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1. When will trash be picked up?

Place trash curbside by 7 a.m. on your pick up day. Truck routes and schedules are subject to change without notice and times of pickups are not guaranteed on a weekly basis. Trash on private property will not be picked up - must be curbside. Household rubbish subject to limitation of 4 bags or barrels, no more than 50 pounds each (or the equivalent of 135 gallons) per residence.

2. How do I make a complaint?

Send all questions or grievances for solid waste and recycling to recycle@andoverma.us.

3. Where do I find information about household hazardous waste collection?

Please refer to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection brochure for the next Town collection.
Hazardous Waste Collection brochure (PDF).

4. How do I dispose of Mercury?

Mercury won’t harm you or the environment as long as it stays inside the product and is handled properly when you’re finished with it. Andover currently has two drop-off sites available, in addition to the collection at the spring and fall CRT and HHW collection events: (Health Division at Town Hall and Public Works at 5 Campanelli Drive).

Please bring any unbroken items containing Mercury to these locations, except for fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). Mercury products include, but are not limited to: glass thermometers, old thermostats, blood pressure machines, barometers, rechargeable and lithium batteries.

Do not bring alkaline batteries to these locations, they are to be disposed of in your regular household trash.

Please bring your Mercury items inside an unbreakable plastic container or clear plastic sealed bag. If you think you have a large quantity of Mercury, please call 978-623-8700 - Do not transport to the collection sites! Button batteries (which contain large amounts of mercury) can be dropped off for recycling at several downtown locations. Look for boxes labeled "Recycle button batteries."

For more information on Mercury, please visit

5. When is leaf collection?

Leaf collection occurs over 12 weeks each year; 6 weeks in the spring and 6 weeks in the fall. Spring collection is always the 5 weeks before Memorial Day with the sixth week being the week of Memorial Day. Memorial Day week collection is delayed a day due to the Monday holiday. Fall collection occurs the 5 weeks before Thanksgiving, no collection the week of Thanksgiving, with the final week being the week after Thanksgiving.

6. Can I drop off leaves or brush anywhere in Town?

Leaves, grass clippings, and brush may be dropped off at the Bald Hill Compost Site located on High Plain Road. This site is seasonal and is usually open from early April until late November (weather permitting). Permits are required and may be purchased at the Municipal Services Facility at 5 Campanelli Drive, Monday through Friday, 8 am - 3:30 pm. These can also be purchased through our mail-in program. For more information including dates and times the site is open, please visit AndoverMA.Gov/BaldHillCompost.

Bald Hill Compost Site Information

7. How do I dispose of a Christmas tree?

Christmas Trees will be collected the same day as trash collection as your weekly bulk item (one per week). Please remove all decorations and place tree curbside with your regular trash. Trees over 7’ in height must be cut in half. Trees frozen in snow banks will not be picked up. There are no start/stop dates for collecting trees. 

Please Note: The holiday season results in the highest trash volume of the year. Trash must take priority over trees if volumes, weather or other factor threaten the completion of daily trash routes. Trees left will be picked up at a later date.

Show All Answers

1. When and how is curbside pickup handled?

Every other week - recyclables (glass - all colors - newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, computer paper and paper board [cereal and cracker boxes], steel and tin cans, aluminum containers, Number 1 through 5 and Number 7 plastics. Cardboard is a recyclable material and will not be picked up with your trash. Please break down, flatten and fold boxes, cartons and other pieces of cardboard into 3 foot by 3 foot by 2 foot bundles. Then tie or tape them together and place next to your bin. Whole boxes will not be accepted. Styrofoam, packing peanuts, plastic bags and films are not recyclable curbside. Recycling will be collected on the same day as the trash collection. Place recycling and trash curbside by 7 a.m. on your pickup day. Trash collection is weekly and recycling is every other week.

Recycling and Trash Collection Guide (PDF)

2. What is the contact information for recycling information?

Call Republic Services at 800-442-9006.

For curbside recycling schedule and information, call 978-623-8700 or e-mail Recycle@andoverma.us.

3. What happens if there is inclement weather?

Information in regards to trash/recycling delays will be posted on the Town's website in addition to the Andover DPW Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Additionally, service alerts will go out to users of the Town's Solid Waste App.

In the event of a delay in collections, a Code Red call will be placed. Code Red automatically dials all listed landline numbers along with cell phones to those that have signed up. If residents have a landline that is unlisted, we suggest you sign up so you are included in notifications.

If you have not signed up, you may do so from the Code Red website. Code Red calls are not placed if collections are on their regular schedule or if delays are specific to a route or stream. Please view the Solid Waste App for route-specific delays.

CodeRed Website

4. How do I recycle computers and televisions?

The Town of Andover holds two (2) special collections each year for computers, televisions and other assorted electronics. For more information, please visit the Recycling and Trash Guide for Residents. brochure (PDF).

5. Does the town offer curbside leaf collection?

The Town will collect leaves curbside the five weeks before Thanksgiving week and the week following Thanksgiving and again in the spring the six weeks before Memorial Day weekend. Put leaves out on your regular rubbish day in barrels, boxes, or brown paper leaf bags. No plastic bags are allowed. For more information, please visit the Recycling and Trash Guide for Residents brochure (PDF).

6. Where do I find information about the compost site?

Please visit the Compost Site Page.

7. How do I dispose of Hazardous Waste?

Please refer to the HHW, Household Hazardous Waste Collection information sheet for the next Town collection. HHW Collection Information

8. Can I recycle appliances?

Large Household Appliances are not allowed curbside through the Town's trash & recycling program. They include but are not limited to: refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, heaters, air conditioners, humidifiers/de-humidifiers, microwaves, etc. Residents are responsible for their disposal and associated costs. A list of Private Disposal Options is available on page 11 of the Recycling and Trash Collection Guide. In addition, check local advertisements and the yellow pages for disposal services and/or handyman services. View more information about appliances on the Town's Solid Waste App. 

Recycling and Trash Collection Guide (PDF)

9. How many bulky items can I recycle?

Residents are allowed one bulky item per week in their regular trash. Bulky items include:  sofas, loveseats, tables, and chairs. If you are unsure if you have a bulky item or not, please view our Recycling and Trash Collection Guide, call 978-623-8701, or email recycle@andoverma.us. 

10. Where can I get a recycling bin?

The Town of Andover supplies 18-gallon blue recycling bins at no charge to residents that receive curbside recycling pickup. These bins may be picked up at the Municipal Services Facility located at 5 Campanelli Drive. Please call ahead at 978-623-8701 or email recycle@andoverma.us to arrange for bin pickups. 

11. Does the Town of Andover provide large wheeled recycling toters for free?

The Town of Andover only provides 18 gallon blue recycling bins for free. Larger barrels or toters are not provided. Residents can use larger personal containers (such as a 30-gallon trash barrel), with total weight less than 50 pounds and Two(2) Red Recycling Stickers on the outside. Red Stickers may be obtained for free at the Municipal Services Facility at 5 Campanelli Drive.