DANVERS – The town of Danvers will begin rolling out new recycling and trash carts for residents next week as it officially launches its “single-stream” collection service.
With this new recycling program, sorting recyclable items is no longer necessary; instead, residents will be able to place all recyclable items directly into a new, larger recycling container. The 95-gallon carts will begin arriving at residents’ homes on September 5 and will continue throughout the month. The carts come with wheels for easy maneuvering and attached lids to keep recyclables dry and secure. 
The Town applied for and received a grant from The Recycling Partnership, a national NGO advancing the circular economy by building a better recycling system in U.S. communities and states. The Town of Danvers was selected to receive grant support because of its dedication to advancing recycling in the community. The grant from The Recycling Partnership, with support from American Beverage and the Massachusetts Beverage Association, will provide 8,000 new recycling carts and includes funding for education and outreach about the new collection process.
The Town asks that residents continue to do their part by placing only recyclable materials in their carts, including glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, paper products (including newspapers and flattened cardboard), and empty plastic bottles and containers. To help limit contamination, give food and drink containers a quick rinse and then place them directly into the recycling cart—no sorting needed.
Some items that cannot be recycled include plastic bags, paper towels, electrical equipment, batteries, and clothing. These items often get mixed into recycling carts because of “wishcycling,” or the hope that they can be recycled. While well-intentioned, non-recyclable items cause serious issues.
For more information on what can and can’t go into the cart, visit https://www.danversma.gov/380/Recycling-Guidelines.
Residents can begin using their new carts once they are delivered. Starting October 1, recycling will transition to every other week collection, on Blue and Green collection weeks. To find your recycling day, plus answers to other Frequently Asked Questions, visit https://www.danversma.gov/378/Trash-and-Recycling or contact the Danvers DPW at danversdpw@danversma.gov or 978-777-0001 x3011.Additional carts will be made available after the initial cart roll out. The Town is encouraging residents to utilize the carts provided for the first month of the program, after which time the Town will begin taking requests for additional barrels starting November 1st. The Danvers Select Board is currently discussing what the cost of the additional carts may be. More information will follow on how to request additional carts.
