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1. What is Needham’s Pay-Per-Throw program?

Pay-Per-Throw is a program whereby residents using the Recycling and Transfer Station (RTS) pay for the disposal of their trash based on the amount of trash discarded. All solid waste, except for recyclables, yard waste and bulky waste (i.e., material that cannot fit into a trash bag), must be disposed of at the RTS in specially marked "Town of Needham" bags sold by local retailers on behalf of the Town. The program began on June 2, 1998.

2. Do recyclables or yard waste go in the Pay-Per-Throw bags?

No. Recyclable items and yard waste do not require a Pay-Per-Throw bag and should continue to be disposed of at the appropriate location at the RTS. Recycling containers are available at the Department of Public Works, 470 Dedham Ave. for a $5.00 fee. You are not required to use these containers to bring your recyclables to the RTS.

3. Do retailers make a profit on the sale of the Pay-Per-Throw bags?

No. The bags are sold as a community service. Further, there is no sales tax on the bags.

4. How much do Pay-Per-Throw bags cost?

The 30 gallon size is $15.00 for a package of 10 bags. The 15 gallon size is $7.50 for a package of 10 bags. The local retailers may, if they choose, sell the bags individually at $1.50 and $.75 respectively.

5. What determines the price of the bags?

Approximately $1.34 of the price of the 30 gallon bag is to help cover a portion of the Town’s costs of disposing of the solid waste. The bags themselves cost approximately $.16 each, for a total of $1.50 each.

6. Can I reuse Pay-Per-Throw bags?

No. The bag is basically a "proof of purchase" for the disposal of trash in accordance with the rules of the program. It has to be thrown away with the trash. Some people have asked if this is wasteful. The bags are made from a recycled material and can be burned at the waste-to-energy facility the Town uses. The total number of bags used per year is expected to constitute less that 1/2 of one percent of Needham’s solid waste tonnage.

7. How do I dispose of items which will not fit into the Pay-Per –Throw bags?

Small bulky items (e.g., small broken chair, broom, etc.) can be disposed of in the regular RTS trash containers at no additional charge. A large bulky item (e.g., couch, mattress, rug, entertainment center, etc.) can be disposed of at the Transfer Station. There will be an additional charge for large bulky items.

8. How do I pay for the disposal of a large bulky item?

The attendant at the RTS will enter your RTS sticker number into a computer and you will be issued an invoice in which you will have 30 days to remit your payment to Town Hall.

9. How do I dispose of large volumes of bulky waste such as basement or garage clean-outs?

Large volumes of bulky waste can be transported in your car, van or pick-up truck to the RTS. There will be an additional charge for this large volume. See the attendant in the Transfer Station building who will direct you to the scale where the material will be weighed. You will be issued an invoice based on the weight of the material. The current charge is $130 per ton.

10. Will I still need to purchase an RTS sticker for my car?

Yes. In the future, the cost of the RTS sticker will cover the Town’s cost of operating the recycling program.

11. Whom should I call if I have additional questions?

Additional questions can be answered by the Department of Public Works, Solid Waste & Recycling Division at (781) 455-7534 or (781) 455-7568.