Recycling Guide

Provincetown accepts the following single stream materials in its curbside program.
Remember, items placed in your container should be loose, clean, and dry.
Never bag your recyclables!

Do

Paper

Cardboard
Paperboard
Magazines
Newspaper
Pizza Boxes
Paperback Books
Cardboard Tubes

Plastic

Provincetown accepts these items made from the following plastic resin codes:

Water Bottles

Water Bottles

Soda Bottles

Soda Bottles

Laundry Bottles

Laundry Bottles

Shampoo Bottles

Shampoo Bottles

Milk Jugs

Milk Jugs

Yogurt Containers

Yogurt Containers

Rx Bottles

Rx Bottles

take-out containers

Don't forget you're in a "bottle bill" state and you can return empty beverage containers to be recycled and receive a refund.

Metal

Tin Cans
Aluminum Cans
Aluminum Foil
soup cans

Glass

Bottles
Jars

Don't forget you're in a "bottle bill" state and you can return empty beverage containers to be recycled and receive a refund.

Drop-Off

Cardboard

Please breakdown your cardboard so that it is flat. Taking your cardboard to the Recycling Center saves the Town of Provincetown money.

Scrap Metal

Please put metal items in the scrap metal pile to the right of the gatehouse. Fees may apply. Scrap metal is recycled by either Excell Recycling in Westport, MA or Middleboro Recycling in Middleboro, MA.

Food Waste / Compost

The Department of Public Works Sanitation Department and the Recycling & Renewable Energy Committee have launched a residential composting program in Provincetown. Residents can now take their food scraps to the transfer station! Your food scraps will be turned into nutrient-rich compost by Black Earth. Put your food waste in the carts located in the Compost Cottage by the yard waste piles. Do's

  • vegetables
  • fruits
  • breads/cereal
  • flowers
  • coffee/filters
  • tea bags (staples okay)
  • egg shells
  • meat/bones
  • paper napkins
  • tissues
Don’ts
  • dog/cat poop
  • kitty litter
  • plastic bags**
  • trash
* * food scraps may be in certified compostable bags. For a complete list of Do’s and Don’ts, download the Black Earth Compost Guide Need a kitchen food scrap pail? Buy locally at Conwell Ace Hardware (various containers) Stop & Shop (compostable plastic bags)

Appliances

We accept most appliances, including washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves, air conditioners, microwaves, TVs and monitors. $20 fee each.

Batteries

Please drop off Lithium Ion batteries and lead-acid batteries (car batteries) at the gate house. Alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V) may be put in your household trash. test

Bicycles

Bicycles do not need to be in working condition. $5 fee.

Electronics

TVs and monitors , $20 fee.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers do not need to be empty when dropped off. $5 fee.

Lightbulbs fluorescent

We accept fluorescent and compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) only. LED and incandescent lightbulbs can be put in the trash.

Mattresses

The mattresses you bring to the Provincetown Transfer Station & Recycling Center will be recycled (or resold) by Hand Up Mattress Resale & Recycling in New Bedford, MA. Fees apply:

  • crib mattress $20
  • twin mattress or box spring $35
  • full mattress or box spring $40
  • queen mattress or box spring $45
  • king mattress or box spring $50

Mercury

Thermostats, thermometers, etc. Bring to the gate house for safe disposal.

Packaging Peanuts

Packaging peanuts can be dropped off (and pickup up) from the shed towards the back of the transfer station.

Propane Tanks

Propane tanks do not need to be empty to be dropped off.

Textiles

Drop off your textiles in the container located to the right of the Swap Shop. You may also donate good quality clothing to Ruthie's Boutique and the Thrift Shop at the Provincetown United Methodist Church.

Tires

Tires brought to the transfer station are taken to F & B Rubberized in New Bedford, MA. The following fees apply:

  • car tires ($5)
  • truck tires ($10)
  • machine tires ($35)

Lumber

Clean wood waste only. No nails, paint, treatments or stains. $20 per load. Wood is transported to S & J Exco, Inc., in South Dennis. In operation since 1958, S & J Exco, Inc. is an environmentally conscious scrap metal purchaser and wood waste recycler, transfer station and landscape supply facility.

Toilets

Toilets and sinks accepted. $10 fee (each).

Yard Waste Grass and Leaves

Grass clippings and leaves only. Fees apply to businesses and commercial haulers.

Yard Waste Brush

Brush only. Cut any limbs in 4 foot segments. Fees apply to businesses and commercial haulers.

Christmas Trees

HOLIDAY TREE DISPOSAL PLAN Happy Holidays everyone. Here is what to do with your tree when the holidays are over. The DPW Highway Department will start picking up trees on Monday, January 5, 2026 and will continue to pickup them up until Friday, February 6, 2026. Pickup will be on the same day as your curbside trash and recycling pickup so if your trash pickup is on Monday, your tree will also be picked up on Monday. Please keep in mind that the Highway Department will be doing this pickup, not the Sanitation Department. If you do not want to wait for curbside pickup day, feel free to bring to the Transfer Station Tuesday thru Saturday from 7am to 2pm. Staff there will direct you where to deposit your tree. Thank you and if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sherry Prada, DPW Deputy Director at 508-487-7060 or email at sprada@provincetown-ma.gov.

Don't

Top Contaminants

Plastic Bags
Bagged Recyclables
Tanglers
Food Waste
Textiles
Styrofoam
Flower Pots

Paper

  • paper towels
  • tissues
  • metallic paper
  • hardcover books

Plastic

  • styrofoam
  • plastic cutlery
  • bubblewrap
  • k cups
  • flower pots

Glass

  • glassware / Pyrex
  • window glass
  • ceramics
  • lightbulbs

Metal

  • hangers
  • propane tanks

Don't Know?

When in doubt, leave it out!