Recycling in Connecticut
Where to recycle, donate or get rid of things in 168 cities and towns across Connecticut. Pick your city, or search for your item. We also pick up anywhere in the state.
Find your city or county
Fairfield County
Hartford County
- Avon4
- Berlin14
- Bloomfield9
- Bristol9
- Burlington11
- Canton10
- East Granby9
- East Hartford14
- East Windsor11
- Enfield11
- Farmington5
- Glastonbury5
- Granby10
- Hartford8
- Hartland3
- Manchester11
- Marlborough12
- New Britain14
- Newington13
- Plainville8
- Rocky Hill11
- Simsbury6
- South Windsor10
- Southington1
- Suffield7
- West Hartford9
- Wethersfield9
- Windsor6
- Windsor Locks5
Litchfield County
Middlesex County
New Haven County
New London County
Tolland County
Windham County
Connecticut rules
- Since January 1, 2011, covered electronic devices are banned from disposal at any Connecticut solid waste facility and must be recycled. Source: CT DEEP: CT Electronic Recycling Law FAQs (opens in new tab)
- CGS 22a-636: no person may knowingly place a covered electronic device or its components in any solid waste facility (on and after January 1, 2011). Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446n: Covered Electronic Devices (opens in new tab)
- DEEP lists household televisions, monitors, printers and computers among items banned from disposal. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
More Connecticut rules (54)
- Household computers and monitors are covered electronic devices that are banned from disposal in Connecticut. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
- By statute, covered electronic devices are desktop or personal computers, computer monitors, portable computers and CRT and non-CRT televisions (plus devices named in regulations) sold to consumers. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446n: Covered Electronic Devices (opens in new tab)
- Telephones are not covered electronic devices unless their video display is greater than four inches diagonally. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446n: Covered Electronic Devices (opens in new tab)
- Electronics contained in washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwave ovens, ovens and similar appliances are excluded from the covered electronic device definition, so the e-waste ban and free program do not apply to microwaves. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446n: Covered Electronic Devices (opens in new tab)
- E-waste from non-residential sources is regulated under federal and state hazardous waste and solid waste laws. Source: CT DEEP: CT Electronic Recycling Law FAQs (opens in new tab)
- Connecticut's Mandatory Recycling Act took effect January 1, 1991 and applies to every business, household, institution and government agency. Source: CT DEEP: FAQs - Recycling Program (opens in new tab)
- Everyone in Connecticut must recycle glass and metal food and beverage containers, newspapers, corrugated cardboard, boxboard, magazines, leaves, scrap metal, used motor oil and lead-acid batteries, among others. Source: CT DEEP: FAQs - Recycling Program (opens in new tab)
- Scrap metal is on the list of items everyone in Connecticut is required to recycle. Source: CT DEEP: FAQs - Recycling Program (opens in new tab)
- Corrugated cardboard is one of the top designated recyclables accepted in Connecticut's mixed (single stream) recycling program. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
- Connecticut has one universal list of what is accepted in mixed (single stream) recycling, whether collected curbside or at a transfer station. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
- Scrap metal, including appliances, is a mandated recyclable handled through special recycling programs and should not go in single stream recycling. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
- Scrap metal must be recycled through special programs, not the single stream bin. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
- Products under Connecticut stewardship (EPR) programs: household covered electronic devices, paint, mattresses, mercury thermostats, gas cylinders and tires. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
- CGS 22a-241b: everyone who generates solid waste from residential property must separate designated recyclable items from other solid waste. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446d: Solid Waste Management (opens in new tab)
- No one may knowingly combine separated designated recyclables with other solid waste. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446d: Solid Waste Management (opens in new tab)
- Beyond single stream items, many municipalities collect other items such as mattresses; ask the municipal recycling contact. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
- Lead-acid and motor vehicle batteries are on DEEP's list of items banned from disposal. Source: CT DEEP: Recycling, It's the Law (opens in new tab)
- CGS 22a-256g: no one may put a used lead-acid or motor vehicle battery in mixed municipal solid waste; it must go to a retailer or wholesaler, recycling facility, secondary lead smelter, scrap metal processor or municipal collection site. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446d: Solid Waste Management (opens in new tab)
- For these sections, "battery" means a lead acid battery or a motor vehicle battery. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446d: Solid Waste Management (opens in new tab)
- A buyer of a new lead-acid battery must return a used battery to the retailer or pay a $5 deposit, refunded if a used battery is returned with the receipt within 30 days. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446d: Solid Waste Management (opens in new tab)
- Car (lead-acid) batteries may not go in the trash, be buried or be thrown in wetlands or waterways; retailers that sell them must accept them for recycling. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Battery retailers must accept up to three lead-acid batteries from a customer who is not buying a new battery; some towns take them at the transfer station. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries are a mandatory recyclable in Connecticut. Source: CT DEEP: Managing Household Batteries (opens in new tab)
- All rechargeable batteries (nickel-cadmium, nickel metal hydride, small sealed lead-acid, lithium ion) are accepted for recycling at many retailers. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Non-rechargeable alkaline and zinc carbon batteries are not hazardous and may go in the regular trash, though The Battery Network accepts them for recycling. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Most community HHW collection events do not accept alkaline and zinc carbon batteries. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Connecticut's battery EPR program (Public Act 25-34) begins in 2027; it excludes medical-device and motor vehicle batteries. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- The Battery Network says Connecticut's battery stewardship law takes effect January 1, 2027, requiring producers to fund free collection and recycling of portable and medium-format batteries. Source: The Battery Network: Connecticut (opens in new tab)
- The battery law covers small and medium format batteries up to 25 pounds, including rechargeable and nonrechargeable alkaline, silver oxide, zinc air, carbon-zinc and lithium metal batteries. Source: CT DEEP: Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship (opens in new tab)
- Old tires can be left at the retailer when buying new ones, usually for a nominal fee; many municipal recycling facilities accept tires, preferably without rims. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Connecticut's tire EPR law passed in 2023 and is the first of its kind in the nation. Source: CT DEEP: Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship (opens in new tab)
- DEEP says that once manufacturers manage end-of-life tires, generators of used tires will no longer have to pay for disposal or recycling. Source: CT DEEP: Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship (opens in new tab)
- The PaintCare fee on new paint in Connecticut is $0.50 (over a half pint to under 1 gallon), $1.15 (1-2 gallons) and $2.25 (over 2 up to 5 gallons). Source: PaintCare: Connecticut (opens in new tab)
- The PaintCare fee is not a tax or a deposit. Source: PaintCare: Connecticut (opens in new tab)
- Besides PaintCare retailers, some municipal transfer stations accept latex and oil-based paint from town residents, and HHW programs accept oil-based paint. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- HHW programs have always accepted oil-based paint; some now accept latex paint too. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- The PaintCare fee funds free collection of residential paint and stain through participating retailers, transfer stations and HHW collections. Source: CT DEEP: Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship (opens in new tab)
- Public Act 13-42 requires mattress manufacturers to set up a program for unwanted mattresses generated in Connecticut, funded by a point-of-sale fee since May 1, 2015. Source: CT DEEP: Mattress Recycling (opens in new tab)
- The Connecticut mattress recycling fee is $19.50 per unit as of October 1, 2026. Source: Bye Bye Mattress: Frequently Asked Questions (opens in new tab)
- The Connecticut mattress recycling fee, which applies to every mattress and box spring sold, is $19.50 per unit as of October 1, 2026. Source: Bye Bye Mattress: Frequently Asked Questions (opens in new tab)
- Thrift shops and reuse businesses may resell mattresses and upholstered furniture only with Department of Consumer Protection licenses. Source: CT DEEP: Mattress Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Mattresses and upholstered furniture can be legally donated for reuse in Connecticut if in good, clean condition. Source: CT DEEP: Mattress Recycling (opens in new tab)
- For oversized items such as furniture, most towns have disposal services, and some collect them curbside, sometimes by calling ahead. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Refrigerators, air conditioners and dehumidifiers use ozone-depleting refrigerants (CFCs, HCFCs, "Freon") that can be released if disposed of improperly. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- DEEP advises asking the municipal recycling contact, appliance retailers (collection or refrigerant-recovery services) and the utility about refrigerator disposal. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Sometimes the store selling a new large appliance takes back the old one; utilities may have appliance recycling programs. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Some chest freezers and pre-1972 washing machines contain mercury switches or relays, which should not go in the regular trash. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Some gas clothes dryers, stoves and ovens have mercury pilot light sensors; towns that collect "white goods" may remove them before recycling the appliance as scrap metal. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Towns that collect "white goods" at the transfer station or landfill may remove hazardous parts before recycling the appliance as scrap metal. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- Leftover household hazardous waste should go to a local HHW collection center or one-day collection event. Source: CT DEEP: What Do I Do With...? (opens in new tab)
- HHW collections generally run from April to early November. Source: CT DEEP: HHW Collection Schedule (opens in new tab)
- If a town is not on DEEP's schedule, it may not be holding an HHW event this year; contact the local Department of Public Works. Source: CT DEEP: HHW Collection Schedule (opens in new tab)
- DEEP suggests checking with the local collection program for restrictions before going. Source: CT DEEP: HHW Collection Schedule (opens in new tab)
- DEEP's HHW schedule directs homeowners with oil-based and latex paint, stains, varnishes and shellacs to PaintCare. Source: CT DEEP: HHW Collection Schedule (opens in new tab)