Bulky Waste Pickup & Recycling Fee Schedule

Go to Holiday Collection Schedule.

About Solid Waste & Recycling

There are three components of Portsmouth's Recycling and Solid Waste program:

1. Collection of waste and recyclables by the DPW

  • Recycling Center drop off collection
  • Residential curbside collection of waste and recyclables
  • Downtown commercial curbside collection of waste and recyclables

2. Transportation of waste and recyclables by the DPW

3. Processing and Disposal of waste and recyclables by outside vendors

*See the 2016 Recovery Rate Analysis here. 

Solid Waste Ordinance

The City has a Solid Waste Ordinance (click here) that establishes guidelines for trash pickup and disposal. The Department of Public Works' Solid Waste Group is responsible for waste collection/disposal from both private / commercial residences / establishments that fall within established criteria. Our objectives are to:

  • Provide the City with a means of collecting and disposing of solid waste curbside, including recycling and bulky waste in the most efficient and cost effective manner. 
  • Dispose of waste at minimal cost and within industry guidelines. 
  • Ensure waste management practices are in compliance with local, state and federal regulations. 
  • Keep the City's Streets, sidewalks and Central Business District free of all debris and litter. 
  • Maintain all City owned trees, shrubbery and beautification sites. 
  • Provide the City with curbside collection and proper disposal methods for yard waste materials.

Snow-Related Impacts

For snow-related Solid Waste Collection impacts visit the Collection Schedule page.

How can you Recycle Smart?

Content

The American recycling industry is experiencing high levels of contamination: trash that ends up in the recycling.  As a result, our focus on quality is higher than ever, as we work to ensure the long-term sustainability of our recycling program. When non-recyclable items (contamination) end up in recycling loads, the entire load may be labeled as “trash” and lead to increased processing costs resulting in additional service charges.

Waste Management Recycling Tips

Keep Recycling Clean: Say No to Plastic Bags!

Plastic bags are the leading cause of recycling contamination and are NOT accepted in curbside recycling. Instead, you can drop them off for recycling at most grocery stores and big-box retailers.

To further reduce waste, food-soiled paper should be composted, not recycled. Our Recycling Center also accepts residential compost drop-offs, making it easy to dispose of organic materials responsibly.

Together, we can keep our recycling stream clean and sustainable!

For a full list of recycling tips, we encourage you to visit our Curbside Collection Resources and Waste Management's page.