Show All Answers

1. What can go in the carts?

Trash can be placed in the black carts. Only recyclables should be placed in the blue carts. The Town will not collect trash placed in the blue carts. If you're not sure what can be recycled, check our Recycle Right page or the MassDEP's Recyclopedia website. If your item can't be recycled in the blue bin, you can search Milton's How Do I Dispose Of...? page to learn how to dispose of the item.

2. What do I do with my old recycling or trash barrel?

If you have a blue "Milton Recycles" tub-style bin, we welcome you to keep it and use it for storage or as another household bin. You can set this out with recyclables along with the cart. If you have other recycling or trash barrels you can continue to use them for yard waste, additional trash, or additional recyclables. Please make sure it is properly labeled and stickered so sanitation workers know to pick it up. Free Yard Waste labels are available at DPW.

3. What if my trash doesn't fit in the black cart?

You can set out additional trash as long as it has a $3 sticker on each bag or 32-gallon barrel. When using a barrel, place the sticker on top of the top bag of trash. Please note that while trash carts and barrels larger than 32 gallons are permitted, trash inside will require two stickers to be collected. If having additional trash is typical for you, you may order an additional trash barrel from DPW for $156 per year.

4. What if my recyclables don’t fit in the blue cart?

You are still able (and encouraged!) to recycle as much as you can. If you have other bins or barrels please fill the cart first, then set out additional bins or barrels if you need to.

5. Can I have another cart?

The Town issues one recycling cart per household due to inventory, however additional trash carts may be ordered from DPW for $156 per year.

6. Who owns the carts? Why do they have serial numbers?

The carts are property of the Town of Milton. If you move, the cart must remain at the address to which it was distributed. You may personalize your cart with a decal or sticker but do not mark up the carts with paint or markers.

Each cart is associated with a household, and serial numbers are used to match carts to households and keep track of the fleet of carts. Serial numbers and Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFID) associated with each cart help the Town track maintenance and location information of the carts. No personal information about cart users is tracked by the RFID tags.

7. What if my cart is damaged or goes missing?

Since the carts are Town property, the Town will help repair or replace carts that are damaged during regular operations or go missing. If it is damaged, please bring the barrel to the DPW Yard at 629 Randolph and inform staff inside the building. We will have a new one dropped off to you on the following Friday. To replace a stolen cart, the DPW will require a copy of a police report made to Milton Police. A replacement and maintenance request form is available online or you can call DPW.