Reuse & Recycle

April 12, 2025 - Recycle and Reuse Day - 10am to 2pm at the Marathon School

Bring items you no longer need to be reused or responsibly recycled or disposed of. For details, see Recycling & Reuse Day.

Remember the Re's in order of impact from greatest to least: Refuse > Reduce > Reuse (including Repair) > Recycle - see Waste Reduction for more information.

Trash & Recycling (glass, plastic, paper, metal, textiles, harzardous, more) for the Town of Hopkinton

Massachusetts law prohibits certain items from being included in the trash including recyclable paper, plastics, glass, leaves, textiles, electronics, white metal, and mattresses. Here's a summary of recycling and trash in Hopkinton:


Where you can give or get items for extended life or responsible disposal

Batteries

Batteries contain precious elements that can be recycled in some cases, and in other cases may contain unsafe chemicals. Recycle them properly.

The town's Recycling Center takes nickel cadmium and lithium batteries - see Trash & Recycling, above

Some of these batteries can be recycled at Staples. Here are other options:

More info from the EPA

Books, CDs, DVDs

The public library or St. Paul's on Wood St. drop off bin

Can and Bottle Redemption (the ones with the $.05 or more on the label)

Christmas Trees

Are collected by Boy Scout Troop 4

Children's - also see below for Multiple Items

Clothing - see below for Textiles or Multiple Items

Coats - seasonal collection drives

Consignment Shops

Are a great way to find used items and sell or donate them for others to use - do an online search for locations and hours

Contact Lenses

Expired or unused packs can be recycled at Hopkinton Vision Center or Hopkinton Eye Associates

Electronics Recycling or Trade-in

Eyeglasses

Donate used eyeglasses via dropboxes in town, sponsored by the Hopkinton Lions Club: see locations here

Furniture - see Multiple items, below

Garden & Lawn

Hazardous waste items must be saved and disposed of safely

Hearing aids

The Texas Hearing Institute will accept used hearing aids to use as teaching aids for demonstrations

Household items - see below for Multiple Items or see Textiles

Legos

Try donating or reselling locally first, but if you can't, return used bricks to the LEGO company

Light Bulbs - depends on the type

Local Online Exchanges - to get and give/sell items

Mattresses - cannot be put in the trash

Metal aluminum, white metal, and scrap metal are accepted at the town's Recycling Center

See Trash & Recycling, above

Multiple Items if you have more than one type of item to disperse at once or have big, hard to dispose of items:

Packaging - foam and peanuts

Plastic Bags & Plastic Film Recycling 

Refrigerator / Freezers - Schedule a free pick up from Mass Save

Sneakers

Sporting Equipment

Shredded Paper

Do not put shredded paper into your recycling bin - it will clog up the machinery. Options:

Soda Stream CO2 Cylinders

Recycle at Staples for no cost

Textiles - Clothing etc. - cannot be put in the trash

Tires

The Central Mass mosquito control project will pick up tires because they collect water and serve as breeding habitats. See this page for details. It includes a link to a form to request curbside pickup. For residents only - up to 8 tires a year, not businesses.

Toys and Stuffed Animals

Yard and Rummage Sales are great places to get and to give

More info and Options

Repair

Rather than discard things that are no longer in the condition you need, try repairing them

See how your recylables are processed