Zero Waste Days
We hold drop-off days for household hazardous materials and certain waste ban items. Scroll down to view the 2025 schedule of drop-off events.
There are 3 types of drop-off events:
- Zero Waste Days where we collect all materials listed in the accepted materials section of this webpage.
- Zero Waste Pop-Ups where we provide disposal services for at least 2 different types of materials. Visit the event webpage for each Pop-Up to find a complete list of accepted items.
- Yard Waste Drop-Off where we ONLY accept leaf and yard waste.
IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR ATTENDING ZERO WASTE EVENTS:
- You must be a Boston resident to drop unwanted materials at these events.
- We reserve the right to reject any materials that do not meet our regulations.
- You need to provide a photo ID, utility bill, or lease as proof of residency.
- We will not accept waste from businesses.
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Have questions? Contact 311:
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1 city hall square, room 714
boston, ma 02201
Zero Waste Pop-Ups
Yard Waste Drop-Off
Zero Waste Day Accepted Materials
Accepted MaterialsBelow are a few examples of accepted items. View a full list of accepted items here.
- Cell phones
- Computers
- Cords, chargers, wires
- Keyboards
- Microwaves
- Printers
- Power supplies
- Tablets
- Televisions
- VCR/DVD players
Below are a few examples of accepted items. View a full list of accepted items here.
- Acids and sulfuric acid, aerosol cans
- Aerosols and aerosol spray cans
- Batteries: Lithium, alkaline, nickel-cadmium
- Caulk, chemistry set chemicals, pool chemicals
- Fire starters, flammable liquids, floor-care products, and furniture polish
- Motor oil
- Paint: oil-based, latex
- Pesticides
- Items that contain mercury (All items must be intact, we will not accept cracked items):
- Fluorescent light bulbs of all sizes
- Thermometers
- Thermostats
- Blood Pressure Cuffs
- Barometers
- Mercury Switches
- Legacy Mercury Items
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Elemental (Liquid) Mercury - This item MUST be in a sealed container. Please leave it in it's original container and put that container in a secondary container like a sealed bag or bucket. Reminder that we will NOT accept any material that is not properly packaged.
- Bike tires (8 tires maximum per person)
- Car tires (8 tires maximum per person)
- Car Batteries
- Fire extinguishers
- Propane tanks - empty or full
- Paper shredding
- Please remove all binder clips and binders as this will clog the shredder.
- It is OK to leave: staples, rubber bands and paper clips
- We will shred up to 10 copy paper size boxes or containers of your personal documents.
- Paper shredding occurs onsite but due to the high volume of traffic at these events, residents CANNOT watch their documents be shredded.
Below are a few examples of accepted items. View a full list of accepted items here.
Footwear (in pairs):
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Shoes
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Heels (wedges, pumps)
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Flats
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Sandals
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Flip Flops
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Boots (work boots, dress boots, winter boots)
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Sneakers
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Cleats
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Slippers
Clothing:
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Tops (T-shirts, blouses, shirts, tank tops)
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Sweaters
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Sweatshirts
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Dresses
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Outerwear (coats, jackets, blazers)
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Bottoms (pants, slacks, jeans, sweatpants, skirts, shorts)
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Suits
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Socks
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Pajamas
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Slips
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Bras
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Underwear
Accessories:
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Hats
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Bags (pocketbooks, backpacks, duffle bags, totes)
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Belts
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Gloves
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Ties
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Scarves
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Bathrobes
Linens:
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Sheets
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Blankets
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Towels
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Curtains/Drapes
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Aprons
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Dish cloths
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Cloth napkins
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Table linens
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Comforters
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Throw rugs
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Placemats
Other:
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Coffee makers
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Decorative pillows
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Dishware
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Musical instruments
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Pots & Pans
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Toys
FAQs
FAQsPlease group items in your car the way they are listed on this page. That means all items underneath the "Metech" tab should be close together in your car and all items under "CMRK" tab should be packaged together. This will help ensure you dispose of all items at the correct station.
Please do not arrive before 8:30am. We will only begin accepting waste at 8:30am.
Do not come after 12pm. We stop accepting waste promptly at 12pm.
Great question! The answer is: NO!
Alkaline Batteries - these are your traditional, non-rechargeable AAA, AA, C, D and 9 volt batteries - are NOT hazardous. Alkaline batteries will be labeled with “no added mercury” or with a green tree logo. Please place them in your regular trash.
Other batteries can cause fires if not disposed of correctly. These ones should be brought to a drop-off event:
- Lithium-ion rechargeable
- Typically found in cell phones, laptops, and small power tools.
- Rechargeable AA, AAA, C, D, 9V (NI-CAD)
- Lithium primary
- Lead acid automotive or sealed
- Button cell battery, watch battery, coin battery
Great question! The answer is: NO!
Latex (water based) paint can be dried out and thrown away in the regular trash.
Only oil-based and acrylic paint must be brought to drop-off events for safe disposal.
All paints and other hazardous liquids MUST be in containers with labels that we can read.
There is a 20 gallon limit on paint, motor oil, gasoline, and all chemicals. Containers must not exceed 5 gallons.
Materials NOT Accepted
- NO asbestos
- NO explosives
- NO radioactive material
- NO commercial or industrial waste
- NO construction debris
- NO alkaline batteries (trash)
- NO medical waste. To learn more about how to safely dispose of medical waste visit:
can't make it to an event?
There are many options throughout the City where you can properly dispose of your electronics, batteries, lightbulbs, and more! . Visit Boston's Zero Waste Directory to find a retailer near you!
What is a Waste Ban?
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) have implemented waste bans on certain hazardous, recyclable, and compostable materials in an effort to reduce the volume and toxicity of trash in the state. By cutting down on disposal, the waste bans also help us capture valuable resources, save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lessen our reliance on landfills and incinerators.
Use The Beyond the Bin search tool to find out how and where to donate or recycle items that can’t go in your home recycling bin and are too good to trash!
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Have questions? Contact 311:
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1 city hall square, room 714
boston, ma 02201
