December 16, 2024
New Bedford – During the holiday season, more waste is produced than usual. Some holiday traditions create waste, but by reusing, recycling, composting, and choosing experiences over things we can reduce waste.
“Residents may have questions about which items can be recycled curbside or at the Recycling Center as well as what to do with their Christmas trees after the holiday. We are sharing this information now to help our residents prepare,” said Jennifer Vieira, Director of Facilities and Fleet Management.
Below are options for real Christmas trees after all decorations have been removed. Real Christmas trees are chipped and used as beneficial cover at the local Crapo Hill Landfill.
- Christmas tree collection: Capitol Waste Services will pick up real Christmas trees from January 13 to January 17. During this week only, residents may place trees at the curb by 7 a.m. the weekday after trash and recycling collection. Please note, if your trash/recycling day is Friday, Christmas trees will only be collected along your route on Monday, January 13th. If your trash/recycling day is Monday, Christmas trees will only be collected along your route on Tuesday, January 14th and so on. This is the only week for curbside pickup of real Christmas trees. Please remove all ornaments, stands, lights, and tinsel. Do not place trees in plastic bags. Property owners may be issued a violation notice if trees are placed at the curb any other time or without decorations removed.
- Christmas tree drop-off: Starting on Dec. 26, Christmas trees can be brought to the following locations.
- East Rodney French Blvd., beach parking lot, between Hudson Street and Seymour Street, ends January 11th.
- Brooklawn Community Center, 1997 Acushnet Ave, large parking lot behind Community Center, ends January 11th.
- Recycling Center, 1103 Shawmut Avenue, open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Holiday closures:
- 12/25/24: closed.
- 1/1/25: closed.
Here are a few tips to help ensure holiday waste ends up in the right place:
- Cardboard: Empty and flatten boxes (cut if necessary); place in recycling cart. Take boxes that are too large for recycling carts to the Recycling Center, 1103 Shawmut Avenue. Recycle boxes from online shopping, gift boxes, and pizza boxes! Completely empty pizza boxes and recycle them, grease is okay, food is not.
- Empty bottles, cans, jugs, jars, paper, catalogs: Place in recycling cart. Place plain paper greeting cards in the recycling cart. No photo paper, metallic inks, foil, batteries, or glitter.
- Wrapping paper is not recyclable. If you want to be able to recycle your gift wrap, use newspaper, grocery store flyers, paper bags, or packing paper. Give gifts in reusable bags, jars, or tins. Bows and ribbons cannot be recycled, reuse when possible.
- Styrofoam blocks and string lights: Drop off at the Recycling Center. These items do not belong in the curbside recycling carts.
- Bubble wrap and air pillows: Clean and dry plastic bags, bubble wrap and air pillows can be dropped off at Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, Market Basket, and Kohl’s to be turned into Trex composite decking (a blend of recycled wood fibers and plastic bags). These items do not belong in the curbside recycling carts.
Sustainable gifts: Consider low-waste gifts including experiences, such as concerts, movie or theater outings, music or dance lessons, digital gift cards or subscriptions, products made of recyclable material, reusable items, or handmade presents. Perhaps you have a cool hobby or vintage item to share or can find a unique gift at a thrift store. You can contact the library to borrow a keyboard or ukulele. Perhaps the gift of music lessons will be a good fit!
Collection delay: No trash or recycling collection on 12/25/2024 or 1/1/2025. Collection is delayed by one day for the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday routes on those weeks.
For additional tips, visit New Bedford Recycling on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and X. If you have questions, please call the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management at (508) 979-1520 or email trashandrecycling@newbedford-ma.gov.