Rockland Transfer Station
Recycling Center in Rockland, Maine
About This Location
The Rockland Transfer Station at 400 Limerock Street is the city-run drop-off site where Rockland residents bring household trash, single-sort recycling, food scraps, yard waste, construction debris and special items. It is a municipal transfer station, not a buyback or redemption center. Residents use it by buying an annual permit, buying prepaid trash bags, or getting a free recycling-only permit. Recycling and composting are free with a permit, while household trash is pay-per-bag, so an occasional user can recycle and compost at no cost.
What Rockland Transfer Station Accepts
Related recycling guides: Batteries · Tires · Yard Waste · Glass · Plastic · Cardboard & Paper
What they do not accept
Some recyclable and bulky items are not allowed in the single-sort hopper and must be dropped as special items for a fee. The station serves permit-holding residents, not the general public.
Fees
- Annual transfer station permit — $150 per year (valid until May 1)
- Half-year permit — $75 (December to May)
- Second sticker — $20 per year
- Recycling-only permit — Free
- Small prepaid trash bag (6-7 gal) — $1 each or $5 per five-pack
- Medium prepaid trash bag (22-30 gal) — $2 each or $10 per five-pack
- Large prepaid trash bag (33 gal) — $2.75 each or $13.75 per five-pack
Access & restrictions
Residents only (proof may be required) · ID or proof of residency required · Walk-in (no appointment) · Open to Rockland residents with an annual permit, a free recycling-only permit, or prepaid trash bags. Proof of residency is needed to obtain a permit; recycling and composting are free with a permit while trash is pay-per-bag.
Programs & events
- Free composting — Residents with a permit can drop food scraps at free composting bins and pick up free buckets of de-icing sand each winter.
- Single-sort recycling — All accepted recyclables go in one hopper, no sorting by material type required.
- Household Hazardous Waste Day — Rockland holds a Household Hazardous Waste collection day at the Transfer Station; dates are announced each year.
Materials, fees and hours can change — call ahead to confirm before your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Rockland Transfer Station permit cost?
An annual permit is $150 (valid until May 1), a half-year permit is $75, and a second sticker is $20. A recycling-only permit is free. Trash is pay-per-bag with prepaid city bags.
Can I recycle for free at the Rockland Transfer Station?
Yes. Residents can get a free recycling-only permit that lets them drop single-sort recycling, and food-scrap composting is also free with a permit. Only household trash is pay-per-bag.
What goes in Rockland's single-sort recycling?
Paper and cardboard, rigid plastic containers #1-7 (except Styrofoam), metal cans and foil, and glass bottles and jars all go in one hopper. Styrofoam is not accepted in recycling.
Where do tires, batteries and bulky items go?
Tires, batteries, construction debris and other special items are accepted at the Transfer Station for a fee rather than in the recycling hopper. See the city fee schedule or ask staff for current prices.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: source · source · source · source. Spotted something wrong? Suggest a correction.