Trash & Recycling

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Recycling IQ - Oops Tag Front

Trash and Recycling News

City to participate in Mass DEP Recycling IQ Program
The City of Malden is currently running a program known as the Recycling IQ program.  It is a grant-funded program run by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection aimed at decreasing the amount of non-compliant and/or contaminated recycling that is set out by residents each week.

Program Timeline

  • Friday, August 28th - Informational postcard mailed to residents. This postcard
  • Monday, August 31st through Friday September 4th - Inspectors walk route and place warning tags on all recycling bins to inform residents about the program.
  • Wednesday, September 16th - Additional informational post card mailed to residents.
  • Tuesday, September 8th through Friday, October 30th - Inspectors walk trash routes looking for properly set out recycling and tagging any that does not comply.

Mayor Pushes Forward on Trash and Recycling Changes
The Mayor has submitted a request for a $1.2 million appropriation to the City Council to fund the barrel purchase to move his new initiative forward.

Under the Mayor’s proposal, each qualifying residential unit would receive two City of Malden issued 35-gallon, commercial quality, covered toters. One would be for recycling, and an added benefit is that residents would no longer need to separate recycling. The second would be for trash. Residents would have the option to continue to utilize the PAYT bags in those receptacles, or to purchase an annual tag for the barrel, therefore allowing them to fill it weekly with typical consumer trash bags.

Sign Up For Our Trash App 

Sign up to:

  • Receive custom text, email or phone call reminders
  • Search for how to dispose of just about anything
  • Be reminded about special recycling events or service disruptions

Enter your street address to get started.

Malden’s Solid Waste Program

Curbside Household Trash

Malden is a Pay As You Throw community which requires residents to purchase City-issued blue trash bags to place household trash in for removal each week. Bags can be purchased at many local stores around Malden. Please use our Waste Wizard database to learn about what items are permitted to be disposed of in the blue bags.

Curbside Recycling

Malden is a dual-stream recycling community which means that co-mingled paper must be separated from bottles, cans and plastics.  Additionally, we offer curbside recycling of Textiles(clothing) on the same day as your trash and commingled recycling. Please reference our Residential Collection page for more specific recycling information.

Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous waste is prohibited from being put in our City-issued blue bags for disposal. We accept many hazardous materials at our Household Hazardous Waste collection days which are listed on our trash app schedule. You must first search our Waste Wizard database before attempting to dispose of any hazardous materials.

Other Types of Recycling

The City offers resources for recycling and/or disposing of many types of materials such as food waste, electronics, CFL bulbs, batteries, styrofoam and more.  search our Waste Wizard database find out exactly how to remove or recycle just about any material. 

Recycling for Businesses and Apartment Buildings

Although businesses along with residents who live in buildings greater than 6 units do not participate in our curbside recycling program, we do allow the drop-off of qualifying recyclables at our DPW yard if you do not have access to recycling. Keep in mind that multi-unit properties in Malden are required by city ordinance to provide a means of recycling so please contact your building manager to make sure there isn’t already a program in place.
 
Please use our waste wizard for instructions on what is recyclable at the curb and feel free to drop these items off.  Before doing so, please contact the Malden DPW at 781-397-7160.