The most environmentally friendly item to dispose of is often the one that doesn't need to be disposed of at all.

Before recycling or throwing away something that is still usable, consider:

• Donating it to a charity or thrift store (Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc.)

• Offering it to friends or neighbors

• Posting it in the Scituate Buy Nothing group

• Selling or giving it away online

• Repairing it

• Repurposing it

Furniture, clothing, household goods, tools, building materials, toys, books, and working electronics may all have useful lives left in them.

Reuse first. Recycle second. Trash last.

Wondering whether something can simply go out with your household trash? Maybe—but check first. Many common household items can be reused, recycled, composted, or require special disposal.

How much trash can I put out?

Under Scituate Town Code §12.5-3, each household may put out a maximum of three 30-gallon trash containers or bags per week, with each filled container or bag weighing no more than 35 pounds.

But three is a limit, not a goal. The same Town ordinance establishes an overall goal of reducing Scituate's municipal solid waste while increasing recycling. Reducing the number of tons we send to the Central Landfill is also one direct way to control the Town's disposal costs.

And landfill space is limited: Rhode Island Resource Recovery currently projects that the Central Landfill will reach its permitted capacity around 2046.

So before something goes into the trash, take a quick look through the sections below. Can it be reused or donated? Recycled? Composted? Does it require special disposal?

If none of those applies, household trash may be exactly where it belongs.

Rhode Island makes this pretty simple. Only four categories belong in your recycling cart:

• Paper, cardboard & cartons. Newspapers, magazines, office paper, mail, cardboard boxes, paperboard boxes, and food and beverage cartons. Flatten cardboard. Paper and cardboard should be mostly clean and dry.

• Metal cans, lids & foil. Food and beverage cans, metal lids, and clean aluminum foil.

• Glass bottles & jars. Bottles and jars only — not drinking glasses, window glass, mirrors, ceramics, or dishes.

• Plastic containers. Bottles, jugs, tubs, and other plastic containers. Containers should be empty at a minimum and rinsed whenever possible. Put plastic caps back on plastic containers.

🚫 Keep these OUT of your recycling cart

Plastic bags and film • Styrofoam/foam • food • liquids • batteries • electronics • clothing • hoses and cords • shredded paper • paper towels, tissues and napkins • drinking glasses • ceramics • scrap metal • toys • plastic hangers

Never put recyclables inside plastic bags. Put them loose in the cart.

When in doubt, don't “wish-cycle.” Check the RIRRC A–Z Directory first.

Scituate Department of Public Works
Stephen Mattscheck, Director
smattscheck@scituateri.org

Weekdays 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
Saturdays 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
1 Lincoln Circle, Scituate
401-647-3366
DPW Website

Yard Waste
Leaves, grass and other acceptable landscape material may be brought to the DPW rather than put in household trash.
Monday–Friday: 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon

Special Items
Saturdays 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon

• Mattresses and box springs — must be clean and dry

• E-Waste (TVs, computers, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, phones, computer equipment, mice, keyboards, printers, etc.)

• Waste oil

• Propane tanks (small and large)

• Scrap metal

Rules and accepted materials can change. If you have an unusual item or a large quantity, call DPW at 401-647-3366 before making the trip.

Do NOT put plastic bags or plastic film in your curbside recycling cart. They are the number one problem at the Materials Recycling Facility.

Clean, dry, stretchable plastic bags and film can often be returned to collection bins at participating large retailers, including Walgreens in the Village Plaza. See a full statewide list of participating retailers here.

Examples may include:

• Grocery and shopping bags

• Bread bags

• Produce bags

• Newspaper bags

• Clean plastic wrap around cases of products

• Bubble wrap and other qualifying plastic film

Many household products should never simply be tossed into your regular trash or poured down a drain. Look for words such as:

TOXIC • POISON • FLAMMABLE • COMBUSTIBLE • CORROSIVE

Common household hazardous waste includes:

• Gasoline and other fuels

• Pesticides and herbicides

• Lawn and garden chemicals

• Pool chemicals

• Paint, stains and varnishes

• Paint thinner and solvents

• Automotive fluids and antifreeze

• Mercury thermometers and thermostats

• Fluorescent bulbs

• Rechargeable and long-lasting batteries

• Propane tanks

• Drain cleaners and some household chemicals

• Nail polish and remover

• Fire extinguishers

• Sharps and needles

Rhode Island residents can dispose of household hazardous waste through RIRRC's Eco-Depot program at no charge. Appointments are required.

Find an Eco-Depot collection and make an appointment

When in doubt, use the RIRRC A–Z Directory before putting a chemical or potentially hazardous item in the trash.

Batteries do not belong in your curbside recycling cart.

Different types of batteries require different disposal methods. Rechargeable and lithium batteries in particular require special handling and can create serious fire hazards when improperly discarded.

Check the RIRRC A–Z Directory for your specific battery type and current drop-off options.

Electronics do not belong in your curbside recycling cart.

Scituate DPW accepts televisions, computers, and other electronics on Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon.

For larger electronics and items you're unsure about, check the RIRRC A–Z Directory or call DPW before bringing them in.

And remember: if an electronic device still works, consider donating or giving it away before recycling it.

Don't put a recyclable mattress in the trash.

Scituate residents can bring clean, dry mattresses and box springs to the Scituate DPW on Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon.

Wet, heavily soiled, or otherwise unacceptable mattresses may require another disposal method. Call the DPW (647-3366) for more information.

