Recycling Everyday Items
First, make full use of the municipal
curbside recycling program.
Next, get your unwanted items into the hands of people who can use them.
Clothing and Textiles
Bring your textiles to the
Ecosmith box at any of Ipswich's schools (a portion of the proceeds benefits the schools' environmental clubs and other student initiatives) or to the American Red Cross box at the transfer station. All textiles, including
ripped or stained items, must be
clean and dry. Additional items are listed below and in the
DONATION GUIDE.
Other useful items not listed? Offer them on Freecycle.org, NextDoor or Craigslist.
Plastic Bags & Film
Plastic bags and film (case wrap, paper towel wrap, etc.) can be recycled! Many grocery and retail stores (Shaw's, Market Basket, Target, Kohl's, Staples, Lowe's) have recycling bins for plastic grocery bags (labeled #2 or #4) and plastic film. Recycle them during your weekly shopping trip, or consider reusing them for some other household purpose. Avoid using them completely by investing in reusable bags, which are available at most grocery and retail stores or online.
Appliances
Working appliances can be brought to
Goodwill. Appliances that have outlived their usefulness can be brought to the transfer station for recycling. If you need curbside pickup of your appliance, call JRM to prepay a pickup (978-536-2500) and they will give you a date to put your item at the curb.
Batteries
Rechargeable, car and household batteries can be recycled at the Transfer Station. Tedford's Hardware, Best Buy and Staples will also take rechargeable batteries for recycling. Button-cell batteries (watches, hearing aids, remote car starters, etc.) may contain mercury and are collected at Town Hall at the Treasurer's office, the Department of Public Works office and the Council on Aging.
Books
Book donations can be placed in the
More Than Words bin at the Transfer Station. The Ipswich Public Library will accept small donations of newer books that can be resold.
CDs, DVDs and Video Games
Unwanted but still good CDs, video games and DVDs can be donated in the
More Than Words collection box at the Transfer Station.
Cellphones and MP3 Players
Bring these to the Public Works office for recycling. Phones are sent to
Cellphones for Soldiers and MP3 players in working order are sent to nonprofit organizations in need of devices for music.
Christmas Trees
Live trees (decorations removed) should be brought to the transfer station (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 AM to 3:30 PM). Artificial trees are considered a bulky item and require a
sticker.
Computers & Electronics
At special collection events in May and
September, Ipswich organizations offer electronics recycling for a small fee. For curbside pickup, call JRM at 978-536-2500 to schedule and prepay a pickup ($25).
Goodwill accepts some
electronics (no TVs) that are in working order at their
donation sites. Staples and Best Buy will recycle electronics for free and
monitors and computers for a fee even if they were not purchased there. Call before you go.
Eyeglasses
The Ipswich Lions Club collects eyeglasses at the Council on Aging (Town Hall) and in their mailbox in the parking lot of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church at One Pineswamp Road. The mailbox for eyeglasses is clearly marked and located in the back right corner of the lot, next to the clothing bins. Costco also collects eyeglasses.
Flags
Market Basket has an American flag receptacle at the entrance. American Legion Posts and VFW Posts also accept flags for proper disposal.
Flower Pots
Plastic flower pots need to be put in the trash.
Holiday Lights
During the holiday season,
Lowe's recycles holiday lights. Be sure to call before you go.
Household Items
Ink Cartridges
Cartridges can be dropped off at Staples and Best Buy.
K-Cups
These should be put in the trash.
Metals
Any item at least 60% metal can be brought to the Transfer Station. You will need a beach sticker or Transfer Station permit (available free at the Department of Public Works -- bring your Ipswich car registration).
Records
Vinyl records can be donated to Savers (139 Endicott Street) or Goodwill (301 Newbury Street) in Danvers.
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Remove the batteries (see above for recycling batteries) and then put these
items in your trash.
Sneakers/Athletic Shoes
Items that can still be worn may be put in the
collection bin at any Ipswich school. But worn-out athletic shoes can be recycled! Nike collects all brands of worn-out athletic footwear (no cleats or dress shoes) in their
Reuse-A-Shoe Program at Nike and Converse locations. (Nike stores with collection bins are located in Somerville, MA; Kittery, ME; and Merrimack and Tilton, NH. Converse stores are in Somerville at Assembly Row and in Merrimack, NH.) Donated shoes are ground up and used in making new clothing, athletic shoes, and surfaces for football fields, weight rooms, basketball courts and playgrounds.
Sporting Goods
If you have baseball mitts and bats, volleyballs, basketballs, ski equipment, snowboards, weights, etc., consider donating them. Vietnam Vets of America accepts these items. Passback, a donation program of the US Soccer Federation, accepts soccer cleats, balls, shin guards, pads, nets, shirts or shorts, etc.
Toys & Kids' Items
Again, reuse is your best bet for getting rid of unwanted or outgrown toys and children’s accessories. These items (
clean and dry) can be dropped off at the Transfer Station in the American Red Cross bin or by calling for pickup.
Wire Hangers
Wire hangers in good condition can be returned to the dry cleaner for reuse. Hangers are also accepted in the metal dumpster at the transfer station.