Town Government &
  Services:

Departments: Public Works

Bagged Household Rubbish | Corrugated Cardboard | Plastic Containers and Bottles | Returnables - Cans and Plastic Bottles | Universal/Miscellaneous | Cans - Steel/Tinned Cans | Glass Bottles | Paper | Clothing Drop Off | Books | TVs & Computers/Monitors | Propane Tanks | Microwaves | Scrap Metal/White Metal Goods | Leaves/Grass | Brush/Logs | Rubble | SWAP | Waste Oil | Batteries | Tires | Construction/Demolition & Bulky Waste | Hazardous Waste Day | Permitting | Questions?/Contact Us | South Shore Recycling Cooperative

Corrugated Cardboard (Boxes and Inserts):
Please note: The Town receives market value for each ton of corrugated cardboard that is recycled. Every ton of cardboard that is removed from the waste stream and recycled has a net benefit to Hingham ~$120/ton (Saving $100/per ton removed from waste stream plus revenue of $20 per ton for recycled cardboard).

Accepted items:

• Any size corrugated cardboard that has open holes along sides (a wavy interior layer with top and bottom cardboard layers)
• Please make every effort to remove all strapping, staples, tape, and other non-cardboard material.
  All cardboard boxes are to be flattened prior to recycling. This helps with efficient bailing of cardboard for transport.
• Corrugated pizza boxes are acceptable only if they are not saturated with grease or other food residue.

Prohibited items:

• No single layered cardboard such as cereal/cracker boxes, shoeboxes, and gift boxes. These go with recyclable paper in the paper recycling compactor.
• No waxed/sealed boxes such as frozen food, milk, or other such food boxes are acceptable.

Plastic Bottles and Plastic Containers (Non-returnable/non-redeemable plastic bottles):

Accepted items:

• #1 through #7 plastics containers only (check for the recycling symbol and number on the container). Please make sure to wash/rinse all containers thoroughly, otherwise they tend to attract insects and rodents. Plastic lids and caps may be included. Labels need not be removed.

Prohibited items:

• No plastic bags, please.
  Please note: Most local supermarkets accept plastic bags for recycling. At the Transfer Station they tend to blow around, creating a mess and a cost for cleanup. Re-using bags is easy and cost efficient. Many markets will give a discount for bags brought in for re-use, and/or you can purchase sturdy mesh/fabric bags for multiple re-uses.
• No containers with food residue on them as they tend to attract insects and rodents.
• No Styrofoam. Although some Styrofoam containers do have a recycling symbol on them, Styrofoam is too bulky and thus too expensive to transport to the few locations in the USA where it is recycled. Some packing services will accept used Styrofoam peanuts for re-use. Check with the company you use.

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Returnables (Deposit/Redeemable Cans and Plastic Bottles):

Please note: All deposit/redeemable bottles and cans that are collected in the recycling building are donated to Hingham Youth Non-Profit organizations. If you are interested in helping a youth organization to benefit from this program please call the DPW office for more information - 781-741-1430.

Accepted items:

• All Deposit or redeemable plastic bottles and aluminum cans are to be deposited in the labeled containers located inside the baler building between plastics recycling and the steps (see map).

Prohibited items:

• No non-redeemable cans or bottles (water, juice, sports drink bottles). These can be recycled with plastics.
• No glass deposit/redeemable bottles. (Glass is too risky for youth groups to handle.) Glass bottles can be recycled in the glass collection bin.

Universal Waste (Miscellaneous Recyclables):

Accepted items:

Please recycle each of the following in the labeled containers in the Universal Waste area of the baler building (between plastics recycling and the steps.)

• Fluorescent tube bulbs (contain mercury vapor)
• Ballasts (contain mercury)
• CFLs - compact fluorescent light bulbs - the new energy efficient bulbs. (Contain mercury vapor)
• Mercury items (thermometers, thermostats, elemental mercury, and any other devices containing mercury).
• Medical waste - MDPH Sharps Container Disposal

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Cans - Steel/Tinned Cans:

Accepted items:

• All non-redeemable food and beverage metal containers. Please wash and rinse thoroughly, otherwise they tend to attract insects and rodents. Labels need not be removed.
• All cans can be mingled into the same collection container.
• If possible, please flatten cans to allow more to fit in each load that is transported for recycling.
• Empty aerosol containers that you know contained non-hazardous contents (with plastic lid removed): Aerosol can is empty when you no longer hear any air released when the nozzle is depressed and the can feels empty when shaken. To empty the can of its non-hazardous contents, discharge outdoors into a deep cardboard box or paper bag, and allow the box or bag to dry before placing in the trash. The empty aerosol container can then be recycled or disposed.

