Waltham promotes ‘zero waste’ with new recycling guide and April 18 event

As communities across the country look for ways to reduce household waste, Waltham will host its annual Zero Waste Day on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nipper Maher Park, 65 Dartmouth St. The event offers residents a free opportunity to recycle hard-to-dispose-of items such as clothing, electronics, car tires, books and metal. A paper shredding service will also be available.

The event coincides with the release of the 2026–2027 City of Waltham Trash & Recycling Guide, which outlines updated collection procedures and sustainability initiatives for the coming year.

Weekly collection and recycling rules

According to the guide, recycling and trash are collected weekly citywide. Containers must be placed curbside between one hour before sundown the night before and 7 a.m. on pickup day. Residents can find their collection zone by visiting city.waltham.ma.us/pick-up-schedule.

Each household receives a blue recycling cart from the city, while property owners must provide their own trash barrels. Trash must be bagged, placed in a barrel with a fully closed lid and weigh no more than 50 pounds. Residents may leave one bulk item per week in addition to their regular trash. Loose trash bags placed on the curb will not be collected.

Broken or missing recycling carts can be repaired or replaced by calling the Recycling Department at 781-314-3390. Requests for new or extra carts are prioritized by need.

Yard Waste and Special Pickups

Yard waste collection runs every other week from April through December, complemented by the city’s Leaf Vacuum Program, which offers one day of curbside leaf pickup between October and November. Missed collections can be reported by calling 781-314-3855 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To help residents recycle properly, the city maintains an online disposal guide at city.waltham.ma.us/disposal-guide, detailing how to dispose of hundreds of common items.

Promoting a Cleaner Waltham

Officials encourage residents to use Zero Waste Day as a reminder to review the new guide and recommit to sustainable household practices. The full recycling calendar and event details are available at city.waltham.ma.us/recycling-department or by visiting the department’s office at 165 Lexington St., open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Residents are urged to hold onto this calendar and to see April 18 not as a one-time cleanup, but as part of a year-round effort to cut waste and keep Waltham clean.