How Do I Dispose of These Items?
Appliances
Appliances/White goods are picked up by appointment only by scheduling an appointment with Waste Management at 1-800-972-4545. Appliances are collected for a fee of $21 per item, paid directly to Waste Management. Non-freon appliances can be brought to Whipple Ave for no fee. Air Conditioners and Dehumidifiers contain freon and must be collected by Waste Management.
Bathroom Items
We are now able to recycle ALL plastic containers 2 gallons or less. All cans & bottles are empty of product and rinsed.
Batteries
The Department of Public Works accepts car, lawnmower, and small engine batteries. Long-lasting & rechargeable batteries are NOT accepted at the DPW as they are considered hazardous waste. Alkaline batteries can be disposed of in the trash, they are not recyclable.
Cardboard Boxes and Paper
Cardboard boxes must be flattened, folded and cut so that they fit LOOSELY in the cart with the YELLOW lid completely closed. Overstuffed carts cannot be emptied by the Fully Automated Trucks.
Oversized cardboard can be flattened and brought to the Whipple Ave Recycling and Compost Facility and placed in the Single Stream Dumpster. Newspapers, magazines, envelopes, cereal boxes, egg cartons, etc…are all recyclable in the recycling cart with YELLOW lid. Shredded paper is not recyclable and must be disposed of as trash. NOTE: Any cardboard items that came from your fridge or freezer are not recyclable including beer & soda boxes, ice cream & frozen food boxes, butter boxes etc.
Computer Ink Cartridges
Residents can drop off used ink cartridges at the Department of Public Works during normal business hours. Ink cartridges are donated to the Burrillville Lions Club.
Computers, TVs & Other E-Waste
Hazardous E-waste (computers, laptops, monitors, tablets, and TV’s) can be taken to one of the five state collection program locations (Johnston/RIRRC, Little Compton, Barrington, Coventry, and Narragansett). These locations will only accept hazardous E-waste. Hazardous E-waste is banned from the landfill and will result in a fine if found in the trash. Please be sure to dispose of your Hazardous E-waste properly—by bringing to one of the five state collection program locations. For more information call 942-1430 x3241. There is no fee to drop off hazardous E-waste at these locations. Non-hazardous plastic E-waste (keyboards, mice etc.) go in a bag in your trash cart. Non-hazardous metal E-waste (VCR/CD/DVD players with metal cases) can go in the metal dumpster at the Whipple Ave. Recycling & Compost Facility. The Whipple Ave Recycling & Compost Facility is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00am-1:00 pm, weather permitting. There is no fee to dispose of non-hazardous metal E-waste at the Whipple Ave. Recycling & Compost Facility.
Christmas Trees & Lights
Please bring your Christmas trees to the Whipple Ave Recycling & Compost Facility on the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays and Saturdays of January. Residents are reminded that Christmas trees with ornaments, tinsel, or trees in plastic bags will NOT be accepted. All trees MUST be cleaned free of all items prior to disposal. Christmas lights are NOT recyclable in your curbside cart. For information on how to recycle old Christmas lights, please click here.
Construction & Demolition Debris (C & D)
C & D material is any material that is generated from the demolition of a building or the result of a construction project. It generally consists of wood type material, gypsum board, sheet rock, bricks, concrete, items with protruding nails, shingles, siding, glass items such as shower doors, sliding doors, windows, etc… or any other material related to the construction or remodeling of a dwelling, accessory building, shed, dock, or any other construction project. Residents are asked to please do their part to PROPERLY dispose of C & D material: Residents can contact a private hauler such as Bagster, or it can be brought to Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC). Please contact RIRRC at 942-1430 for more information.
Cooking Oil
Recycle your Used Cooking Oil at RIRRC. Rhode Island residents can dispose their used cooking oil at the Central Landfill free of charge. Used cooking oil brought to RIRRC is collected by Newport Biodiesel which will use the oil to produce a clean-burning and sustainable fuel from vegetable oil waste. The Central Landfill is open Mondays through Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and on Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to noon. For more information visit the Rhode Island Resource Recovery website or call (401) 942-1430.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs are banned from the Central Landfill and should not be placed in trash or recycle bins. CFLs contain mercury and are a potential health hazard if they break. Residents can drop off CFLs (but not long flourescents) at any Home Depot Customer Service Desk, and at the Recycling Center located at the entrance of Lowe's stores. CFLs and long flourescent tubes can be brought to Rhode Island Resource Recovery (RIRRC) and disposed of during an Eco-Depot (a collection of household hazardous waste). This service is free and is available by appointment only. Please visit the Eco-Depot link to view dates or call 942-1430 x241 to inquire about dates and to schedule an appointment. Long flourescent tubes (up to four feet in length) can also be brought to Ace Hardware (401-949-1150) in Greenville, RI and Vose Hardware (401- 762-4343) in Woonsocket, RI. There is a limit of 5 per person per visit.
