Town of Portsmouth, RI SOLID WASTE Rules and Regulations

• Transfer Station Application and Rules

• Transfer Station Closed Holidays

• Helpful Phone Numbers

• Hazardous Waste Information

• Summary Transfer Station Information

• Recycling Information

Hours:

Monday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE:  THE TRANSFER STATION IS CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS, EVEN DURING A HOLIDAY WEEK!

Portsmouth Transfer Station Sticker Program – Sale of Stickers

             Portsmouth Transfer Station stickers are on sale at the Tax Collections Office at Town Hall during normal business hours, Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

             Transfer Station stickers cost $125, payable by cash or check and must be permanently affixed to the upper passenger's side windshield of the vehicle for which they are being obtained.  Applicants must bring their vehicle’s registration to obtain a sticker.  Seasonal residents must provide proof of their residence at their Portsmouth address, such as electric or cable bill or lease. Residents with leased vehicles must provide their automobile’s insurance form showing their Portsmouth address or company letter that they have exclusive use of the vehicle. Requests for stickers for additional vehicles will require separate information for each vehicle.  Transfer Station Sticker Applications are only required for the purchase of stickers by mail, if you do not have a Portsmouth registration, if you want to purchase a one week pass, or if you need a one day pass (note: one day passes are only provided to valid sticker holders).

             Please read and become familiar with the Transfer Station Rules below.  Following these rules will ensure a safe and smooth flow of traffic through the Transfer Station.

             The Town of Portsmouth thanks all of its residents in advance for their cooperation.

FREE Adobe Acrobat required:

 Transfer Station Sticker Application and Rules      FAQ's      Transfer Station Closed Holidays

Do you have a question that is not covered in our FAQ's?  Please e-mail info@portsmouthri.com.

Town of Portsmouth Solid Waste Information Helpful Numbers:

Portsmouth Transfer Station:  (401)  683-4419

Portsmouth Public Works:  (401)  683-0362

Portsmouth Town Administrator:  (401)  683-3255

Have general recycling and waste-related questions? Call Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation at (401) 942-1430 ext. 775.

For household hazardous waste disposal:  Call the Eco-Depot at (401) 942-1430 ext. 241.   What is hazardous waste?  According to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation's Household Hazardous Waste website, www.rirrc.org,

Please click the following link, which requires Adobe Acrobat, to learn more:  http://www.rirrc.org/documents/eco_depot_broc.pdf

The Town does not offer curbside trash collection, though that service is available for a fee from private haulers. Recycling is mandatory.  If you choose to contract with a private hauler contact your collector for information about the fee they charge to collect recycling.

TRANSFER STATION

Located at the corner of Hedly Street and West Main Road.

Stickers to the Transfer Station are available for a $125 fee upon proof of residency (vehicle registration). at Town Hall.  See the application for a sticker above and don't forget to read the new rules for the Transfer Station.

Due to special processing requirements, the following items require a per item fee in cash:

Tires - $5.00

Propane tanks with valve - $8.00 (without valve no charge)

Refrigerators - $15.00

Air conditioners - $15.00

Mattresses - $15.00

Box Springs - $15.00

Metal items accepted at no charge to residents. In accordance with State law, there is a charge for refrigerator disposal to cover the cost of refrigerant removal and doors must be removed.

Motor oil is accepted at the Igloo located at the Transfer Station on Hedly Street.

Yard waste is accepted at the Transfer Station. Woody debris must be cut into lengths not exceeding three feet and bundled for ease of handling. Home composting units are available from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation.  Please click here to go to their web site. Once there, choose recycling on the top, then garden recycling on the left, then compost bins.  Or you may contact Mike Mesolella at 942-1430 ext 252. 

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Recycling:

If you wish to purchase a blue or green recycling bin click here to find out more. Write your address in the white strip on the bins to prevent loss or theft! Separate your recyclables at home. Bottles, cans, and drink cartons go in the blue bin. Papers, thin cardboard, and newspapers go in the green bin. Do not use plastic bags for newspapers, cans, bottles, or yard waste.

