The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District is holding its fall “Clean Sweep” Bulky Waste Recycling Day on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon, with two collection sites at Mohawk Trail Regional School, located at 26 Ashfield Road in Buckland, and the Whately Transfer Station at 73 Christian Lane.
Residents are advised that the collection is not being held at the previous Erving location this fall. Community members can bring materials to the other two Bulky Waste Recycling Day sites, or to the Greenfield Transfer Station (separate pricing applies).
Fees for disposal/recycling apply (cash only). A price list for the most common items is available at franklincountywastedistrict.org. Advance registration is not required.
The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District advises that acceptable items include tires, appliances, refrigerators, air conditioners, scrap metal, furniture, carpeting, construction debris, computers, televisions, propane gas tanks, bulky rigid plastics and other large items. Materials will be recycled whenever possible.
Electronics are accepted as well, though residents are also encouraged to recycle computer equipment and televisions at their town’s transfer station, or at the Greenfield Transfer Station. Staples stores accept most types of computer equipment, but not TVs. Charges apply for printers and monitors, with residents advised to call the store for details.
The “Clean Sweep” Bulky Waste Recycling Day accepts bulky rigid plastics for a special recycling program. The cost is $5 per load of acceptable items. This program only accepts the following: clean and empty 5-gallon pails, plastic lawn furniture, laundry baskets, storage totes, plastic trash barrels, recycling bins and milk/soda crates.
The recycling event is open to residents and businesses from the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District’s 21 member towns: Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Rowe, Shelburne, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell and Whately.
Before sending unwanted items for disposal or recycling, the district advises residents to consider offering them for reuse. Various charities, including local Salvation Army and Goodwill stores and nonprofits, accept donations of household items and working electronics. Residents should call ahead to ask if they can accept an item. Alternatively, reusable items can be offered on a local “Buy Nothing” Facebook group, Freecycle group or local town groups such as Nextdoor.
For more information, visit franklincountywastedistrict.org.