Prohibited items:

• No aluminum foil, paint cans (either full or empty), or metal cookware.
• No redeemable cans or plastic bottles. These should be placed in the Returnables area. Your local youth organizations collect these, turn them in and get money to fund their projects.
• All other aerosol containers: Save for the annual household hazardous waste collection or take to a commercial hazardous waste facility.

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Glass Bottles (and Glass Containers and Jars):

Accepted items:

• All glass containers: should be washed/rinsed prior to recycling, otherwise they attract insects and rodents.
• Labels need not be removed.
• Glass of any color can be recycled in the collection container. No need to sort by color.

Prohibited items:

• No cookware, drinking glasses, plate glass, safety glass, mirror glass, automobile glass, light bulbs, ceramics, porcelain, other contaminated glass and old bottles dug from the ground. Please donate items in good condition to an organization in need for RE-USE.
• We appreciate your efforts to separate your glass items and ask that you be diligent about recycling only glass in the glass container area and not plastics.

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Paper (Newspaper, Magazines, Office paper, Spiral notebooks, Paperboard Boxes):

Please note: Hingham receives payment for every ton of paper that is recycled.

Accepted items:

• Newspaper and magazines (co-mingled).
• Sheet paper, notebooks, colored paper wrapping paper and drawing paper.
• Single layered cardboard i.e. gift, cereal, food or shoeboxes.
• You do not need to remove cellophane windows or metals such as staples, paperclips, and spiral bindings on a notepad.
• Shredded paper may be recycled if enclosed in clear plastic bags or paper bags.
• For all the types of paper that can be recycled in the compactor, see the MassRecycles website.

Please note: You may use the green and yellow paper bins from Abitibi Recycling Company which are stationed at the schools and Town Hall in Hingham. Abitibi will pay the Hingham Schools between $5 and $20/ton of paper (price is dependent on volume and market rate).

Prohibited items:

• No foils, or plastic bags or plastic of any type (except clear plastic bags to enclose shredded paper). If using paper bags to bundle paper, please make sure they don't have plastic handles or remove the handles before recycling.
• No waxed/sealed boxes from frozen food, milk, or other such food boxes are acceptable
• No corrugated cardboard. This gets recycled in a separate area - please see corrugated cardboard section.

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Clothing Drop Off (Goodwill/Red Cross/Donate-Recycle Collections):

Accepted items:

• All types of clothing and shoes in good condition.
• Linens in good condition in Donate/Recycle Bin.

Prohibited:

• Removal of items from these containers is prohibited. The Goodwill, Bay State Textile, and Red Cross Collection containers are not a Swap Shop for residents.

Books- GOT Books Collection:

Accepted items:

• All types of books (hardcover, paperback, older books, text books, kids books, comic books.)
  DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, audio books, LPs/vinyl records, board games, puzzles, trading cards and cell phones also accepted.

Prohibited:

• Encyclopedias are not accepted.
• No magazines. (Magazines must be recycled with the paper)
• Residents are not allowed to remove books.

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TVs and Computers/Monitors:

Please note: Place materials in the appropriate labeled trailer on right, after Goodwill trailer.

Accepted items:

• Computers, Monitors, other electronic waste
• TV’s (CRT’s – Cathode Ray Tubes)

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Used Propane Gas Tanks:

• Place in marked trailer on right after Goodwill trailer

Microwaves:

• Place in marked trailer on right, after Propane tanks.

Metal/ White Metal Goods:

Accepted items:

• All metal items are required to be recycled, i.e. refrigerators, stoves, etc.

Notes:

• Refrigerator doors must be removed prior to drop off.
• Residential drop off only.

