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Dump and transfer station options in Salem, MA

A small municipal transfer station yard with a yard-waste pile and stacked cardboard under an overcast autumn sky

Hours, ID and what it takes

Salem residents with proof of ID may drop off yard waste and cardboard at 12 Swampscott Road on Saturdays 7 AM - 3 PM and Sundays 9 AM - 5 PM during the open season, typically mid-April to mid-December. The 2026 season opened April 18. The city page still shows last season's close (after December 14, 2025), so call the Recycling and Trash office at 978-619-5672 for the 2026 closing date. The city calendar adds that property owners with a license or tax bill also qualify.

No commercial vehicles. Yard waste goes in paper bags or loose in the designated area; plastic bags are not accepted, and neither are stumps or large branches. Cardboard must be clean, dry and flat. Reusable boxes can go to the "take a box, leave a box" swap at U-Haul, 43 Jefferson Avenue. Checked November 2026.

What it does not take

Residential trash and construction and demolition debris are not accepted at the transfer station. There is no bulky-waste dock, no mattress bin and no appliance area. Salem sends those through other channels:

  • Furniture and carpet: WM bulk pickup, $20 per item.
  • Mattresses: UTEC, $40 per unit.
  • TVs, computers, microwaves: the quarterly E-Waste day at Salem High School.
  • Bulbs: the shed at DPS, 5 Jefferson Avenue.
  • Paint, propane, chemicals: hazardous waste day, next in spring 2027.

Extra household trash goes in City orange overflow bags at $2.50 each.

A weekend run, or a pickup

Taking a load to Swampscott Road only works for leaves and boxes. For furniture, a move-out or a garage you want empty, the city has no drop-off, so the options are WM bookings, several of them, or a private pickup.

JunkRun picks up from inside the house or garage: a quarter trailer is $209, a half $319, a full trailer $519, with a $159 minimum and no travel fee. A single bag or box is $11. We do not take hazardous materials such as paint, chemicals or propane, so those wait for the city's hazardous waste day.

Where things go in Salem

WhatWhereWhen
Yard waste, clean cardboardTransfer Station, 12 Swampscott RdSat 7-3, Sun 9-5, mid-April to mid-December
Fluorescent bulbs, mercury itemsDPS shed, 5 Jefferson AveCity business hours
TVs, computers, appliances with a plugE-Waste day, Salem High School, 77 Willson StDec 12, 2026, 8 a.m. to noon
Furniture, carpet, doorsCurbside, booked with WM at 800-972-4545Your recycling week, $20 per item
Paint, propane, motor oilHousehold Hazardous Waste Day, Beverly High SchoolSpring 2027, date to be determined

Local resources in Salem

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

Is the Salem transfer station open to non-residents?

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No. It is for Salem residents with ID, and the 2026 calendar also allows property owners with a license or tax bill. Commercial vehicles are not allowed.

Can I dump furniture or a mattress at the Salem transfer station?

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No. It takes only yard waste and cardboard. Furniture is a $20 WM bulk pickup and mattresses go to UTEC.

Where do I get overflow trash bags in Salem?

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Crosby's Marketplace on Canal Street, Winer Brothers Hardware on Lafayette Street, the Collector's Office at City Hall and DPS at 5 Jefferson Avenue, $2.50 each.

Sources

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

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