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Hazardous waste day in Chelmsford

A sealed paint cans, battery box, motor oil jug and bulb carton in a bin by a car trunk on a driveway

Rules for the collection Saturday

The DPW at 9 Alpha Road holds collections on Saturday, November 21, 2026 and Saturday, April 24, 2027, 9 am to 1 pm. The town requires proof of residency and allows one passenger-vehicle load per household. Not accepted: sharps and latex paint. The town's page does not state a fee, so ask the DPW at 978-250-5200 before you go. Pack containers upright, sealed and labeled, in a box in the trunk, and never mix products.

What counts: oil-based paint and stain, solvents, pesticides, car batteries, fuel, pool chemicals and some cleaners. Standard e-waste follows different routes: E.L. Harvey collects electronics at the curb every two weeks for a fee, and Best Buy has a free in-store electronics recycling program.

If you miss both Saturdays

Off-season, private facilities take drop-offs by appointment: Clean Harbors in Braintree at 781-380-7177 and NEDT in Sutton at 866-769-1621. Both are private operators, so ask about fees and residency. Holding chemicals through winter is safer in a cool, dry, locked garage shelf, away from the furnace and out of reach of children.

We cannot take hazardous waste. What we do is clear the rest of the garage around it, so the DPW trip is the last piece. If the same cleanout includes dozens of cans, split them by type and label with a marker, which speeds the line on the day.

Getting ready for the DPW Saturday

  1. Sort by type: paint, fuel

    Sort by type: paint, fuel, batteries, pesticides, cleaners.

  2. Leave latex paint and sharps

    Leave latex paint and sharps at home; they are not taken.

  3. Keep products in original containers

    Keep products in original containers, tightly capped.

  4. Load them upright in a

    Load them upright in a box in the trunk, one passenger-vehicle load.

  5. Bring ID showing a Chelmsford

    Bring ID showing a Chelmsford address.

  6. Arrive between 9 am and

    Arrive between 9 am and 1 pm and follow staff directions.

Local resources in Chelmsford

Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.

Quick answers

What is the next date after November 21, 2026?

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Saturday, April 24, 2027, same hours.

Can I bring a neighbour's materials?

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The town requires proof of residency and one load per household.

Sources

Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Chelmsford before you go.

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