Hardwick Recycling Center
Recycling Center in Ware, Massachusetts
About This Location
The Hardwick Recycling Center at 2011 Barre Road (Wheelwright, in the Ware area) is the town's sticker-access drop-off, open just two short windows a week: Wednesday mornings and Saturday mornings. A sticker is required — about $55 a year for Hardwick residents, $90 for non-residents, or a $20 day pass — and it's unusual in that non-residents can buy in. The center takes the everyday streams (cardboard, mixed paper, commingled containers, glass) plus scrap metal, used oil filters, and mercury-containing items, and it runs a popular swap shed for reusable goods. It also accepts a long list of electronics and hard-to-manage items, many with per-item fees that are a bit lower if you have the annual sticker. The center follows the Quabbin school district for weather closures.
What Hardwick Recycling Center Accepts
Related recycling guides: Electronics · Batteries · Tires · Appliances · Glass · Cardboard & Paper · Motor Oil
What they do not accept
Fees
- Annual sticker (Hardwick resident) — $55
- Annual sticker (non-resident) — $90
- Day pass — $20
- Air conditioner — $20 with annual sticker / $25 without
- Computer monitor — $12 with sticker / $15 without
- Computer tower / hard drive — $12 with sticker / $15 without
- Cell phone — $1 with sticker / $2 without
- Calculator — $3 with sticker / $5 without
Access & restrictions
Open to the public · ID or proof of residency required · Walk-in (no appointment) · Sticker required: ~$55/yr for Hardwick residents, $90/yr for non-residents, or a $20 day pass (cash or check to Town of Hardwick). Closed when the Quabbin school district closes for weather.
Programs & events
- Swap shed — On-site shed where visitors can drop off and take usable household goods for reuse
- Scrap metal collection — Dedicated area for scrap-metal recycling
Materials, fees and hours can change — call ahead to confirm before your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hardwick Recycling Center open today?
It is open only Wednesday mornings (9:00-11:00 AM) and Saturday mornings (8:00 AM-Noon). It also closes whenever the Quabbin Regional school district closes for inclement weather, so check before heading out in bad weather.
Do I need a sticker, and can non-residents use it?
Yes, a sticker is required. It's about $55 a year for Hardwick residents and $90 for non-residents, or you can buy a $20 day pass. Payment is cash or check to the Town of Hardwick. Unusually, non-residents are allowed to buy in.
What electronics do they take and how much does it cost?
They accept many electronics with per-item fees that are lower if you have the annual sticker — for example, computer monitors and towers are about $12 with a sticker ($15 without), air conditioners $20/$25, cell phones $1/$2, and calculators $3/$5.
What won't they accept?
They do not take paint or petroleum-product containers, plastic bags and wrapping, six-pack rings, zip ties and straps, window glass, or Styrofoam.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: source · source · source. Spotted something wrong? Suggest a correction.
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