FAQ’s: Falmouth Recycling Cart Program- January 2023

How should I place the Recycling Cart for collection?

• Place recycling cart so that arrows on the cart lid are facing street.
• Cart should be placed within 5' of the road edge.
• Align cart so that front edge is parallel with road edge.
• Leave at least 1' distance between recycling cart and other adjacent objects (i.e. trash can, mailbox, other recycling carts, etc.)
• Do not leave recyclable materials on top of cart or beside it. They will not be collected.

Can I bag my recyclable materials?

• No, never put recyclable materials in plastic bags. Plastic bags and plastic wrap can damage and disrupt sorting machinery in the recycling facility. Plastic, metal, and glass materials should always be placed loose in the cart. Paper and cardboard may be bagged in brown paper bags. Plastic shopping bags should be recycled at local retailers such as Stop & Shop and Shaw's supermarkets.

Why did the recycling driver leave my Cardboard laying on the ground last week?

• All materials must be placed inside the recycling cart for collection. Drivers are instructed to no longer pick-up materials laying on the ground. Cardboard and paper become trash once they get wet, so they must be protected from wet weather- inside the cart.

How should I prepare my Cardboard boxes for recycling?

• Cardboard boxes must be broken down and flattened for recycling. 
• Please do not "nest" boxes inside each other as that can disrupt the collection and sorting process.
• Cardboard should be put loose in the recycling cart without string or tape bundling them together. Packing tape does not need to be removed from each cardboard box, as long as box is flattened.
• Oversized cardboard that won't fit in the cart must be cut down. Max size is approx. 22" x 24" x 42".

I need more recycling space- can I get a Second Recycling Cart? 

• Yes! Residents needing additional recycling volume may request a second 96 Gallon Cart. Please use the Recycling Cart Request Form link at top of page. 
• Residents MAY continue to use carts they already own for overflow recycling subject to the following conditions:
•  Town-issued cart must be used as your PRIMARY recycling receptacle.
•  Secondary carts must be compatible with automated collection. (This means the containers must have flat sides and a metal tipping bar approximately 18" from ground level.)

What if I never received a new Recycling Cart?

• If you did not receive a new cart you should email recyclingcarts@falmouthma.gov and be sure to include your name, street address, and a daytime phone number where you can be reached if we have questions.

What if my recycling cart gets damaged?

• Please request cart repair by filling out the "Recycling Cart Request Form" or emailing recyclingcarts@falmouthma.gov and be sure to include the type of damage, your name, street address, and a daytime phone number where you can be reached if we have questions. Carts will be scheduled for repair ASAP according to DPW staff availability. Please be sure to leave damaged cart outdoors where it is accessible for service.  

How can I request a smaller recycling cart?

• Per Mass DEP guidelines, 96 Gallon carts are recommended for communities with Every Other Week recycling collection. Residents who wish to request a 64 Gallon cart should fill out the application at top of page or email recyclingcarts@falmouthma.gov and be sure to include your name, street address, and reason for request.

What should I do with my old recycling bin?

• Residents may re-use their old recycling bins for other uses at home, work, or in the garden.
• UPDATE- Usable, undamaged carts may be left next to the Swap Shop for re-use. Check with WMF to see if they will accept broken bins to be recycled. Residents may drop-off broken or unwanted old recycling bins at Falmouth Waste Management Facility, 458 Thomas B. Landers Road until September 30, 2022. Old bins will be offered for re-use or sent to a rigid plastic recycling facility.
• Old recycling bins should not be put in your curbside trash or recycling cart.
• You may repurpose an old recycling cart or barrel for use as a Trash container. Please mark it with a "Trash" sticker available for free at DPW and Town Hall. It will help to put some black paint on it so it is not mistaken for Recycling. 

Can I put my address on the cart?

• Yes, residents are encouraged to write or paint their street number + street name on the carts.

Can I keep using my old, wheeled recycling cart?

• If you need additional recycling volume beyond the 96-Gallon Town-issued cart, you MAY use your old recycling cart as a SECONDARY receptacle as long as it is compatible with automated collection. (This means the containers must have flat sides and a metal tipping bar approximately 18" from ground level.)

Why did Falmouth buy new Recycling Carts when we already had bins?

• Falmouth Town Meeting approved this expenditure in November 2021. 
• Large, wheeled carts will help residents recycle better and in larger quantities than with bins.
• Standardized carts allow automated collection which is safer and faster than manual collection.
• The new carts have lids, which will help keep materials dry in wet weather.
• Lidded carts will help keep paper and lightweight plastics from blowing out of open-top bins, reducing the amount of roadside litter which is a town-wide headache.

Why do I need to recycle more?

• Per Mass DEP regulation 310 CMR 19; materials banned from disposal include glass, metal, and plastic containers, paper, and cardboard. All residents should recycle all of these materials.
• Landfill space is very limited and expensive and must be saved for non-recyclable materials.
• Falmouth’s curbside diversion rate is approx. 21%, while the national average is approx. 32%.
• Resources required to make new glass, plastic, paper, and metal are limited, and a robust recycling industry saves natural resources.

How will large recycling carts help me recycle more?

• Large carts will accommodate Every Other Week recycling collection, even with the increasing amounts of consumer packaging, especially cardboard, that residents use.
• Increased size of recycling containers paired with decreased size of allowed trash containers is a proven strategy for improving residential recycling rates and reducing trash tonnage.

Does the new recycling cart belong to me?

• No. The new recycling carts will remain Town property and must stay with house or condo if resident moves, so future residents can participate in our municipal recycling program.
• Each cart has a serial number and an embedded Radio Frequency ID Tag (RFID) which is registered to the cart’s assigned street address and can provide data to a RFID reading device.

For questions about the recycling cart program please email-  recyclingcarts@falmouthma.gov