Prohibited items:

• The following items ARE NOT considered scrap metal for recycling: batteries, gas tanks, exhaust systems, automotive engines, engine parts, 55-gallon drums (closed-tops), closed containers, wood, cable wire, pressurized containers, furniture, and/or tires. Do not put these materials in the scrap metal area. With a permit, bulky items such as furniture can be disposed of in the open top containers. See Bulky Waste section for information.
• No oil tanks please.
• No Construction or Demolition items. These are to placed in the open top containers and require a permit. Please see construction/demolition section.
• Any items considered Universal Waste, please see the Recycling Coordinator or contact us at recycling@hingham-ma.com in order to find out where or if these can be disposed.
• More information available the South Shore Recycling Cooperative website

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Leaves/Grass (Compostable Yard Waste):

Look for signs on the right, after passing metal goods area.

Please note: make sure that your yard waste does not include plastic bags. Plastic bags will contaminate the entire compost area and could end up costing the Town thousands of dollars to rectify.

Note: Screened compost material is used by the town as top dressing on public parks, roadside construction projects, athletic fields and on slopes for erosion control.

Accepted items:

• Limited to leaves and grass clippings only.
• Residential and commercial drop off. Commercial haulers are subject to fees.

Prohibited items:

• No trash, branches, brush, paper, garbage or other refuse can be mixed with compost materials. No wood chips. (This area for leaves and grass only. See below for compostable wood waste and brush).

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Brush and Logs (Compostable Wood Waste and Brush):

Accepted items:

• Brush, logs and wood chips only please.
• All wood waste must be cut into TWO (2) to THREE (3) foot lengths.
• Brush and Branches under 1" (one inch) in diameter must be placed in the Brush Pile.
• Wood chips are to be dumped in the area designated by attendant.

Prohibited items:

• No construction type wood waste is acceptable as compostable wood waste.
• No stumps or logs over 10 inches in diameter.

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Rubble (and Asphalt Stockpile):

• Look for sign after Metal goods area.

Accepted items:

• Asphalt, concrete, small stone and bricks are accepted.
  Notes:
  Please be sure to separate these materials from all other residential trash.
  Residential materials from Hingham only will be accepted.
  This "Reclaimed Asphalt Material" will be utilized by the Department of Public Works on various road construction projects in the Town.

Prohibited items:

• Materials containing any re-bar or reinforcing rod
• No wood, paper, metal, plastic or other material, reinforcing rod, large boulders or blasting material will be accepted.
• No commercial demolition will be accepted.

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SWAP Shop:

Please note: Closes daily at 3:00pm or when weather or other conditions warrant. Please wait to the side for an open parking spot at the Swap area to allow traffic to pass behind you to the compactors. Residents are limited to parking for 10 minutes to put out or take items from the Swap area.

Accepted items:

• Good usable items only.

Prohibited items:

• No mattresses, no bulky furniture, computers, paint or hazardous products.

Please note: No loitering or abusive behavior. ALL RULES WILL BE ENFORCED.

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Waste Oil (and antifreeze):
Look for signs on the left after passing the SWAP area. Located inside the back entrance of the baler building.
Please note: Residential drop off only.

Accepted items:

• Crankcase oil, fuel oil, gear oil, hydraulic oil, transmission oil and brake fluid.
• Antifreeze and used oil filters (drained) collected separately adjacent to the oil tank.

Prohibited items:

• No gasoline, kerosene, or paint thinners are accepted.
• No oil paint or other hazardous waste.

Please note: Save these hazardous substances for the annual Hazardous Waste Collection. See SSRC Website for information about what is accepted at Annual Hazardous Waste Collection Day

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Batteries:

Located on the left after passing the SWAP area, in the rear entrance of the baler building, adjacent to the Waste Oil Center.

Accepted items:

• All automobile, lawn mower, and rechargeable batteries, NiCad batteries.Please Note: Alkaline batteries (Duracell, Energizer, non-rechargeable) may be disposed of with household rubbish.
• Residential drop off only please.

Tires:

Please note:

• Tires are only accepted on Tire Collection Days. Please watch for signs or call DPW for information (781 741-1430).
• A tire disposal fee may be charged for each tire. Please stockpile your tires at home.
• It is recommended to dispose of tires with your vendor when getting new tires.