Furniture & Bulky Waste
Bulky Items are picked up by appointment only for fee of $18.00 per item which is paid directly to Waste Management. Please call 1-800-972-4545 to schedule an appointment. Items placed curbside for Waste Management pickup are done so at your own risk. There are no refunds in the event that someone takes your item before Waste Management arrives. Bulky items that are made of metal or rigid plastic WILL NOT be picked up curbside because these items are recyclable. Please bring these items to the Whipple Ave Recycling & Compost Facility. For special circumstances, such as home renovations or residents who are relocating and are generating larger amounts of trash, you must call a private waste hauler or use the bagster program offered by Waste Management. Call 1-877-789-2247 for more information.
Household Hazardous Waste & Latex Paint
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) refer to items that contain a skull and crossbones on the label, or the words "poison", "hazardous", "danger", or cautions you to properly ventilate the area while cleaning. These items typically contain harmful ingredients that are environmentally unsafe and are hazardous to dispose of in the landfill. HHW can be disposed of at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery’s Eco Depot by appointment only. RI residents may schedule an appointment by contacting Eco-Depot at 942-1430 ext. 24. RI Residents can also bring HHW to neighboring towns and cities that are hosting Eco Depot drop offs. For Latex Based Paints, residents are asked to take the following steps:
1) Try to use all the paint first
2) If unable to use all paint, put kitty litter or sawdust into a trash bag and pour the paint into the bag
3) Once hardened, place the bag into the trash
4) Empty latex paint cans with the lids removed can be placed into the recycling cart with the YELLOW LID or brought to the Whipple Ave Recycling and Compost Facility and placed in the Metal Dumpster
Large Rigid Plastic Items
Large plastic items made of rigid plastic are not collected curbside and must be brought to the Whipple Avenue Compost Facility during normal hours of operation. Examples of rigid plastic items include hard plastic items that are composed entirely of plastic--NO metal, no motors, no batteries. Please remove these items before recycling. Pool covers, solar covers & tarps are NOT accepted at the Compost Facility. These items must bagged and placed into the trash cart with the BLACK lid.
Large Scrap Metal Items
Large metal items and small pieces of scrap metal are not accepted in your recycling cart. Please bring these items to the Whipple Avenue Recycling and Compost Facility during normal hours of operation. Please drain metal items of all fluids prior to placing them in the scrap metal dumpster. Some examples of metal items accepted at the facility include: push lawnmowers (drain oil & gas), barbecue grills (cleaned of briquettes), metal cabinets, metal desks, bicycles, exercise equipment, metal doors, pipes, lawn/beach chairs, strollers, etc. There is NO FEE to dispose of metal items at the Recycling Facility.
Mattresses & Box Springs
Many furniture companies will offer to remove your old mattress and box spring when they deliver your new one. If this was not an option, residents can bring mattresses & box springs to the Whipple Ave. Recycling & Compost Facility during normal hours of operation. Mattresses must be dry and intact. Futons, crib mattresses, and dog beds are not acceptable. There is NO FEE to dispose of mattresses and box springs at the Recycling Facility.
Medical Syringes & Sharps
Used syringes and/or needles should be placed in a hard plastic container such as a laundry detergent or bleach bottle. Seal cap tightly and cover cap with duct tape. Place the container in a bag in your BLACK lid trash cart and label it SHARPS. Some private companies offer a service to provide sharps containers that can be mailed back to the company for safe disposal. Search results can be found by clicking here.
STORE ALL SYRINGES IN AREAS THAT ARE CHILD AND ANIMAL-PROOF. NEVER PLACE MEDICAL WASTE OR CONTAINERS OF MEDICAL WASTE IN YOUR RECYCLING CART.
