Recycling Centers in Massachusetts: 189 Locations

Recycling in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 189 recycling centers across 103 cities, including municipal transfer stations, electronics recyclers, scrap-metal yards, and auto-recycling operations. The state enforces one of the strictest disposal frameworks in the country through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). It has a 5-cent beverage-container deposit (the Bottle Bill) and a long list of materials banned from the trash, including leaves and yard waste, recyclable paper and cardboard, glass/metal/plastic containers, lead-acid batteries, cathode-ray tubes and other covered electronics, and, since November 2022, mattresses and textiles.

Recycling centers cluster around the state's major metros and suburbs. Boston and Framingham each list 11 centers, followed by Worcester with 8, Everett with 7, and Woburn with 6. These cities offer the widest mix of drop-off sites, electronics recyclers, and scrap yards in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts residents recycle through curbside programs, municipal transfer stations, and private facilities, and return deposit containers to stores and redemption centers for their nickel back. Because textiles and mattresses are banned from the trash, the state funds free mattress recycling through a stewardship fee and promotes textile drop-off. Municipal sites such as the Sudbury Transfer Station and the Townsend Recycling Center handle household recyclables and banned items for residents. MassDEP oversees the waste bans and the RecycleSmart program statewide.

Top Cities by Number of Centers

Boston 11 Framingham 11 Worcester 8 Everett 7 Woburn 6 Holliston 4 North Billerica 4 Brockton 3

All Cities in Massachusetts

Acton 2 centers Amherst 1 center Andover 1 center Arlington 1 center Attleboro 2 centers Auburn 1 center Auburndale 1 center Avon 1 center Ayer 1 center Bedford 1 center Bellingham 1 center Berlin 1 center Billerica 1 center Bolton 2 centers Boston 11 centers Boxborough 2 centers Braintree 2 centers Brewster 1 center Brockton 3 centers Burlington 2 centers Cambridge 3 centers Canton 1 center Carlisle 1 center Chelmsford 1 center Chestnut Hill 2 centers Clinton 2 centers Concord 1 center Devens 1 center Dracut 1 center Dudley 1 center East Boston 2 centers Everett 7 centers Fall River 1 center Fitchburg 3 centers Foxborough 1 center Framingham 11 centers Franklin 1 center Gardner 1 center Grafton 1 center Groton 1 center Haverhill 2 centers Holliston 4 centers Hudson 1 center Hyde Park 2 centers Lawrence 1 center Leicester 1 center Leominster 3 centers Lexington 1 center Lincoln 1 center Lowell 2 centers Lynn 2 centers Malden 1 center Marlborough 3 centers Medway 2 centers Melrose 1 center Methuen 1 center Milford 2 centers Millbury 1 center Montague 1 center Natick 3 centers Needham 1 center Newton 2 centers Newton Centre 1 center North Attleborough 1 center North Billerica 4 centers North Brookfield 1 center North Grafton 2 centers Northampton 2 centers Northborough 3 centers Norton 1 center Norwood 1 center Peabody 3 centers Quincy 3 centers Reading 1 center Revere 2 centers Shirley 1 center Somerville 2 centers Springfield 1 center Stoneham 1 center Stoughton 2 centers Sturbridge 1 center Sudbury 1 center Townsend 1 center Wakefield 1 center Walpole 1 center Waltham 2 centers Ware 1 center Wayland 2 centers Wellesley 1 center West Boylston 2 centers West Roxbury 1 center Westborough 1 center Westfield 1 center Westford 1 center Weston 1 center Westport 1 center Whitman 1 center Wilbraham 1 center Wilmington 1 center Winchendon 1 center Winchester 1 center Woburn 6 centers Worcester 8 centers

Recycling in Massachusetts — FAQ

Does Massachusetts have a bottle deposit?

Yes. Massachusetts has a 5-cent deposit on carbonated soft drinks, beer, malt beverages, and sparkling water containers under the Bottle Bill. You pay the nickel at purchase and get it back when you return empties to a store or redemption center.

How do I recycle in Massachusetts?

Use curbside recycling or a municipal transfer station for paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, and metal cans, and return deposit containers for your refund. Because textiles, mattresses, yard waste, and electronics are banned from the trash, divert them to drop-off programs. The directory lists 189 centers across 103 cities; hours and accepted materials vary locally, so confirm first.

What is banned from the trash in Massachusetts?

MassDEP bans many materials from disposal, including yard waste, recyclable paper and cardboard, glass/metal/plastic containers, lead-acid batteries, covered electronics and cathode-ray tubes, and (since November 2022) mattresses and textiles. Banned items must be recycled, composted, or taken to an approved program instead of the trash.

Where are the biggest recycling hubs in Massachusetts?

Boston and Framingham each list 11 centers, followed by Worcester with 8, Everett with 7, and Woburn with 6. These cities offer the widest range of transfer stations, electronics recyclers, and scrap-metal yards in the state.