Recycling Centers in Thomaston, ME
Find drop-off recycling locations in Thomaston, Maine. View hours, addresses, and phone numbers for each facility.
Residents of Thomaston, Maine can use this directory to locate nearby recycling drop-off locations. Whether you have household recyclables or specialty items like electronics or batteries, the facilities listed here can help you dispose of materials responsibly.
Recycling in Thomaston: A Local Guide
Thomaston, Maine has three distinct recycling resources that together cover most of what Knox County residents need to recycle or dispose of responsibly. Understanding which facility handles which material saves time and avoids turned-away loads.
The most comprehensive option is the Co-Operative Transfer Station at 34 Buttermilk Lane — a multi-town municipal station jointly operated by Thomaston, South Thomaston, and Owls Head. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8 AM to 4 PM, it accepts plastics #1–7, glass bottles, corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, fluorescent tubes and CFLs, and pays-to-dispose items like electronics ($10–$40), appliances ($5–$15), and tires ($5 each). Residents need a two-year access sticker ($50), obtained through any of the three member town offices. Call 207-594-0748 when a winter storm may affect the schedule.
For Maine deposit bottle and can redemptions, Touch Of Glass Redemption at 5 Dexter Street Extension is open Tuesday through Friday 8 AM–3 PM and Saturday 8 AM–2 PM. Bring any container with 'ME 5¢' or 'ME 15¢' embossed on it to receive the deposit back in cash. Touch Of Glass handles redemptions only — it is not a general recycling drop-off.
Residents with bulk scrap metal, aluminum, or a junk vehicle should head to Thomaston Recycling Inc on Butler Road, a commercial scrap yard open Monday through Saturday 8 AM to 4 PM that purchases ferrous and non-ferrous metals, aluminum cans, and scrap cars. This is a buyer, not a free drop-off, so you'll be paid by weight at market rates. Nearby cities with additional recycling options include Rockland and Rockport. For state-level guidance on Maine recycling programs, see the Maine recycling hub.
All Recycling Centers in Thomaston
Recycling Centers in Nearby Cities
Frequently Asked Questions — Recycling in Thomaston
Is there recycling in Maine for regular households?
Yes. Maine has strong municipal recycling infrastructure. In Thomaston, the Co-Operative Transfer Station at 34 Buttermilk Lane accepts plastics #1–7, glass, cardboard, aluminum, and more. Residents of Thomaston, South Thomaston, and Owls Head use it with a two-year sticker ($50). Maine also runs one of the country's oldest bottle deposit programs — redeemable at Touch Of Glass Redemption on Dexter Street Extension.
What is the difference between a dump and a transfer station?
A landfill (dump) buries waste on-site permanently. A transfer station like the Co-Operative Transfer Station on Buttermilk Lane collects, compacts, and sorts materials before shipping them to a regional landfill or recycling processor — no waste is buried at the station itself. This separation allows recyclables like cardboard, plastics, glass, and metal to be diverted from the landfill entirely.
What time does the transfer station in Thomaston close?
The Co-Operative Transfer Station at 34 Buttermilk Lane closes at 4 PM on all open days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. It is closed Monday, Friday, and Sunday. Closures also happen during state holidays and winter storms — call 207-594-0748 for storm updates.
Where can I recycle plastic bottles and cardboard in Thomaston, ME?
The Co-Operative Transfer Station at 34 Buttermilk Lane accepts plastics #1–7 and clean corrugated cardboard (collapsed) at no additional charge under the residential sticker. Cardboard should be broken down flat. The station is open Tue–Thu and Saturday, 8 AM–4 PM.