Town of Portsmouth, RI

SOLID WASTE
Rules and Regulations

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Portsmouth Transfer Station Sticker Program – Sale of Stickers

             Portsmouth Transfer Station stickers are on sale at the Town Hall during normal business hours.

             Transfer Station stickers cost $100 and must be permanently affixed to the 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. Residents with leased vehicles must provide their automobile’s insurance form showing their Portsmouth address. Requests for stickers for additional vehicles will require separate information for each vehicle.

             Stickers may be obtained through the mail using the application form available below. This form is also available at the Town Hall and at other convenient outlets around Town. Mail applications may also be deposited in the tax payment drop box at the Town Hall.

             The Portsmouth Transfer Station sticker is good for one year, January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. No one will be admitted to the Transfer Station without a valid 2008 sticker after February 1, 2008. The Transfer Station is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays except Wednesday when it is closed and Thursdays when it is open until 7:00 p.m. The Transfer Station is for the disposal of household waste only. No waste from businesses, contractors, landscapers or any form of commercial or agricultural activity is accepted. Trash, including yard waste, demolition debris, or other loose material, must be bagged or transported to the Station in standard trash barrels.

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

FREE Adobe Acrobat required:

Transfer Station Sticker Application          Transfer Station Rules          FAQ's      

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

Hours:

Monday and Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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

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

 

PLEASE NOTE:  THE TRANSFER STATION IS CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS!

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.

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 $100 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.

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. 

Recycling:

The Town provides you with a blue and a green recycling bin. 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 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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