Red House

Trash & Recycling

North Smithfield Refuse and Recycling Department
Donna Kaehler
dkaehler@nsmithfieldri.org
281 Quaker Highway
North Smithfield, R.I. 02896
(401) 767-2200 x 345  

Hours of Operation:                                        Director of Public Works:
Monday - Friday                                                Raymond J. Pendergast
7am - 3pm                                                         767-2200 x 341                            

 

  Welcome to the Town of North Smithfield

 

Refuse and Recycling Department


This site will answer all questions that you may have regarding North Smithfield's Sanitation and Recycling programs and keep you better informed about how material is to be separated and placed at curbside for collection.

Go Green in the Workplace!

Join local businesses and hear how they are going green. To learn more about this great workshop on Oct. 26 click here.

New Ways To Be Even Greener!

Get Composting!

Backyard composting is a great, easy way  to reduce trash and have rich, free soil to use in your gardens and lawns. Click here to see how to get started.

Join the Keep It Clean Team!

We are hoping to keep NS Clean & Green Everyday and with the help of our residents we can do that. Residents are adopting an area of our community, cleaning it up 2 or 3 times during the year, and letting me know which spot they have adopted. Want to join? CLICK HERE!

 

Recycling beyond the Blue & Green Bins

NS has many drop-off locations throughout town where residents can bring these items to be recycled at no charge.

  • CLOTHING/SHOES/FABRIC - can be dropped off in the Kiducation boxes located at Stop N’ Shop, Halliwell School, North Smithfield Elementary School, Brigido’s Marketplace, Pacheco Park and the Highway Garage.
  • HARD-COVERED BOOKS/CDS/VIDEOS/DVDS - may be dropped off in the Got Books container at Kendall Dean.
  • PLASTIC BAGS - may be placed in the Restore boxes at the grocery store. All grocery shopping bags, newspaper sleeves, dry cleaner bags and produce bags can be placed in these bins.
  • FURNITURE/HOUSEHOLD ITEMS - can be donated if still usable to the Rhode Island Donation Exchange. Call 831-5511 to arrange a pick up.
  • WHITE GOODS/APPLIANCES – Call Coastal Recycling at 785-4008 to schedule an appointment. They will pick up washers, dryers and refrigerators that have the door removed, lawn mowers with the fluids removed, and stoves and dishwashers.
  • STYROFOAM- Hard packing styrofoam can be recycled at Konsolidated Warehouse & Distribution. Call the recycling coordinator for details.

Accepted at the Highway Garage

281 Quaker Highway, North Smithfield, RI
767-2200 ext. 345

  • COMPUTERS AND E-WASTE – computers, scanners, printers, copiers, mice, laptops, cell phones, telephones and computer parts.
  • MOTOR OILS AND FILTERS
  • RIGID PLASTIC – buckets, empty garbage cans, broken recycling bins, lawn furniture, milk crates, plastic toys, pet carriers, plastic pallets, coolers, flower pots. All containers must be empty. Only this think type of plastic is considered rigid plastic. Please do not drop off other types of plastic. Not accepted: PVC pipe, vinyl siding, garden hoses or plastic film.
  • SCRAP METAL – bicycles without tires, file cabinets, lamps, desks, metal rims, aluminum doors, old tools.
  • TVs – All sizes are accepted free of charge.
  • CHRISTMAS TREES – Drop them off between Dec. 26 and Feb. 1. Do not put them in any kind of plastic bag. Trees will not be collected curbside.
  • YARD WASTE - Drop off a the Highway Garage during business hours. Residents will be required to show town ID.

ONLY THE ABOVE ITEMS ARE ALLOWED FOR DROP OFF AT THE HIGHWAY GARAGE. ANYTHING ELSE WILL BE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL DUMPING AND IS SUBJECT TO A FINE.

How Do I Dispose Of....?

BATTERIES - Regular alkaline batteries such as C, D, AA, etc. go directly in the trash. The batteries that are considered hazardous and should be disposed of differently are car and motorcycle batteries. These may be brought to an auto parts store such as Napa Auto for no charge. Rechargeable batteries should be disposed of as a hazardous item.

CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS - (windows, toilets, sheet rock, wood etc)
Construction debris is not accepted in the weekly trash collection. It can be brought to RIRRC where a rate of $75 per ton is charged, with a minimum charge of $23. Drop off hours are M-F 6-3:30, or on Sat. 6-11:30. You may also call Gladu in Woonsocket at 769-9125.

COUCH / OLD FURNITURE - Each household is allowed one bulky item per week, such as a couch, chair or table. Keep in mind if the item is still usable, you might be able to donate instead of throwing away. Also see if it a material that could be an recycled, such as a metal table.

