Smart Waste Tip
Single use water bottles are a dirty habit. Invest in a reusable water bottle to protect your health and your environment.
Smart Waste means reducing, reusing, and repairing the materials in our lives. Medford’s Smart Waste initiatives are here to make sustainable living easy through planning, policy, education, and community engagement.
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Medford offers weekly curbside composting at NO COST to residents! Sign up at medfordcomposts.com to receive your free bins today.
Still curious about composting? Check out our composting page to learn more!
Key Facts about our Program
- Over 30% of household trash by weight is compostable foodstuff. Composting food waste can help alleviate foul odors, manage rats, and will help lower trash disposal fees for the city.
- Bins are collected alongside your trash and recycling bins. Just bring your bin to the curb each week and our partners at Garbage to Garden will do the rest.
- You can order bags of compost to your address through Garbage to Garden.
- More Questions? Read through the City Composting FAQ to learn more
For any bulky item collection, please contact Waste Management at 800-972-4545 to schedule your pick-up. Please then follow their instructions.
- Bulky items are any household items that cannot be recycled and will not fit into your trash cart, such as chairs, tables, shelves, etc. The cost for bulky item collection is $15 per item.
- Eligible residents must contact WM to schedule and pay for bulky item collection.
- Bulky items will be collected on your recycling day.
- Trash of any kind should not be put out on the sidewalk until the late afternoon or early evening of the day prior to your scheduled pickup. Violations will be subject to a $300 fine.
Bulky items consists of the following:
- Furniture: Sofas, chairs (metal & wooden), desks, tables, bookcases, entertainments centers
- Bedding: Foot and head board, dressers, mirrors (must be taped to prevent breakage)
- Area Rugs: Must be rolled and tied (with twine or duct tape. Wall-to-wall rugs are NOT accepted
Electronics cannot go into your trash, they must be recycled with specialty recyclers.
Fortunately, you got options;
- Recycle televisions and monitors for $42.85 per item and appliances for $27.85 per item. Please visit wm.com or call (800) 972-4545 to schedule a pickup.
- Many private organizations pick-up e-waste for free. Visit earth911.com to find locations, companies, and recycling solutions.
- Check out our Smart Waste Events Calendar to find local e-waste recycling or appliance repair events near you.
White Goods include appliances, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and exercise equipment.
Please don’t just leave these on your curb. Instead:
- Contact WM to schedule & pay for these specialty item collections. Most items cost $27.85 per item to collect.
- Please visit wm.com or call (800) 972-4545 to schedule a pickup.
- These items will only be picked up on Tuesdays.
If you have clothing, appliances, or other gently used goods that deserve a new home, consider donating them locally. Here is a growing list of locations and organizations that will accept item donations.
- Secondhand stores like Savers or Goodwill
- Accepted items: clothing, shoes, household items, small furniture
- Where to donate: in-store locations or nearby donation bins
- Visit savers.com or goodwill.org for more information and locations
- Medford Family Network
- Accepted items: toiletries, clothing, toys
- Where to donate: MFN Family Center, 489 Winthrop St., Medford
- Visit medfordfamilynetwork.org for more information
- Big Brother Big Sister
- Accepted items: clothing, small household items, books, small toys, art/collectibles
- How to donate: Drop offs can be made at 85 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford in the rear parking lot or schedule a free pickup at bbbsfoundation.org
- Everything is Free Medford
- How it works: join the Facebook group and post a picture of what you are gifting or seeking
- Join at http://www.facebook.com/groups/BuyNothingMedfordMA/
- Baystate Textiles Donation Boxes
- Accepted items: clothing, shoes, linens
- Where to donate: drop-off boxes at Medford High, McGlynn, Roberts, Brooks, Missituk schools
- Visit baystatetextiles.com for more information
- Vietnam Veterans of America
- Accepted items: household goods, clothing, electronics
- How to donate: schedule a free pickup through pickupplease.org or call 1-888-518-8387
- Cradles to Crayons
- Accepted items: children’s clothing, school supplies, winter coats, hygiene items
- Where to donate: dropoff bin in rear lot of Temple Shalom, 475 Winthrop St., Medford
- Visit cradlestocrayons.org for more info
- Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMAS)
- Free Store events are hosted monthly at East Somerville Community School (50 Cross St., Somerville)
- For more information on upcoming events and donation times, visit mutualaidmamas.com or email mamasfreestore@gmail.com
- Second Chances
- Accepted items: All clothing in wearable condition, including shoes, outerwear, accessories, purses, costumes, and aprons.
- Donation bins can be found across the Greater Boston Area, including two donation bins on Tufts Campus.
- For more information on donation and collection events, visit secondchances.org
- Friends of Medford Public Library
- Accepted items: books, DVDs, board games, jigsaw puzzles
- For more information visit friendsofmedfordlibrary.org
Be sure to check out the Smart Waste Events Calendar for local swap events and other ways to donate and trade unwanted items around Medford.
Household Hazardous Waste includes pesticides, pool chemicals, oil-based paint, flammables, automotive products, elemental mercury, cleaning products and other chemicals. If not properly disposed of, these materials can cause severe health and environmental harms.
Medford partners with neighboring communities to host Hazardous Waste Collection Days;
Upcoming dates:
- September 12, 2026 –
Before you recycle your appliance, ask yourself if it is still usable;
Repairs are often easy and simple, and usually more environmentally friendly than buying a brand new replacement. Learning to safely repair your appliances, electronics, and clothing will save you money and reduce your environmental footprint. Or bring your device to a repair person that your trust.
Browse our Smart Waste Events Calendar and the Fixit Clinic website for local repair and swap events where you can give a new life to an old appliance.
Clothing, fabric, and other textiles cannot be thrown in the trash! Instead, unwanted and unused textiles should be repurposed, reused, recycled, or regifted.
Medford has partnered with Helpsy to offer free and easy home pickup for clothing recycling. In order to recycled bagged and clean clothing, sign up at www.helpsy.co/medfordma or call 1-800-244-6350.
Residents can also drop off textiles at any time in Bay State Textiles collection bins at Medford Public Schools and City Hall.
Accepted items include: clothing items, jackets, shoes, boots, belts, bags, scarves, jewelry, hats, blankets, curtains, quilts, stuffed animals, luggage and more!
Any outdoor paint is considered a hazardous material and must be disposed of properly to protect our soil, water, and wildlife.
Latex and oil-based paint can be dropped off at special paint disposal events at the DPW Yard (21 James Street).
Upcoming dates:
- September 19, 2026
- October 17, 2026
- May 8, 2027
These events can receive up to five gallons per household and are open to Medford residents from 9am to noon.
Don’t just leave your mattress on the curb! Schedule a pickup with HandUp, our local mattress recycling company to dispose of your old mattress.
Mattresses and box springs cannot just be thrown away, they need to be properly recycled. Call ahead at 774-271-8744 or go online at handupmattress.com to learn more and schedule your curbside pickup today.
Still not sure how to dispose of an item?
