Overflow Trash Bags Available at Several Locations in Town

By Adam Swift

The town’s new trash regulations, which require approved overflow bags for any trash or recyclables above the one town-issued trash bin and one town-issued recycling barrel, gets underway next month.

As of July 1 all residents will be permitted to utilize one town-issued trash bin and one town-issued recycling bin per unit per dwelling. Any additional trash will need to be in a Town of Winthrop Overflow Trash Bag placed curbside, inside a covered bin supplied by the resident. Any trash placed for pickup not following this policy will not be collected by the hauler.

The overflow bags are for household trash only and residents are asked not to place any yard waste, recyclables, construction debris or hazardous waste, textiles, or banned materials in these bags. 

Overflow bags must be in a bin with a lid provided to residents for collection. Bags placed on the curb will not be collected. Bulk Sticker Items (tinyurl.com/WST-2023Bulksticker) are limited to two items per week. Any item without an affixed Bulk Item Sticker will not be collected by the hauler. 

Overflow bags will be sold in sleeves of 5 bags for $15, and after July 1st, overflow bags will available for sale at the following locations:

– Cumberland Farms- 48 Revere Street, Winthrop, MA 02152

– Woodside ACE Hardware- 65 Main Street, Winthrop, MA 02152               Owner, Lauren Murphy

 – Shirley True Value Hardware- 472 Shirley St, Winthrop, MA 02152   Owner, Dennis Prew

 – Quick Food- 490 Shirley Street, Winthrop, MA 02152

– T & T Convenience- 8 Michaels Mall, Winthrop, MA 02152

– Winthrop Housing Authority Golden Drive, Winthrop, MA 02152

– Winthrop DPW & Town Hall

The town’s administration and Town Council have spent the last several months finalizing the new trash and recyclables policy for the town.

“Even though it goes into effect on July 1, with the way the Fourth of July falls, people will get a little reprieve that first week with the holiday week,” said Town Manager Tony Marino at a council meeting earlier this month. “So starting that following Monday, July 7, is when the strict rules will go into place.”

Although the new restrictions go into place in July, Marino said he expects there to be continuing education efforts for residents in July and August.

“We expect people will be upset and there will be some pushback,” said Marino. “But in July and August, we’ll have time to educate people in the process.”

There is information about the new policy on the town’s website, and Marino said there are continuing education efforts through social media, WCAT, and direct mail, as well.