WELCOME TO THE UPDATED IPSWICH RECYCLING WEBSITE!
The purpose of this website is to provide a comprehensive resource containing information about municipal and private recycling opportunities for Ipswich residents. In addition, tips on how to reduce and reuse items, as well as links to other websites with helpful information related to recycling, are provided.

With little effort and time, you can save yourself and the town money by keeping as much out the waste stream as possible. We hope that you find this website helpful and welcome queries, comments and questions .

http://www.ipswichma.com
http://www.town.ipswich.ma.us/pubworks/recycling.htm

Recycling Updates

• Saturday, September 27, 2008 - Recycling Extravaganza •
Hosted by the Ipswich Recycling Committee at the Winthrop School
9am-1pm, Rain or Shine

Electronics Recycling – Cost is $.50 per pound (cash or check) - $20 per item maximum
Electronics, including computers, TVs and anything that plugs in.  NO air conditioners, propane tanks, refrigerators, dehumidifiers or scrap metal.  Additional charge for TVs in consoles.
Books and Audio/Video Material Recycling – Free
Got Books will be on-site to collect books, records, tapes, CDs and DVDs.  Donations will be accepted for items taken from the recycler.  NO encyclopedias or magazines. 
Alkaline Battery Collection – Free
There will be a collection box for alkaline batteries.  These contain trace amounts of mercury and should not be placed in the solid waste stream.  Rechargeable batteries can be recycled at Tedfords, Home Depot and Best Buy. 
Spent Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Collection – Free
There will be a collection area hosted by the Ipswich Light Department for CFLs that contain trace amounts of mercury and that should not be placed in the solid waste stream. 
Swap Shop (Rain or Shine) – Free
Housewares, dishes, pots/pans, silverware, small working appliances, jewelry, knickknacks, sporting goods, toys (no large plastic or outdoor toys), pictures and small rugs (5’x7’ or smaller) to be made available to others for free while you take someone else’s unwanted treasures.  Drop off beginning promptly at 9am; items remaining after 1pm will be donated to charity.

PLEASE, NO clothing, furniture, electronics, hazardous materials, outdoor toys/furniture, car seats, halogen lamps, skis/boots/poles, and stuffed animals.  PLEASE, items with multiple pieces/parts should be packaged or bagged together. 

Recycling Committee staff reserve the right to determine acceptability of items brought to swap

9am - Noon at the Transfer Station, Town Farm Road
Free and Open to Ipswich residents only
Preregistration Required

The DPW is holding a collection of oil based paint, epoxy paint, polyurethane, stains, varnishes, thinners, car batteries, fluorescent bulbs including CFLs, tires without rims, mercury thermometers and thermostats.  Make an appointment by contacting the Public Works Office 978-356-6612 during regular Town Hall hours.   

• Health Department Household Hazardous Waste Collection •
The Ipswich Health Department is holding a hazardous waste collection to ensure proper disposal of certain items.  For details on what specific items are acceptable and how to safely transport and handle these items, go to www.ipswichrecycles.org or call 356-6606 x4

Material to be accepted will include:
-oil based paint
-epoxy paint
-polyurethane
-stains,varnishes,thinners
-car batteries
-fluorescent bulbs (including CFLs)
-tires without rims
-products containing Mercury including thermostats, Mercury switches, thermometers, elemental Mercury, blood pressure units, flow meters,barometers and button cell batteries( found in watches,cameras, calculators, hearing aids and personal organizers).

Residents must pre-register with Public Works, either in person at the DPW Office, Town Hall, or by telephone, 356-6612. Any questions, please contact the DPW Office at 356-6612.

• Committee’s Recommendations For Changes to Solid Waste Policy •
On March 3, 2008, the Board of Selectmen voted to support the Recycling Committee’s recommendations for changes to the Residential Solid Waste and Recycling Policy. The recommendations include a reduction in the four-barrel per household, per week trash limit to three barrels with an overthrow option effective July 1, 2008. Residents who have more than three barrels may purchase an ‘Overthrow” sticker for $2 each at Town Hall. Other recommendations include a three year phased requirement of recycling at public events and the implementation of a town-wide recycling goal by 2011. For more information, see the policy guidelines on trash and recycling at the Town of Ipswich website. Also available is the summary of the revised policy changes adopted by the BOS in March 2008. Please review this website and the Ipswich Chronicle for information on how to reduce trash output and details on the overthrow program.

• Recycling Committee Presented Annual Report at Town Meeting •
The Recycling Committee presented its annual committee report to Town Meeting on Monday, May 13. Town Meeting at the IPAC. The Committee has accomplished a great deal during this past fiscal year. Click here to read a copy of the report.

• Spent CFL Bulb Collection Now at the ELD Office •
It’s no longer necessary to hold on to those spent CFLs for a Special Collection!! There is now a collection box at the ELD Office during regular business hours. In addition, you may also bring them to either or both of the DPW Special Collections in the Spring and Fall.

• September 27 Recycling Events In The Planning Stages •
The Recycling Committee is in the process of planning a Fall event that will include a Swap event of household goods, an electronics collection and an audio-visual material collection. Also, on that day, the Department of Public Works will hold a Special Collection and the Health Department will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Collection at the Transfer Station.

• Corrugated Cardboard Collection Dumpster At Transfer Station •
The dumpster at the Transfer Station for flattened corrugated cardboard is available on a regular basis. The Ipswich DPW Director has indicated that this service is viable and has been successful thus far. The dumpster is available to all residents for larger cardboard items during regular Transfer Station hours. Corrugated cardboard will still be collected curbside on respective recycling collection days and residents are encouraged to use curbside service for smaller boxes.

• Mercury Recovery Program •
The DPW is collecting products that contain mercury. Examples of collected items include thermostats, Mercury switches, thermometers, elemental Mercury, blood pressure units, flow meters, barometers and button cell batteries (found in watches, cameras, calculators, hearing aids, and personal organizers) and any raw mercury in original containers. The DPW also will exchange a glass Mercury fever thermometer for a new digital thermometer. Please call ahead at 978-356-6612 to be sure that the container is safe. Acceptable items should be brought to the second floor of Town Hall during regular business hours. Flourescent bulbs, including CFLs, are accepted at the DPW's bi-annual Special Collection. As of August 2007, the DPW has collected and exchanged over four (4) dozen Mercury fever thermometers and two (2) dozen Mercury containing items.

• Wireless Devices Collection •
The Recycling Committee has placed two small, green bins for the collection of unwanted wireless devices. The devices include, but are not limited to, PDAs, iPods, digital cameras, cell phones, etc. Bins are located at the library and inside the entrance of Town Hall. Devices are bought by Recycling For Charities, which refurbishes or recycles them. All funds received from the sale of these devices help defray the administrative and logistical costs incurred by the Recycling Committee.

• Recycling Committee Seeking New Members •
The Recycling Committee is currently seeking new members interested in working productively and cooperatively to meet the Committee’s mandate of increasing recycling and reducing trash disposal costs for the Town of Ipswich. The Recycling Committee is an advisory committee to the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Selectmen appoints members. Individuals interested in participating are encouraged to attend a meeting and seek appointment if interested. The Committee meets monthly and meetings are held from 6:30-8pm in Conference Room B of Town Hall. The tentative schedule for the remainder of FY08 and FY09 is as follows:

Disclaimer
The Town of Ipswich does not ensure the accuracy of information provided on this website and town services identified on this website are subject to change without notice. In addition, the Town of Ipswich disclaims all responsibility for the accuracy of information and the actions taken on the basis of information provided in website links provided. Please see complete disclaimer language on the Town of Ipswich website.