FOR YOUR BLUE BIN

	EXAMPLES	HOW TO	EXCEPTIONS
Metal Cans & Scrap Metal	Aluminum & tin cans Foil & pie plates Empty steel aerosol cans Empty latex paint cans Scrap metal Toasters irons Wire hangers	Rinse cans. A thin skin of dry latex paint in can or on lid is okay.	No scrap metal longer than 3 ft. or heavier than 35 lbs. No aluminum aerosol cans No oil-based paint cans No hypodermic needles
Glass Bottles & Jars	Mayonnaise jars Wine & beer bottles Applesauce jars Baby food jars	Rinse. Remove and discard plastic lids and caps. Okay to recycle metal lids. No need to remove paper or plastic labels.	No broken glass No cups, dishes, glass windows, plates, Pyrex, ceramics, mirrors, light bulbs, crystal
Plastic Bottles/Jugs	All colored and uncolored plastic bottles and jugs with a "1" or "2" on the bottom. Soda & juice bottles Salad dressing bottles Shampoo bottles Window cleaner Milk jugs Detergent bottles Fabric softener & bleach bottles	Rinse. Remove and discard plastic lids and caps.  No need to remove paper or plastic labels.	No plastic shopping bags No plastic food wrap, no potato chip & sandwich bags No Styrofoam® No automotive fluid bottles No plastic tubs No plastics with symbols "3" through "7" or plastics with no number symbol
Drink Cartons	Milk and juice cartons Juice boxes Flavored milk boxes Cream and creamer containers	Rinse. Throw away straws.	No refrigerated or frozen food and vegetable boxes No ice cream boxes No TV dinners No margarine boxes No cream cheese boxes

 

 

FOR YOUR GREEN BIN

	EXAMPLES	HOW TO	EXCEPTIONS
Mixed Paper	Mail Envelopes, any color (metal clasp is okay) Magazines, catalogs Phonebooks Writing/ledger paper Paperbacks Paper bags, any color Greeting cards Wrapping paper Shredded paper Fax & computer paper Sugar & flour bags Calendars Coupons Bill inserts	All mixed paper and thin cardboard can be mixed together. Use paper bags for excess materials.	No paper towels, tissues, napkins No cigarette packs No candy wrappers No waxed or plastic-coated paper No foil wrapping paper
Newspaper	All newspapers, ads and inserts	Place in brown paper bags or tied with string.	Do not put in a plastic bag!
Cardboard	Boxes and other corrugated cardboard (smooth on the outside, wavy in the middle).	Flatten and tie with string. Bundles must be less than 3 feet long or wide.	No cardboard larger than 3 feet No dirty or greasy cardboard No pizza boxes
Thin Cardboard	All thin cardboard Shoe boxes Cereal boxes Pasta boxes (window okay) Toilet paper rolls Gift boxes Cake mix boxes Toothpaste boxes Tissue boxes Paper egg cartons File folders Light bulb packages	Place in bin with mixed paper, but throw away package plastic or wax liners.	No take-out or frozen food boxes No soda or beer packaging No soap or laundry detergent boxes No boxes with silver or foil coatings Nothing dirty, greasy or plastic-coated

FREQUENTLY ASKED RECYCLING QUESTIONS

What if my recycling bins are too small?

Flatten the material or place the excess in a separate container. If you contract with a private hauler, make sure the separate container is clearly marked "RECYCLE" and place it next to the bins.

What if my recycling bin is lost or stolen?

Each household will receive only one blue and one green bin. If your bin is lost or stolen, replace it with another container suitable for holding recyclables.

What if I move?

Do not take the recycling bins with you or you will be charged for replacements. Leave the bin for the next occupant.

What if I do not participate in the recycling program?

Recycling in Portsmouth is mandatory. You could be fined $50 for not recycling.

The Town is continually searching for new and innovative ways to recycle.

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