clothes. Tattered/stained textiles, such as ripped clothing/socks, old sneakers, stained tablecloths or curtains, are a valuable commodity. Items that can’t be sold in the thrift store are sold for a variety of other uses.
What more? Old electronics, such as remotes and webcams, can be recycled, too. A trailer has been installed at the Transfer Station to take your old fax machine, computer mouse, TV, phone chargers and so much more.
Recycling is not just good for the environment and state-mandated, but it also saves the Town money. During fiscal year 2016, recycling generated $8,700 in revenue, which saved the town a total of $48,121 in avoided disposal costs.
What More Can You Do to Throw Away Less?
Click on the titles below to find tips to reduce your household solid waste.
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Bulk Waste
What should you do with bulky items from home that can be reused or repurposed? They shouldn't go into the trash, if it can be helped. Find resources here to help you find a good use for those larger items.
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Cardboard Recycling
Cardboard is one of the largest, single components of municipal solid waste, yet recycling it uses only 75% of the energy needed to make new cardboard. Take a step toward reducing solid waste and learn to recycle more.
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Composting Food Waste
Organic materials, like food scraps, contribute to approximately 2/3rds of the solid waste stream. Not only is it heavy, it is wet and takes more energy to incinerate. Learn composting tips to help your garden grow and your trash bag lighter.
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Electronics Recycling
Did you know all electronics can be recycled? An old camera, computer mouse, monitors, chargers...you name it! Recycle more and throw away less.
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Ink Cartridges
More than 40,000 tons of plastic and metal is saved from landfills annually as a result of cartridge recycling. If 100,000 used cartridges are recycled, it can save over 21,000 lbs of aluminum, 40 tons of plastic, and 264,000 gallons of oil. Plus, it'll make your trash bag lighter.
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Mercury Recycling
Compact fluorescent light bulbs, old thermostats, and button batteries contain mercury, which is hazardous to the environment and your health, and these items need to be disposed of properly and not placed in household solid waste.
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Paper Recycling
Every ton of recycle paper equals 64% in energy savings. And, it saves the overall household tonnage. Recycle more.
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Plastic Recycling
Only 50% of the plastic we use is used just once and then thrown away. The average American throws away approximately 185 pounds of plastic each year. Recycling plastic is easy at Weston's Transfer Station. Throw away less.
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Textile Recycling
The average U.S. citizens throws away 70 lbs. of clothing annually, yet 95% of textiles, worn or torn, can be recycled. Weston's Transfer Station has many options to recycle used textiles - from tattered towels to old sneakers.
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Weston's Recycling at a Glance
A complete list of all recycling materials that are accepted at the Transfer Station.
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Transfer Station Information
Find information on Weston's Transfer Station facility, including information on obtaining a permit, hazardous waste collection, and the dates for the Brush Dump.
Background Information
As a designated Green Community by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, facilitating recycling and minimizing solid waste disposal is a critical goal of the Town of Weston.
Weston generates more than one ton of trash per household, per year, which places Weston in the top 10 percent of solid waste generation in the state.
Did you know
old sneakers, ripped jeans, holey socks, stuffed animals and ALL electronics - from keyboards to remotes - can be recycled?Don't treat it like garbage. Recycle.
Learn more below:
MassDEP Regulations
Since the ’90s, state regulations have restricted certain materials from landfills, combustion facilities, and transfer facilities. These items include yard waste, metal, glass, aluminum, plastic, recyclable paper, and other materials.