On this page find out:

• How to get a Green Recycling Bin
• What paper can be recycled, and how to prepare it for pickup
• What Food Containers are recyclable, and how to prepare them for pickup
• How to get a current Recycling Brochure
• The current Holiday Schedule
• How to schedule and appliance pickup
• About yard waste collection
• How to dispose of a Computer Monitor or a Television

Need a Green Recycling Bin??

If you do not have a recycling bin, you can pick one up from the Recycling Coordinator, in Room 34 of City Hall, or from the Department of Public Works at 1365 Middlesex Street.

If you recycle more material than will fit in one recycling bin, you can put your overflow material in any other plastic container.  Using a container of approximately the same size as the green recycling bin is best to keep the weight of the container below 30 pounds.  It is strongly advised that you affix a "Recycling" sticker to your 'overflow container'. Stickers are FREE and available by calling the Recycling Office at 978-446-7277.

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Paper Recycling

All paper items should be placed in a paper bag.  This helps contain the paper while it waits for collection curbside, and helps to control litter which can stem from the collection process.

• Newspaper (with inserts)
• Magazines/Catalogues
• Junk mail (window envelopes are OKAY!)
• Office paper/brown bags
• Phone books
• Chipboard (e.g. cracker, cereal boxes, remove liners)
• Flattened corrugated cardboard (2' x 2')
• NO SOILED PAPER OR PLASTIC BAGS

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Container Recycling

Rinse and place inside of bin

• ALL rigid plastic  -- all plastic food and beverage containers.  On most containers you will find a recycling symbol with a number 1 through 7, but even when you cannot find the symbol, it can be recycled.  Just rinse and put in the bin. 

NO SYROFOAM, NO Broken Glass and NO PLASTIC BAGS.

• Remove caps and lids.  No motor oil containers.

• Glass bottles/jars
  • Remove collars, neck rings, corks, etc. No broken or other glass such as light bulbs, window or auto glass, dishes, glasses, Pyrex.

• Aluminum and steel (tin) food and beverage cans
  • Labels may stay. No paint or aerosol cans or aluminum foil.

• Milk & juice cartons and drink boxes
  • Remove plastic and straws

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Current Recycling Brochure

Click on the link below for the brochure mailed annually to each residence included in the curbside program. Holiday schedule included. Post it on your refrigerator!

Curbside Recycling For Lowell Brochure

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2008 Holiday Schedule

Whenever a scheduled collection day falls on a holiday, that day’s collection and all remaining collections for the week will be delayed one day. Friday’s collection will be on Saturday. Observed holidays (City Hall closed):

Link to: Massachusetts State Holidays

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Additional Curbside Collection

Appliances Collection (also called White Goods)

• Schedule and appointment by calling BFI at 978-649-7564
• One item per week per household
• Approximately 200 appliances are picked up each week.  Call for the next available appointment

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Yard Waste Collection

A separate Yard Waste truck will pick up your yard waste on the same day as your trash.  It is illegal for yard waste to go into the trash truck.  (Click here to find out more about the State's Waste Bans)  Please call the Recycling Coordinator if your yard waste is not collected.

 ----> Collected  April 7th  through  November 29, 2008  <----

• Leaves and grass must be in brown paper leaf bags or loose in a barrel.  No plastic bags will be collected.
• Permanent YARD WASTE stickers are available for your barrels if they are used for yard waste only.  Contact the Recycling Coordinator with your address and the number of stickers you can use.
• Do not mix yard waste with regular trash
• Christmas Trees are not collected curb side.  Click here for more information.
• Collection ends on "your last neighborhood  trash day' of November.

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Computer Monitors and Televisions (also referred to as Cathode Ray Tubes or CRTs)

Each computer monitor and television contains an average of 8 pounds of lead.  They have to be specially handled because it is illegal to dispose of them in incinerators or landfills.  (Click here to find out more about the State's Waste Bans.)

If you get curbside service for trash and recycling

• Schedule and appointment by calling Allied Wate (formerly BFI) at 978-649-7564
• Appoints are made for the first and third Thursday of each month

If you live in an apartment or condo complex that does not receive the City's curbside service, you can bring your CRTs to Household Hazardous Waste Day.  Click here to find out when the next event will be.

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