Textile Recycling

Mattress Recycling

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) added mattresses and box springs to the list of materials banned from disposal in Massachusetts. As of November 1, 2022, they must be recycled. The Town of Wakefield is partnering with HandUp, a MassDEP-approved vendor, for mattress recycling and upcycling. Learn about this change and options for easy collection.

Textile Recycling

Textiles like sheets, towels, and clothing that are no longer usable can be recycled. 

Curbside-Pickup Program

Wakefield’s Public Works Department partners with Simple Recycling to provide a convenient curbside textile-collection option for those who may otherwise dispose of such items in the trash. Though the program initially required participants to use the organization’s pink recycling bags, residents can now utilize any box or bag they choose.

To provide better, more efficient service, pickups will need to be scheduled instead of automatically occurring on residents’ recycling days. It’s easy to schedule a pickup: use their online scheduling form or call Simple Recycling at 866-835-5068.

The new service is not intended to compete with donations to local charities. Instead, it provides a convenient curbside collection option for those who may otherwise dispose of textile items in the trash. If residents can eliminate textiles from the municipal waste stream, the Town could decrease the tonnage of waste produced, reducing costs on waste disposal. According to the MassDEP, about 95 percent of discarded textiles could be reused or recycled instead of thrown away. Nearly six percent of the waste delivered to combustion facilities for disposal is made up of clothing, curtains, towels and other fabrics.

Bay State Textile Drop-off Locations

Residents can drop bagged items off in designated bins throughout Wakefield:

  • Wakefield Memorial High School: 60 Farm Street
  • Woodville School: 30 Farm Street
  • Dolbeare School: 340 Lowell Street
  • Walton School: 18 Davidson Road
  • Galvin Middle School: 525 Main Street
  • Greenwood School: 1030 Main Street
  • Doyle Early Childhood Center: 11 Paul Ave