Text a photo →
Haulers

Needham Recycling and Transfer Station (RTS)

The Needham, Massachusetts recycling and transfer station drop-off area on an autumn morning with scrap metal and flattened cardboard

Hours, address and who can use it

Tuesday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to noon, Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The RTS is at 1421 Central Avenue, phone 781-455-7568. Only residents or commercial entities with an up-to-date sticker on the vehicle window may enter. The resident sticker is free, goes on the lower driver-side windshield and needs one application per vehicle, with the license plate. The current gray sticker does not need annual renewal.

Get it at the Town Clerk, Town Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue (781-455-7500 ext. 71503), in person or by mail with a stamped self-addressed envelope. The Clerk is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8 to 5, Tuesday 8 to 6, Friday 8 to 12:30, plus Saturdays 8:30 to 1 on Nov 21 and Dec 19.

Trash: yellow bags, and what costs extra

Non-recyclable trash must go in yellow pay-as-you-throw bags. From October 1, 2026 a roll of 10 large (30-gallon) bags is $22.25 and 10 small (15-gallon) bags is $11.95. Buy them at Roche Brothers, Sudbury Farms, Needham General Store, Volante Farms, Needham Garden & Hardware, the Town Clerk, or large rolls at the RTS.

Items too big for a bag are charged: sofa $15, sleep sofa $20, upholstered chair $10, carpet (10 x 10) $10, mattress or box spring $25, TV $20, monitor $20, freon appliance or A/C $15, toilet or sink $15, small printer $5, propane tank $5, car tire $7.50, truck tire $21. Payment is by check or credit card only. Clean-outs and large loads are $220 per ton with a $30 minimum.

Free recycling and the odd items

Free: flattened cardboard, mixed paper, glass, metal and plastic containers, scrap metal (anything more than 75% metal), textiles and shoes in any condition, books, cell phones, rechargeable batteries (not alkaline), car batteries, motor oil and antifreeze, fluorescent tubes (limit 10 a week), mercury devices and medical sharps in the North Area kiosk. Take batteries out of scooters, tools and toys before they go in the scrap pile.

The Re-Use-It Swap Shop takes clean, working household goods: open Tuesday to Thursday 7:30 to 3, Friday 7:30 to noon, Saturday 7:30 to 3, closed the third Saturday April to October. Drop items off early. Paint is accepted only on the paint days, third Saturday April to October; see our hazardous waste page.

Bulky loads from a garage or basement are the part that does not fit in a car. JUNKRUN loads by the trailer and carries from inside: a quarter trailer $209, a half $319, three-quarter $409, a full $519. Our Needham bulky item page compares the fees.

RTS dates this fall and winter (town posted, 2026)

  1. Sat Nov 7

    Paper shredding event, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5-box limit per household

  2. Sundays in Nov

    Leaf Sundays on Nov 8, 15, 22, 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., leaves only.

  3. Wed Nov 11

    Closed for Veterans Day.

  4. Thu Nov 26

    Closed for Thanksgiving; open Wed Nov 25, Fri Nov 27 (to noon) and Sat Nov 28.

  5. Dec 23 to 26

    Open Wed Dec 23 (7 to 4), Thu Dec 24 (7 to noon), closed Dec 25, open Sat Dec 26 (7 to 4).

  6. Fri Jan 1

    Closed for New Year's Day.

Local resources in Needham

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 are the Needham transfer station hours?

+

Tuesday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to noon, Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday, except Leaf Sundays in November.

Do I need a sticker for the Needham dump?

+

Yes. A free resident RTS sticker is required on the vehicle. Get it from the Town Clerk at Town Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue.

What bags do I use at the Needham RTS?

+

Yellow pay-as-you-throw bags, 30-gallon or 15-gallon, sold at local stores and the Town Clerk. Large rolls are sold at the RTS.

Can I pay cash at the Needham RTS?

+

The scale house takes check or credit card only. Town Hall takes cash, checks and credit cards.

Does the Needham RTS take mattresses?

+

Yes, for $25 each. A mattress and box spring are charged separately.

Sources

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

Related

Hauled from
$159
Get my priceText