Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.

Trash & Recycling

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  • Call the EL Harvey Call Center at (800) 321-3002 by the next morning to report a missed pickup.  

    Please remember that trash toters, recycle toters and yard waste containers must be placed at the curb for collection no later than 7am on your collection day.  If your toter is reported as "not out" by waste hauler, they will not be able to return to collect it until your next scheduled service day.  Trash or recycle toters that are overstuffed in any manner will not be emptied. Lids must be completely closed.  If your toter has been reported as overstuffed or open by Waste Management, they are unable to retrieve your toter until your next regular trash day.   

    Trash & Recycling

  • Trash may be placed out for collection after 5 pm on the night before your trash day and no later than 7 am on trash day. Please make sure that your lid is completely closed and no items are outside of the toter. Late put-outs could result in your trash getting missed. Empty trash and recycling toters must be brought back from the curb within 24 hours of collection.

    Trash & Recycling

  • Since we don’t have any routes on Mondays, Monday holidays no longer affect trash collection schedules. When a holiday falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, that day's collection and all remaining collections for the week will be delayed one day. Friday's collection will be on Saturday.

    Trash & Recycling

  • No, everything recycled at curbside can be put together in your recycling toter.
    Trash & Recycling

  • All types of dry, uncontaminated, non-glossy paper, cardboard, plastic containers, rinsed bottles and cans. Labels on bottles & cans do not have to be removed; neck rings on bottles do not have to be removed. Food containers should be rinsed free of food & drink residue. Windows on envelopes and food boxes (pasta boxes for example) do not have to be removed.  


    Keep plastic bags out of household recycling. Maybe you’ve been putting your recyclables in plastic bags for years, but plastic bags, plastic wrap and other stretchable plastic cannot be recycled curbside. In fact, plastic bags are the #1 cause of ruined recyclables. Do not bag your recyclables, place them loose in your toter.  At the recycling sorting facility, plastic bags get caught in the machinery, causing work stoppage and worker injuries.  However, plastic bags and wrap are collected at many grocery stores. Next time you head to the supermarket, bring along your plastic bags and put them in their labeled recycling bin! 

    Stick to the list and only place approved recyclable items in recycling bins or carts.  As a rule of thumb, remember: bottles, cans, jars, jugs, and paper. It’s easier than ever to get it right when you use the Smart Recycling Guide, which lists items accepted for recycling in every Massachusetts community.If it’s not on the list, check for separate drop-off locations by using our Recyclopedia app. Check out https://recyclesmartma.org/ for the most current recycling information!


    Trash & Recycling

  • New 64 gallon or 96 gallon Recycling Toters were delivered to each household in the City of Gardner. We encourage you to recycle everything you can. ONLY RECYCLING TOTERS CAN BE USED FOR RECYCLING. If you prefer a larger toter of 96 gallons for recycling, you will need to call 978 630-4013 to pick up the 64 gal toter and deliver a new 96 gal recycling toter.
    Trash & Recycling

  • The city will deliver a recycling toter to your home once you are paying for the curbside trash program through your water, sewer and trash bill from the Water Dept. Once notified by the water department, the Board of Health in the basement of City Hall at 95 Pleasant St. will deliver the recycling toter. Hours: Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm., Friday 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
    Trash & Recycling

  • No. They are considered trash and must be placed in the trash. Clean, unsoiled food containers can be placed in recycling. Bottles & cans should be rinsed out of food residue.
    Trash & Recycling

  • No, styrofoam and plastic bags are not recycled at curbside. 

    Trash & Recycling