Recycling Centers in Vermont: 134 Locations

Recycling in Vermont

Vermont has 134 recycling centers across 74 towns and cities, including transfer stations, bottle-redemption centers, scrap yards, and reuse operations. Vermont has one of the most aggressive recycling frameworks in the country. It operates a Beverage Container Deposit Law (bottle bill) with refundable deposits on covered containers, and its Universal Recycling Law (Act 148), passed in 2012, bans three categories of material from the trash: blue-bin recyclables (containers, cardboard, and paper), leaf and yard debris and clean wood, and food scraps. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), through its Department of Environmental Conservation, enforces all of the state's landfill disposal bans.

Vermont's recycling sites are distributed across its small towns rather than concentrated in a few big cities. Rutland leads with 10 centers, followed by Williston with 8 and Burlington with 6. South Burlington and Middlebury each list 5.

Vermonters return deposit containers to redemption centers such as Horizon's Redemption Center in St Johnsbury for their refunds, and use town transfer stations and solid-waste districts for everything else. Because food scraps and yard debris are banned from the trash, many transfer stations accept compostables, while reuse stores like the Habitat ReStore in Williston divert building materials and household goods. ANR and the Department of Environmental Conservation administer the Universal Recycling Law statewide.

Top Cities by Number of Centers

Rutland 10 Williston 8 Burlington 6 Middlebury 5 South Burlington 5 Lyndonville 4 Montpelier 4 Randolph 4

All Cities in Vermont

Alburgh 1 center Ascutney 1 center Barre 1 center Bennington 1 center Berlin 1 center Bethel 1 center Bradford 2 centers Brandon 1 center Brattleboro 3 centers Bridport 1 center Bristol 1 center Burlington 6 centers Cambridge 1 center Canaan 2 centers Castleton 2 centers Charlotte 1 center Colchester 3 centers Craftsbury 1 center Derby 1 center Dorset 1 center Enosburg Falls 1 center Essex Junction 3 centers Fairfax 1 center Franklin 1 center Grand Isle 1 center Hardwick 1 center Hinesburg 2 centers Hyde Park 1 center Jamaica 1 center Johnson 1 center Killington 2 centers Londonderry 1 center Ludlow 1 center Lyndonville 4 centers Manchester Center 1 center Middlebury 5 centers Middlesex 1 center Milton 2 centers Montgomery Center 2 centers Montpelier 4 centers Morgan 1 center Morrisville 1 center Newport 1 center North Bennington 1 center Orleans 1 center Randolph 4 centers Richmond 1 center Rutland 10 centers Shrewsbury 1 center South Burlington 5 centers South Royalton 1 center South Strafford 1 center Springfield 3 centers St Albans City 1 center St Johnsbury 4 centers Stowe 1 center Swanton 2 centers Thetford Center 1 center Topsham 1 center Tunbridge 1 center Vergennes 2 centers Waitsfield 2 centers Washington 1 center Waterbury 1 center West Brattleboro 1 center West Rutland 1 center Westfield 1 center Westminster 1 center Weybridge 1 center White River Junction 2 centers Whitingham 1 center Wilder 1 center Williston 8 centers Wolcott 1 center

Recycling in Vermont — FAQ

Does Vermont have a bottle deposit?

Yes. Vermont's Beverage Container Deposit Law charges a refundable deposit on covered beverage containers, which you get back by returning them to a retailer or redemption center. This bottle bill operates alongside the state's broader Universal Recycling Law.

How do I recycle in Vermont?

Return deposit bottles and cans to redemption centers for your refund, put blue-bin recyclables out for collection, and keep food scraps and yard debris out of the trash. The directory lists 134 centers across 74 towns; use your town transfer station or solid-waste district, and confirm accepted materials and hours with the specific center.

Does Vermont ban anything from landfills?

Yes. Under the Universal Recycling Law (Act 148), Vermont bans blue-bin recyclables, leaf and yard debris and clean wood, and food scraps from the trash. The food-scrap ban took full effect on July 1, 2020, and the Agency of Natural Resources enforces all of the state's landfill disposal bans.

Where are the biggest recycling hubs in Vermont?

Rutland leads with 10 listed centers, followed by Williston with 8 and Burlington with 6. South Burlington and Middlebury each list 5. Because Vermont is a small, rural state, most towns rely on local transfer stations and solid-waste districts rather than a few large hubs.