Notices

Somerville residents may drop off household hazardous waste on the second Saturday of each month, April through November, from 9 a.m. to noon at the DPW yard (1 Franey Rd.). New this year: weeknight drop-off events are scheduled on Thursday, April 23, and November 5, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Accepted materials include motor oil, aerosol paint, household cleaning chemicals, rechargeable batteries, and more. Proof of residency, such as a driver's license or utility bill, is required and must be presented at the guard shack. Each resident should bring no more than what can fit in a car trunk. All HHW must be properly contained and transported in cardboard boxes. For more information on what is accepted and how to prep materials, visit somervillema.gov/recycling.

Please note that yard waste collection will resume the week of April 13th. Yard waste collection will occur weekly through the week of May 4 then switch to the alternating week schedule. Yard waste may be put out on the scheduled day inside a barrel marked with a red “Yard waste only” sticker or in a paper yard waste bag. “Yard waste only” stickers may be picked up at the DPW, 1 Franey Rd or the City Hall Welcome Desk, 93 Highland Ave. 311 will mail out yard waste only stickers upon request.

Please note that street sweeping will resume on April 1st and continue through December 31st. We recommend checking the posted signage on the street for the street sweeping schedule to avoid parking tickets. Additionally, note that Yard waste collection will resume the week of April 13th. Yard waste will be collected 4 weeks in a row on your regular trash day than switches to the alternating week schedule.

After reviewing mattress recycling programs in 28 nearby communities of similar size, the Department of Public Works (DPW) is introducing a Mattress and Box Spring Recycling Fee Program starting February 1, 2026. This program will help offset rising disposal costs while creating a more consistent, fair, and sustainable system for residents. It will also help deter residents of neighboring communities from disposing of their mattresses improperly in Somerville to avoid their own community’s fees.

Under the new program, residents will be charged a $55 disposal fee per unit, allowing the city to recover a portion of actual costs while continuing to provide responsible recycling services.

The new fee program will go into effect on February 1, 2026. Starting on that date, residents of eligible households wishing to dispose of a mattress or box spring will need to purchase a Disposal Sticker before scheduling a mattress pickup and placing these items on the curb. Mattresses will be collected curbside one day after regular trash collection. For residents with Friday trash pickup, mattresses will also be collected on Friday. Mattresses and box springs are counted as separate items.

How to Recycle a Mattress or Box Spring via City Services:

First, confirm that you are eligible: Only residential households in buildings with 6 or fewer units with city-managed trash collection are eligible to have the City recycle their mattress or box spring. Pickup is also limited to two bulk items per week. Residents of buildings with 7 or more units using private trash services are not eligible.

Purchase a Disposal Sticker one of three ways:

Online: Purchase through the online payment portal on the City website at somervillema.gov/payonline.

Department of Public Works (DPW): Purchase in person at the DPW Offices at One Franey Road. Check, credit cards, and money orders are accepted. No cash.

City Hall: Purchase in person at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 93 Highland Avenue. Cash, check, credit card, or money order are accepted.

Schedule your mattress pickup: Residents must contact 311 Constituent Services in advance to schedule a mattress and/or box spring pickup. Call 311 at 617-666-3311 or visit somervillema.gov/311 for more ways to contact 311.

Please note: Infested or soiled mattresses must be scheduled for special pickup. Contact 311 before purchasing a sticker.

For more information on mattress recycling and disposal, please visit the City website at somervillema.gov/mattressrecycling.

Christmas trees may be placed on the curbside on trash day for collection starting the week of December 29th. The trees must be free of all decorations and may not be placed in a bag. Once a tree is placed on the sidewalk it should remain out until it is collected.

Curbside collection has been extended until Friday, February 20th. Any trees not collected by Friday, February 20th must be removed from the sidewalk and held until yard waste collection resumes the week of April 13th.