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Construction/Demolition and Bulky Waste:

Please note: These materials may be disposed of by permit only.

Notes:

• Place bulky waste in open top trailer.
• All wood waste must be cut into THREE (3) foot lengths.
• Separate all other trash from construction type waste.
• Three (3) cubic yards are allowed per resident per week.
• All loads must be inspected by DPW personnel for waste ban items when permit is obtained.
• Permits can be obtained at the DPW office on Thursdays and Fridays 7:30am – 3:30pm.
• The Bulky Waste and C&D area is OPEN Thursdays and Fridays 7:30am – 4:00pm and the 2nd Saturday of every month from 7:30am-11:30am.
• For disposal of Bulky and C&D waste on the 2nd Saturday of every month, a permit can be obtained any Monday thru Friday 8:00am to 3:30pm (Please call the DPW office for details).

Accepted items:

• Non-compostable wood wastes of all types are accepted.
• Construction/demolition materials.
• Large furniture, rugs, mattresses.

Prohibited items:

• All metal must be recycled. No metal allowed into Construction and Demolition/ Bulky Waste containers.
• Please separate all household rubbish from construction type waste.
• All Waste Ban (ie. recyclable and hazardous waste items) are prohibited from disposal in these containers.

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Bagged Household Rubbish (Compactor Area, located after all the recycling areas):

Please note: All the waste that goes into our trash compactors is transported to a facility in Rochester, MA for incineration. This process costs the Town $100/ton. Everything you recycle saves the Town $100/ton and minimizes negative effects on our air, land and water.

Accepted items:

• The trash compactors are to be used for the disposal of general trash and waste.
• Wet garbage may be double bagged and placed in with household rubbish.

Prohibited items:

Note: By current Massachusetts and Hingham regulations, Recycling is MANDATORY. It is unlawful to dispose of recyclable materials as household rubbish in the compactors.

• All recyclable items (including cardboard, paper, bottles & cans) must be recycled separately (Waste Ban Items).
• Bulky household items (such as couches, mattresses, rugs) and Construction & Demolition materials may only be disposed of in the separate open top containers located just above the trash compactors. (BY PERMIT ONLY: click here for information about obtaining a permit Permitting)
• Hazardous waste, i.e. oil based paints, insecticides, gasoline, paint thinner cannot be disposed of at the Transfer Station at any time. They may be disposed of at the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. A more comprehensive listing of Hazardous Waste materials can be found HERE.
• Auto Parts, White Goods, Wood & Yard Waste, Rechargeable Batteries and items containing Mercury must be placed in the appropriate assigned receptacles.
• If you are unsure about a given item or material, please click on the appropriate link above or send us an email at recycling@hingham-ma.com.

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Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day:

Annual collection of household hazardous materials: Usually takes place on a Saturday morning in May. Collection takes place at Plymouth River School. Look for signs, check the Town Website and Hingham Journal for announcement of date, or call DPW (781 741-1430). Collection of oil based paints, insecticides/pesticides, household chemicals. See SSRC website for materials accepted:

Permitting:

A permit is required to dispose of Construction/Demolition and Bulky Waste. To obtain a Construct/Demolition and Bulky Waste Permit you must:

1. have the load of C&D or Bulky Waste inspected by the DPW office for MA DEP Waste Ban items on the day of disposal (Thursday or Friday).
2. have a valid drivers license, proof of residency, and a vehicle registration for the vehicle transporting the load.

Note: Permits may be obtained for disposal of these items on the 2nd Saturday (7:30am to 11:30am) of every month at the DPW office during normal office hours (Mon thru Fri 8am to 3:30pm) without inspection. The inspection will occur at the Transfer Station before the disposal of the load. These permits are limited to 25 on a first come-first serve basis.

Please contact the Department of Public Works at 781-741-1430 with any questions, or look at

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Questions?/Contact Us

If you are looking to dispose of or recycle an item that is not listed on this page or for more information on the Department of Public Works or Recycling/Trash Transfer Area and Recycling Center please contact the Department of Public Works at 781-741-1430 or by e-mail at recycling@hingham-ma.com so that we can assist you.

SSRC

Hingham is a member of the South Shore Recycling Cooperative and that organization’s website had information about recycling and RE-USE donations: