A public resource guide
Pay-as-you-throw yellow bags ($1 small, $1.75 large), bulk items by appointment at the 1065 Millbury St Drop-Off Center ($5/item), Massachusetts mattress recycling law, zero-sort free recycling, and free Helpsy clothing pickup.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Worcester, Massachusetts uses a pay-as-you-throw system where all regular household trash must go in official city yellow bags ($1.00 small, $1.75 large). Recycling is free. Bulk items cannot be left at the curb without an appointment, unlike many cities where curbside bulk is automatic. The main bulk pathway is the Residential Drop-Off Center at 1065 Millbury Street, open April through November by appointment, charging a flat $5 per item. Massachusetts’ mattress recycling law also applies citywide. This guide covers every disposal option for Worcester residents.
On this page
All regular household trash in Worcester must be placed in official City of Worcester yellow bags. No other bags will be collected.
· Small yellow bags: $1.00 each (15-lb weight limit), sold in sleeves of 10
· Large yellow bags: $1.75 each (30-lb weight limit), sold in sleeves of 5
· Available at local retailers throughout the city. If bags are defective, call 311 for exchange.
Set-out time: Curbside between 6:00 AM and 7:30 AM on your scheduled collection day. Do not put trash out the night before.
Holiday delays (2026): 11 holidays cause a one-day delay in Worcester: New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Patriots’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Independence Day (July 4) is the only observed holiday that does NOT result in a delay.
Find your collection day using the official schedule lookup at worcesterma.gov/trash-recycling/schedule.
Important: Large items may NOT be left at the curb in Worcester without a scheduled appointment. Doing so is a municipal ordinance violation. Worcester does not have automatic free curbside bulk pickup.
Option 1: Residential Drop-Off Center
1065 Millbury Street, Worcester, MA 01607
By appointment: Wednesdays 8:30 AM–6 PM and Saturdays 9:30 AM–4 PM
Open April through November. Appointments can be scheduled up to 48 hours in advance.
Fee: $5 flat per item (mattresses and box springs have a different rate; call 311 for current mattress fee)
Payment by credit card (VISA, Mastercard, AMEX) or money order when scheduling
Proof of residency required. Commercial vehicles not permitted.
Option 2: Curbside pickup by Casella Waste Systems
Call Casella at 508-832-2349 to schedule curbside bulk pickup for a per-item fee. Items must be curbside by 7 AM on the scheduled collection day.
Accepted at Drop-Off Center: Furniture, appliances, mattresses (fee varies), electronics, and most large household items. The center also has yard waste drop-off, compost pickup, and cooking oil recycling.
Recycling is collected on the same day as trash, free of charge. Worcester uses a zero-sort system: all recyclables go in one bin together with no sorting required.
Accepted: Paper and cardboard, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, plastic containers with accepted numbers. Items must be clean, empty, and dry. Wet cardboard may be rejected.
NOT accepted: Plastic bags (they jam sorting machines), Styrofoam, food-contaminated items, clothing, electronics, batteries, aerosol cans.
Recycling must be placed in the city-issued green bin or a clearly marked durable container. Do not place recyclables in plastic bags.
The City of Worcester holds free Household Hazardous Waste Day drop-off events, typically four times per year, by appointment. Check worcesterma.gov for the current year’s dates.
Electronics can be dropped at the Residential Drop-Off Center at 1065 Millbury Street (appointment required). Best Buy also accepts most electronics free.
Massachusetts has a state mattress recycling law. Mattresses and box springs must be recycled, not landfilled. Worcester’s Drop-Off Center accepts mattresses at a fee (call 311 for current rate).
· Salvation Army Worcester — free pickup for usable furniture and large items. Schedule at satruck.org.
· Habitat for Humanity of MetroWest/Greater Worcester ReStore — free pickup for qualifying furniture, appliances, and building materials.
· Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona — drop-off locations in Worcester.
· Helpsy clothing recycling — free at-home clothing and textiles pickup through a City of Worcester partnership. Schedule at helpsy.co.
· Worcester Community Action Council — accepts household goods for low-income families.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For Worcester households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need crew labor, or want faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Worcester area for upfront-priced pickup.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. 100% of round-ups fund subsidized pickups at standard market rates.
Book a Worcester pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Other paid services
$70–$4001-800-Got-Junk and College Hunks Hauling Junk serve the Worcester area. Local independent operators typically offer pricing 20%–30% below national chains.
Call Worcester 311 (dial 311) or submit online at worcesterma.gov/311. The Worcester Green Corps coordinates year-round cleanup. Earth Day events remove 25+ tons of trash citywide annually. For active dumping in progress, call Worcester Police non-emergency.
See our complete illegal dumping guide for Massachusetts state penalty information.
How does Worcester’s pay-as-you-throw system work?
All regular household trash must go in official City of Worcester yellow bags: $1.00 small (15 lb limit) or $1.75 large (30 lb limit), available at local retailers. Only yellow-bagged trash will be collected. Recycling is free in a separate bin. Yellow bags encourage waste reduction since the more you recycle, the fewer bags you need.
How do I dispose of bulk items in Worcester?
Two options: (1) Residential Drop-Off Center at 1065 Millbury St by appointment, Wed 8:30 AM–6 PM or Sat 9:30 AM–4 PM, $5 per item (open Apr–Nov). (2) Curbside via Casella at 508-832-2349 for a per-item fee. Do NOT leave large items at curb without an appointment -- that is a municipal ordinance violation.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.