DARTMOUTH, Mass. – October 22, 2025 – This Halloween, Dartmouth residents have several easy, eco-friendly ways to keep pumpkins and cornstalks out of the trash — including curbside yard waste pickup, drop-off at the Water Pollution Control Facility, or composting at home.
“Composting pumpkins and cornstalks is a simple step residents can take to reduce landfill waste and enrich soil by returning valuable nutrients to the earth,” said Tim Barber, Director of Public Works. “Whether you compost at home or use the Town of Dartmouth services, every effort helps.”
Set Out for Curbside Yard Waste Pickup
The Town of Dartmouth will collect unpainted pumpkins and cornstalks along with grass, leaves, and small twigs from SMART (Save Money and Reduce Trash) Program customers on your scheduled yard waste collection day. The remaining fall dates for the Town of Dartmouth’s SMART Program curbside yard waste collection are as follows:
· Monday & Tuesday solid waste collection routes have yard waste collection in 2025 on Friday, October 31 and November 21.
· Wednesday & Thursday solid waste collection routes have yard waste collection in 2025 on Friday, October 24, November 7, and December 5.
Pick-up begins at 7 a.m. All pumpkins, cornstalks, grass, leaves, and twigs (not to exceed 1/4 inch in diameter) must be placed in paper bags or loose in barrels. Please do not make bags or barrels too heavy.
The yard waste collected from Dartmouth residents is delivered to the Crapo Hill Landfill where it is composted. Please remove all non-compostable items from jack-o’-lanterns and cornstalks, including lights, candles, twine, rope, and wire.
Drop Off at Water Pollution Control Facility
Residents may also drop off pumpkins, cornstalks, and yard waste at the Water Pollution Control Facility, located at 759 Russells Mills Road. A transfer station permit is required and is free for SMART customers.
Hours for the yard waste drop-off area are:
· Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 7:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. and
· Saturdays 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Dartmouth residents who are not SMART customers can obtain either a day pass ($10) or an annual permit ($50) at the DPW Office at 759 Russells Mills Road. Proof of residency required.
Compost in Backyard Bin
Unpainted pumpkins and cornstalks can be placed in your backyard compost bin along with fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, grass, leaves, and small twigs. Dartmouth residents may purchase compost bins at the Crapo Hill Landfill scale house, 300 Samuel Barnet Blvd., New Bedford:
· Monday through Friday 7:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and
· Saturday 8:00 – 10:45 a.m.
The Earth Machine and the New Age Composter are both available at a cost of $25 each. Cash, check, or money order only. No credit or debit cards. For more information, visit https://gnbrrmdistrict.org/food-waste-composting/backyard-composting/.
Call the Dartmouth DPW at (508) 999-0740 regarding curbside yard waste collection or the yard waste drop off at the Water Pollution Control Facility.
Contact the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District by email at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org, by phone at (508) 979-1493 or by text at (774) 503-0254 about composting, recycling, or waste reduction.