HAZARDOUS WASTE - (oil based paints, pool chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, anything marked dangerous or hazardous) These items can be disposed of at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery's Eco Depot by appointment only. RI residents may schedule an appointment by contacting Eco-Depot at (401) 942-1430 ext. 241 or via email @ www.rirrc.org.

MATTRESSES – A permit is needed in order for the town to pick up mattresses and box springs. The cost is $10 per piece. Permits are available at the Town Hall or at the Highway Garage.

MICROWAVE – are considered scrap metal and can be brought to the Highway Garage.

PAINTS & STAINS - First you must determine if your paints are latex or oil based. Oil-based paints and stains need to be treated as hazardous waste so follow those directions above. Latex paint in environmentally friendly, so empty cans with the covers off may be put right into the blue recycle bin. For paint cans that are not empty, put all the paints into one can. Let the empty cans air dry and recycle. For the can of paint that remains, either let it air dry or put a paint hardener such as cat litter or a purchased product. When hard, the can of paint can go into your regular trash bag.

TIRES - Town Fair Tires will accept tires for only $2 each at any of their locations.

WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER - are considered scrap metal and can be brought to the Highway Garage.

YARD WASTE - is collected on Saturday curbside from April 1 through June 1 and from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1. Otherwise drop off your yard waste in paper lawn bags at the Highway Garage during business hours. Monday thru Friday, 7am - 3pm. A town residence id will be required.

For questions regarding other items, just call the Recycling Coordinator at 767-2200 x 345.

_____________________________________________________________________________

New "Waste Not" Program began Nov. 16, 2009

North Smithfield has weekly curbside trash and recycling pick-up for our residents.

1. All residents MUST have a recycling bin out until trash is collected to have any trash collected.

2. Use only one recycle bin and your trash is limited to one 36-gallon container.

3. Use both the blue and green recycle bin and your trash limit goes up to two 36-gallon containers of trash.

4. Residents with more trash than two container limit MUST use the Official Town of North Smithfield purchased trash bags for this trash to be collected.

Keep NS Beautiful by putting containers curbside no earlier than 3:30 pm on the day prior to your collection and no later than 6 am on your collection day. All trash should be in plastic bags and cans. Only one large bulky item (couch, furniture item, etc.) per week is permitted.

Recycle bins are available at both the Highway Garage and Town Hall during normal business hours for only $5 each. Just moving to our town? Your first set will be given free.

Official Town of North Smithfield bags are available for $10 for five 33-gallon bags. They can be purchased at Brigido's Fresh Market, the Highway Garage and Town Hall.

Recycling with the Blue & Green bins

In Rhode Island we use a two-bin recycling program. Bottles, cans, tin and glass go into the blue recycle bin; paper goes into the green bin. Also remember:

  • Cardboard/Boxes are mandatory recycling items and must be flattened and cut into pieces no larger than 3 feet x 3 feet.
  • No plastic bags. Do not put recycle items into plastic bags. All items go directly into the bin or paper items go into paper bags only.
  • Shredded paper can be put into paper bags and right in the green container.

See a complete list of what goes in a blue and green bin?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have recycling out to have my trash collected?
Yes, since the start of our new “Waste Not” program on Nov. 16, 2009, all households must have recycling out to have any trash collected.

Can I put my trash in bags or cans?
Either, your trash can be put out in trash cans or trash bags. The limit is two 36 gallon containers with both the blue and green recycling bin out, or one 36 gallon container if you have one recycle bin out.

What if I have more trash than my limit?
Additional trash will only be collected if in the Official Town of NS trash bags. They cost $10 for a package of 5 and are available at Brigido’s, the Highway Garage and Town Hall. 

Do I have to leave my recycling containers out to get my trash collected?
Yes, your recycle bins must remain out until your trash is picked up.

I don’t have much recycling?
For a household that does not have a lot each week, alternate putting the blue bin out one week, and then the green bin the next. But keep in mind, if you have two containers of trash, you will need both bins out for that amount of trash to be collected.

Can I put out more recycling?
Yes, unlimited amounts of recycling are collected.

My blue bin is not big enough?
Just go to the Highway Garage or Town Hall where you can obtain an "Extra Recycling" sticker for free. Put on a container, and place curbside with you other recycling bins.

Do I have to use the standard blue & green bins?
For your recycling to be easily recognized by the recycling driver we recommend you use them. You may also use the standard yellow "Extra Recycling" sticker. It must be clear that recycling is in the containers to assure the recycle drivers stop.