FAQs • Gardner MA • CivicEngage

Why are there charges on my water bill for trash? Where’s the money going?: The City will be billing for curbside service per apartment or household to pay for collection and trucking. The billing will be on the City Water, Sewer &Trash bill, and be sent quarterly. This money pays for the cost of running the trucks and the labor to collect the trash at curbside. The toter cannot be overfilled - no trash or any part of a bag can extend beyond the top rim of your toter or it won’t be picked up. Each participating household has received a 48 gal trash toter and a 64 gal or 96 gal recycling toter. These toters are owned by the City of Gardner. Unlimited extra trash may be placed in yellow Gardner Pay As You Throw (PAYT) bags.

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Trash

1. Why am I getting a bill for trash - I never did before?: Starting in Fiscal Year 2008 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008) the trash program became an Enterprise operation, billed as a utility, like water and sewer. It is not tax supported. Questions about your trash bill can be directed to the Water and Sewer billing department 978-630-4015.

2. Why are there charges on my water bill for trash? Where’s the money going?: The City will be billing for curbside service per apartment or household to pay for collection and trucking. The billing will be on the City Water, Sewer &Trash bill, and be sent quarterly. This money pays for the cost of running the trucks and the labor to collect the trash at curbside. The toter cannot be overfilled - no trash or any part of a bag can extend beyond the top rim of your toter or it won’t be picked up. Each participating household has received a 48 gal trash toter and a 64 gal or 96 gal recycling toter. These toters are owned by the City of Gardner. Unlimited extra trash may be placed in yellow Gardner Pay As You Throw (PAYT) bags.

3. Why are the bags $3.50 - I can buy bags a lot cheaper than that? Where’s the money going?: The bag charge is for the cost of disposal of the contents- trucking it out of town and burying it in a commercial landfill costs over $80 per ton. The bag charge pays the cost of disposal.

4. Where do I get the yellow City of Gardner PAYT bags for my extra trash?: Bags are sold at Hannaford Bros Supermarket, Aubuchon Hardware, Price Chopper and City Hall. They come in rolls of ten bags for $35.00. Individual bags are available at City Hall in the Board of Health Office, Room 29, and the Collector’s Office in Room 118.

5. I got a sticker on my bag or toter and it wasn’t picked up- why?: As time allows, the contracted waste hauler or the Board of Health may inspect and sticker toters that are not compliant with City code. If you have a sticker on your toter, it has a few words to explain it. REMEMBER: You are allowed 1 48 gallon toter of trash to be picked up each week. The toter cannot be overfilled- no trash or any part of a bag can extend beyond the top rim of your toter or it won’t be picked up. Trash must fit completely within your toter. The toters have an attached cover on hinges and you must close the cover to put it at curbside. If the cover will not close and there is trash above the rim of your toter, your trash may not be collected. Unlimited extra trash may be placed in yellow Gardner Pay As You Throw (PAYT) bags. Items refused for collection for violations of these rules must be brought back from the curb within 24 hours.

6. When does curbside Yard Waste Pickup occur?: Please see https://www.gardner-ma.gov/545/Curbside-Trash-Recycling for the Gardner Collection Calendar and Household Hazardous Waste Days.

7. How much Yard Waste may I put out? How do I put it out?: There is no limit to how many containers or bags of yard waste you can put out. Grass clippings and leaves may be placed in paper yard waste bags or loose in open barrels or open cardboard boxes. Sticks less than 2 inches thick and 3 feet long may be place out in bundles. Yard waste may not include large amounts rocks, gravel, sod or dirt. All bundles and containers must weigh less than 50 pounds each.

9. Will Yard Waste in plastic bags, including City of Gardner yellow Pay As You Throw bags, be picked up?: No.

10. How do I dispose of an Appliance, TVs, Tires, Car Batteries, Computers, Fluorescent Lights, Paint, Metal items or Lawnmowers?: They are accepted at the Transfer Station at 744 West Street, Rte. 68. A sticker or one day pass is needed to enter the Transfer Station. Many items have charges. See the Transfer Station information here: https://www.gardner-ma.gov/207/Resident-Transfer-Station

11. Yard waste dates?: The first full week of every month from April - Oct. In November it is the first and third week of the month. January the first week for Christmas tree collection.