It’s that time of year, when apartment leases are up and the “move out” and “move in” for the school year begins.The streets in busy college neighborhoods, like Allston- Brighton, will become very crowded with items left behind over the coming days. And Boston will be adding city workers to deal with the extra tons of trash.Here’s a refresher for what to do with anything you might be getting rid of.In the city of Boston, certain items can be put on the curb on trash day, as long as the...
It’s that time of year, when apartment leases are up and the “move out” and “move in” for the school year begins.
The streets in busy college neighborhoods, like Allston- Brighton, will become very crowded with items left behind over the coming days. And Boston will be adding city workers to deal with the extra tons of trash.
Here’s a refresher for what to do with anything you might be getting rid of.
In the city of Boston, certain items can be put on the curb on trash day, as long as they’re not blocking the sidewalk or fire hydrants.
Those items include couches, bed frames, dressers and desks.
Certain items require a call to the city to schedule pickup. If you live in a building with more than six units, then you need to call a private company.
Those items include mattresses -- which must be recycled in Massachusetts -- and clothing and textiles, which can also be put in citywide textile drop boxes. Rugs can be no bigger than 4 feet by 4 feet. Household items like DVDs, small appliances, pots and pans, books along with bicycles and musical instruments.
Finally, there are items that require a special collection by the city because they contain toxic materials. They include refrigerators, TV’s, laptops, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Pickup is free.
In Boston, call 311 or go online to schedule pickup.
In Cambridge the rules are similar, but you need a permit for bulky recyclable items like metal dressers and desks.
If you see something sitting on a curb you like, the Boston officials say think twice about taking it, especially upholstered items which could harbor bed bugs and rodents.
“I would discourage people from going around and picking up those particular items. Make sure you know where the item is coming from. If you’re arranging a student-to-student pass over that’s a lot more safe than just picking up random items on the curb,” said Dennis Roache, the superintendent of Boston’s Waste Reduction and Code Enforcement department.
Cities recommend donating or selling items through thrift shops or social media groups like “Buy Nothing” or Facebook Marketplace before just leaving it on the curb.