Clothing and textiles do not belong in your curbside recycling cart—and many items that are no longer useful to you can still be reused or recycled. Donate usable clothing first.

In Scituate:

• Rockland Community Church Clothing Shed — 212 Rockland Road. A 24-hour outdoor clothing shed accepting bagged clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, linens, blankets, and stuffed animals. Please do not leave furniture, electronics, books, toys, rags, or pillows.

• Planet Aid — 30 Hartford Pike, North Scituate. A yellow outdoor collection bin accepts clothing and shoes. Items should be placed in plastic bags to keep them clean and dry.

• Trinity Thrift Shop & Food Pantry — 249 Danielson Pike. Accepts clothing donations during thrift shop hours: Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Find another clothing donation bin:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island operates donation bins throughout Rhode Island. You can search for a nearby bin by ZIP code. BBBSRI also offers free home pickup of clothing and other accepted items in many Rhode Island communities.

• St. Vincent de Paul Rhode Island operates clothing collection bins at churches and other locations throughout the state.

• Planet Aid maintains a locator for its yellow clothing donation bins.

What about worn-out clothing and textiles?

Don't automatically throw them away. Some clothing and textiles that are no longer suitable for donation may still be recyclable.

Because what is accepted varies by program, use the RIRRC A–Z Disposal Directory to find current reuse, textile recycling, and disposal options for the particular item you have.

Donate when you can. Recycle when you can. Trash only as a last resort.

Reuse it first! If furniture or another large household item is still usable, there's a good chance someone else can use it.

• Scituate Buy Nothing Group — Offer usable furniture and household items free to neighbors through Scituate’s local Buy Nothing community.

• Goodwill — Donate gently used, saleable furniture and other household goods. Use the locator to find a donation location.

• The Salvation Army — Donate furniture and other gently used household goods at a donation location or arrange a pickup.Acceptance of large furniture may vary by location, so check with the organization before loading up the car.

If it can't be reused…

Scituate's curbside collection service allows each residence to dispose of one bulky household item per month. This includes chairs, tables, sofas, carpeting and rugs, lawn furniture, and other large household furnishings. Bulky items must be small enough to fit into the receiving hopper of the collection truck.

Appliances, mattresses, tires, scrap metal, electronics, and some other large items have different recycling or disposal requirements. Check the appropriate section on this page or use the RIRRC A–Z Disposal Directory.

Reuse or donate it if you can. Curbside disposal should be the last resort.

Wood, drywall, concrete, brick, roofing, plumbing fixtures, and other construction and demolition materials do not belong in your curbside recycling cart.

Some building materials can be reused or recycled. Before throwing them away, check the RIRRC A–Z Disposal Directory for appropriate options. You can also contact the Johnston Resource Recovery Drop-Off for information about accepted construction and demolition materials and drop-off requirements.

Do not put light bulbs in your curbside recycling cart. Different types of light bulbs require different disposal methods.

Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) contain mercury and require special handling. Incandescent, halogen, LED, string lights, and other types have different recycling or disposal options.

Not sure what kind of bulb you have or what to do with it? Use the RIRRC Light Bulb Disposal Guide to select your bulb type and find the proper recycling or disposal method.

Do not flush medications. Because Scituate relies entirely on private septic systems and private wells, flushing drugs down the toilet directly threatens our drinking water. Flushed medications pass untreated through septic leaching fields straight into the ground soil and water table, which feeds the private wells local homes rely on. These chemical compounds can also kill the essential tank bacteria needed to break down household septic waste. It is also best to avoid putting medications in your regular household trash whenever a dedicated disposal drop-off is available.

24/7/365 Medication Drop-Off Locations

Standard boxes do not accept needles, sharps, thermometers, inhalers, aerosols, or hydrogen peroxide.

• Rhode Island State Police Headquarters: 311 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI 02857 (Lobby drop box). Excludes liquids and topicals. Rules at BHDDH Site List.

• Johnston Police Department: 1651 Atwood Ave, Johnston, RI 02919 (Lobby drop box). Excludes lotions and liquids.

• CVS Pharmacy (Johnston): 1400 Hartford Ave, Johnston, RI 02919 (24-hour pharmacy kiosk). Excludes Schedule I drugs and batteries. Details at CVS Store Locator.

Periodic Events & Mail-Backs

• Scituate Police Department: Hosts collection drives at 1301 Chopmist Hill Road. The next DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

• North Scituate Walgreens: 47 Village Plaza Way. No physical kiosk; provides free pre-paid mail-back envelopes at the pharmacy counter.

Sharps Disposal

• Household Trash (State-Approved): Place needles in a puncture-proof container (like a laundry detergent bottle), tape the lid shut securely, label it "SHARPS", and put it out with regular household trash in a dark bag. Do not recycle.

• Eco-Depot Drop-Off: Central Landfill, 65 Shuttleworth Court, Johnston, RI. Free for residents. You must book a mandatory appointment via the RIRRC Eco-Depot Appointment Form.

These items don't belong in your curbside recycling cart, but that doesn't necessarily make them trash.

Some can be recycled through special programs; other items are picked up by your regular curbside truck. Click on a category for its direct link to the RIRRC A-Z list.

• Tires

• Refrigerators and freezers

• Air conditioners

• Washers and dryers

• Stoves

• Water heaters

• Metal furniture

• Other scrap metal