Plastic Bags
Burrillville participates in RIRRC’s Operation Restore. Operation Restore is a FREE program designed to recycle plastic grocery bags, shopping bags, dry cleaning bags, and other types of plastic bags. If you can easily stretch the plastic bag with your thumb, it can go in the Restore container. Residents may dispose of their plastic bags by tying them in a knot and bringing them to the Restore Container located at Brigido’s IGA on Sayles Avenue in Pascoag.
Plastics & Small Metals
ANY plastic containers 2 gallons or less are now recyclable! Rinse out all containers and replace the caps/covers and triggers sprays and place in your recycle cart with the YELLOW lid. Bottles/jugs that previously contained hazardous materials such as motor oil or pesticides CANNOT be recycled and must go to an Eco Depot location. To locate an Eco-Depot location click here, or call RIRRC at 942-1430 x241 for more information. Tin/Aluminum cans, metal lids & pie plates, and empty latex paint cans can all be placed in your recycle cart with the YELLOW lid. Oil based paint cans are considered hazardous material and CANNOT be placed in your recycle cart. Please bring to an Eco Depot location with other hazardous waste items. Call RIRRC at 942-1430 x241 for more information on Eco-Depot locations. Rinse out all containers before placing them in your recycling cart. Pieces of scrap metal and large metal items need to be brought to the Whipple Ave Recycling and Compost Facility.
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Prescription Drugs
Unsued or expired prescription drugs can safely be disposed of at CVS Pharmacy, 20 High Street, Pascoag or the Burrillville Police Station, 1447 Victory Highway, Oakland.
Propane Tanks
Propane tanks are banned from the Central Landfill and are NOT collected by the Town’s waste hauler. Please do not put propane tanks in the trash or recycling carts. THEY ARE EXPLOSIVE AND CAN HURT THE TRUCK DRIVERS AND WORKERS AT THE SORTING FACILITY. The Town DOES NOT accept empty propane tanks at the Whipple Avenue Compost Facility per RIDEM permit rules and regulations. Residents may dispose of EMPTY Propane Tanks at the Eco-Depot located in Johnston at the Central Landfill. Residents must make an appointment at the Eco-Depot by calling 942-1430 ext. 241.
Styrofoam
Place styrofoam in a bag an dispose of in your black lid trash cart.
Tires, Motor Oil, Oil Filters & Car Batteries
Tires may be dropped off free of charge at the Whipple Avenue Compost Facility during normal hours of operation. Tires must be off the rim. There is a limit of four tires per person. Oversized tires are not accepted. Tires may also be brought to the RI Resource Recovery in Johnston.
Used Clothing and Other Fabrics
Goodwill Box at the Whipple Ave Recycling & Compost Facility, 350 Whipple Avenue, Oakland, RI.Goodwill Box accepts many different types of textiles. The following can be recycled in any condition as long as it’s clean and dry: Pants, Shorts, Sweatpants, Jeans, Shirts, T-shirts, Jerseys, Pajamas, Socks, Undergarments/Bras, Sweatshirts, Sweaters, Dresses, Skirts, Coats, Jackets, Suits, Flip flops, Boots, Shoes, Slippers, Belts, Ties, Purses, Hats, Pillows, Bedding: comforter, sheets, pillow cases, blankets, Curtains/Draperies, Table linens, Stuffed animals. Residents are asked to place textiles in a clean plastic bag and place them IN the box. Residents are asked not to leave any articles on the ground outside of the box. Clothing that is stained, torn or no longer wearable is recycled into rags.
Yard Waste
The Town of Burrillville does not collect Lawn and Yard Waste curbside. Residents can bring their compostable material to the Whipple Ave. Recycling & Compost Facility during normal hours of operation. Ideally, all yard waste should be composted. Compostable material is any vegetative matter such as grass clippings, leaves, tree, shrub, and bush trimmings, tree branches, garden trimmings, plants, flowers, and any other plant matter. All brush and tree limbs must be four inches or less in diameter, and cut in five foot lengths or less. Leaves and other compostable material will be accepted loose or in paper bags.
Logs, stumps, cut firewood, planks, and wood from construction are not accepted at the Whipple Ave. Recycling and Compost Facility. Compostable materials in plastic bags will not be accepted.
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Please be aware that some items are not accepted at the Central Landfill and will not be collected curbside. If you have further questions please contact the Recycling Coordinator at 568-4440 x 12. You can also visit Recyclopedia: an A to Z list for RI residents.