Transfer Station Instructions

How to Pay for your Trash Loads or Bulk Items: 

Cash and checks are not accepted at the Transfer Station. Prepayment must be made at the Board of Health Office or online. If you prepay online, print the receipt and bring it with you to present to the Attendant when you arrive at Transfer Station.

Please visit the
Resident Transfer Station page for details about purchasing a sticker.

Transfer Station Permit Benefits


  1. The permit will allow you to dispose of many recyclable items at our Transfer Station for free, please see our RECYCLING LIST for details. 
  2. The permit also will allow you to dispose of many large items for a fee, See item fees.
  3. All household waste must be contained in the City’s yellow PAYT bags or paid by the load using the volume-based fee schedule. See item fees.

Transfer Station Guidelines

  1. The Gardner Transfer Station Permit Sticker is not to be used for waste generated by commercial activities; it is for Gardner residents who wish to dispose of their household items only. Vehicles with a commercial registration/plate may be subject to inspection prior to permit issue.
  2. Hauling for others for a fee is prohibited. 
  3. All loads must be secured and covered if necessary to prevent spillage and litter. 
  4. Your Transfer Station permit number will be assigned your vehicle’s registration number. The Transfer Station permit can only be used on the vehicle it was assigned to. Use of the permit on an unassigned vehicle is illegal and misuse of a permit may cause it to be revoked. In order to ensure that only City residents with Transfer Station stickers are using the Transfer Station, a list of the valid permits will be kept in the Board of Health office as well as at the Transfer Station. 
  5. The Transfer Station Monitor has the right to reject loads that violate the waste ban (see below) or are, in his opinion the result of commercial activities or waste coming from outside the City of Gardner.

Disposal of Waste Ban Items

Waste Ban Items How to Handle Banned Item Details
Asbestos Friable (insulation), Non-friable (shingles) Logano (800 272-0999)
Whole Tires Recycling Center No Rims. Bulk item, $5 fee per tire
Infectious (Medical) Waste Stericycle (800) 647-6832  Contact for packing/handling
White Goods/Appliances/Televisions/Computer Monitors Recycling Center Bulk item, $15.00 per item
Radioactive Waste Radiation Control (617) 727-6214
Lead Acid Batteries Recycling Center Battery Shed Auto & Household
Leaves & Yard Waste Recycling Center No Plastic Bags/Construction Debris
Recyclable Paper Recycling Center Cardboard/Mixed Paper
Aluminum Recycling Center
Glass & Metal Containers Recycling Center
Single Polymer Plastics Recycling Center
Mercury Products Recycling Center Mercury Products, Fluorescent Bulbs
Scrap Metal Recycling Center
Wood Furniture Recycling Center Bulk item, $10.00 per item
Construction Waste Recycling Center Volume-based fee per load
Liquids (Inc. Propane) Compliance Manager (978) 355-6821
Flammable HHW Collection Days (978) 874-6252 or (877) 874-6252
Hazardous Waste/Oil Based Paint HHW Collection Days (978) 874-6252 or (877) 874-6252
Rechargeable (Ni-Cad) Batteries Recycling Center Battery Shed
Paint/Paint Products Recycling Center No latex paint 
Motor Oil/Antifreeze Recycling Center No combustibles, filters