Westford Recycling Commission (WRC)

New Option for Mattresses - Curbside Pick-up is now available: New Curbside Mattress Collection Service for Westford Residents • Westford, MA

RecycleSmart Updates Guidance on Paper Cups:  paper cups, Dixie cups, and paper cups used for fountain drinks can be recycled (lids should still be thrown in the trash): RecycleSmart MA

Upcoming Events

It may not feel like it but Spring is right around the corner and we're pleased to announce our Spring Events:

Junk in the Trunk - April 18 (RAIN DATE: April 19) - Stony Brook School --- details coming soon.

ZERO Waste Day - April 25 - 9 am - 1 pm: Various Locations around Town.  Vendors and details HERE.

Electronics & More - April 25 - 9 am - 1 pm: Westford Highway Garage, 28 North Street.  Details HERE

Brush Chipping - May 9 - 10:30 am - 4:30 pm: Westford Highway Garage, 28 North Street.  

Household Hazardous Waste - June 13 - 9 am - 1 pm: Westford Highway Garage, 28 North Street.  

Check out our A to Z Guide on ways to keep stuff out of our waste stream and the incinerator - click HERE.

Composting: This is great way to reduce waste  - more info available HERE.

Reciprocal HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE events: All the Household Hazardous Events are over for 2025, the 2026 schedule will be published in February.  Check our A to Z Guide: How to Recycle Most Everything Document for other options.

Link your Google calendar HERE

Pick Up Status

This week's pickup is on a REGULAR schedule.  The next holiday delay will be Memorial Day.

The FY2026 Recycling Guide is now available as your go to guide for schedules, recycling info, and more.  Recycling Guide 202526 CalendarNote on Blue/Green Schedules: For recycling, each street in Westford is assigned the color blue or green which determines your week for recycling pickup (recycling is picked up every other week while trash is picked up every week). You can confirm which color applies to your street HERE.  There is an icon on the upper right of this page indicating if it's a blue or green week (If you are reading this on your phone, scroll down to see the icon).  

**To stay up to date on any last minutes changes, sign up for the Smart911 service (click HERE) as well as the Town Wide e-mail civic alerts -- sign-up by clicking HERE and scrolling down to the Alerts section.


Help Divert Organics Away from the Town's Waste Stream By Composting

Learn more about composting HERE including how you can buy a discounted Earth Machine composter.  In the meantime, click on the link below to watch a video about composting:Picture1 Opens in new window


Curbside Trash & Recycling with E.L. Harvey

The Town Manager's office has set up a dedicated page that outlines the contract polices which you can check out by clicking HERE.  Key Policies:

  • Bulk waste policy
  • Enforcement of waste limits (96 gallons)

For more info, please check out Westford CAT's interview with Assistant Town Manager for Strategic Operations Mike Edwards: https://westfordcat.org/2024/06/solid-waste-changes-begin-on-monday-heres-what-to-know/ 

Solid Waste (trash) pick up is scheduled every week:


  • Trash must be at the curb no later than 7:00 AM for collection
  • Household limit of 96 gallons per week (i.e. 3 x 32 gallon barrels)  
  • Containers not designed for automated collection may not exceed 50 lbs when loaded
  • You may use plastic garbage bags in lieu of barrels but must weigh less than 50 lbs
  • There is no requirement on container type, but quantity and weight limits will be enforced
  • If there are recyclables in your trash and/or there is no recycling container out on your recycling day, the trash hauler will not pick up the trash.
  • Recycling and trash must be in separate barrels and clearly marked.

Recycling pick up is every other week:


  • Click HERE to see if you are blue or green week and match to schedule shown above
  • Recycling in plastic bags will be rejected. PLEASE NO PLASTIC BAGS. These bags will jam the recycling sorting machines.  
  • Glass, plastic, or metal containers should be empty, clean, and dry as best as possible
  • Recycling must be at the curb no later than 7:00 AM for collection
  • Cardboard must be flattened and cut into sizes no greater than 3' x 3', placed in a container or box. If it doesn't fit, it may be bundled with tape or string, set next to the toters.
  • Please continue to use the yellow and black toters, green toters (previously sold by the Town), and other acceptable recycling bins and toters.  

Groton Transfer Station is available to Westford residents for recycling only:

Westford Residents need to register with the Groton Transfer Station to gain permission to use the facility for dropping off certain types of recyclable materials.  A Westford resident who has registered for limited recycling access can then use a vehicle that displays the Groton Transfer Station's "Recycling Only" sticker to drop off the following items, in compliance with the RULES  that are also noted below.

Items Accepted with "Recycling Only" Registration:

  1. Cardboard - Flattened
  2. Mixed paper
  3. Glass bottles and jars (separated by color - NO CAPS)
  4. Plastic food/household product containers #1-#7 (NO LIDS)
  5. Aluminum, steel, and tin cans

Rules:

  1. Only the approved list of recyclables can be dropped off.  Important:  The limited "Recycling only" sticker does not grant the holder access to any other collection areas:  No bulky plastic, no scrap metal (use Westford Metals in Westford), no electronics, and no trash.
  2. Separation of items is mandatory.  Each type of item must be placed into the designated collection area. 
  3. No lids or caps are allowed on bottles, jars, or plastic containers.
  4. Items must be empty, clean, and dry.

Hours of Operation: Please click HERE to link tor the Groton Transfer Station's hours of operation:  

Reminder:  Many details on this page are for Groton residents only and do not apply to non-residents with a "Recycling Only" registration.

Important: Any violation of these rules for "Recycling Only" access to the Groton Transfer Station will result in banned access and will also jeopardize the Town of Westford's ability to use this facility.

Recycling Plastic Bags

Reminder: Plastic bags should not be placed in curbside recycling; more information can be found HERE including a video prepared by the Westford Recycling Commission to help you identify what bags are accepted.

Westford Plastic Bag Reduction Program

Westford’s plastic bag reduction program went into effect on January 1, 2019 banning single use plastic bags.  Please bring re-usable bags to the grocery store.  For more info, please contact the Westford Board of Health at (978) 692-5509 or ready the by-law HERE.

Westford Recycling Commission

Meetings

  • Typically held on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM, in-person at the Roudenbush Community Center, 65 Main Street, Room 202.
  • Check the agenda to verify details as these are subject to change. Agendas are posted minimum 2 days before the meeting.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.