Together We Can Recycle Smarter

Published on July 02, 2025

West Springfield, MA:  The Department of Public Works wants to remind residents that better recycling habits help protect our environment, strengthen our local economy, and lower costs.  Recycling is significantly less expensive than waste disposal, so when residents are able to recycle more than they throw away, it reduces the Town’s overall waste management expenses. These savings help keep local taxes lower and free up funds for other essential services. By recycling right, each household plays a vital role in making West Springfield cleaner, greener, and more cost-effective for everyone. 

In reviewing the Town’s waste disposal data over the past few years, a trend of increased trash and decreased recycling has occurred. In 2022, trash made up 71.77% of our discarded materials; to date this year, we are currently disposing 79.70% of our discarded materials as trash.  This shows residents are sending more to the landfill than recycling.

Here’s how every household in West Springfield can contribute:

What Belongs in Your Recycling Cart?

As part of our curbside program, residents may recycle paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and plastic containers in the Town-issued wheeled cart (96-gallon) placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.  Recycling containers are collected every other week by the Town’s waste hauling contractor, USA Recycling & Waste.

If you need additional recycling capacity, extra recycling carts are available at a cost of $60/year. The application for an additional cart is available on the DPW’s website: townofwestspringfield.org/trash under “Extra Capacity & Replacement”.  

Paper & Cardboard

• Newspapers, magazines, mail (even envelopes with plastic windows), and clean cardboard are accepted.
  
  

Plastics

• Plastic bottles, tubs, jars, and caps are acceptable. 

• Containers should be empty and “spatula-clean” (i.e., scraped of residual food).
  
  

Glass & Aluminum

• Most glass food/beverage containers and aluminum cans or foil are accepted.

• Rinse containers, and remove caps (recycle separately).

• Do not put broken glass in your cart.
  
  

What Not to Recycle at Home

• Plastic bags or plastic wrap – return plastic bags to the retail store collection bins.

• Styrofoam, plastic utensils, or compostable plastics.

• Any containers with food residue (unless cleaned).

• Clothing or linens – utilize local donation programs. 

• Anything that can tangle (e.g., hoses, wires, chains, electronic cords).

• Batteries, electronics, textiles, mattresses, hazardous materials (e.g., paint, oil, CFL bulbs).
  
  

Special Drop-Off Items

• The DPW Town Yard at 430 Westfield Street accepts scrap metal and overflow recycling (i.e., large cardboard) during business hours.

• The DPW also hosts a household hazardous waste collection day annually for items such as oil, paints, chemicals, batteries.  This year’s household hazardous waste collection day will be on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

• There is a Heartsprings donation bin in the Water Department yard at 135 Piper Road, which accepts clothing, linens or textiles for donation.

Tips for Spotless Recycling

• Always rinse or scrape containers; “spatula-clean” is sufficient.

• Flatten cardboard to save space.

• Skip loose film plastics in your cart—use store drop-offs instead.

• Don’t cram your cart; lids must close.

• View contaminants on recyclables can cause items to be rejected, and additional collection trips may be billed.
  
  

Reduce & Reuse Before Recycling

Before anything enters your cart:

• Precycle—choose products with less packaging or buy in bulk to reduce waste at the source.

• Reuse—donate or repurpose items like clothes, books, and kitchenware.

• Compost–Compost food scraps and yard waste.

For more recycling guidance or to ask questions, contact DPW at (413)263-3242, visit the Town’s Recycling & Waste Disposal webpage townofwestspringfield.org/trash, or check RecycleSmartMA.org for statewide consumer tips.

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