Burlington Removes Overflowing Town Cardboard Dumpsters

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington’s town cardboard collection dumpsters are no more, at least for the time being, after a pileup of cardboard waste around the dumpsters, the town announced Tuesday.

Officials said this week they were removing the dumpsters while working on long term alternatives for residents needing to dispose of excess cardboard.

In the meantime, the Burlington Department of Public Works is offering a larger recycling barrel option for residents who need extra space to dispose of their recycling waste. Residents can swap existing 65-gallon bins for a 95-gallon alternative, as noted in the town’s announcement this week.

Burlington had dumpsters set up behind Town Hall to collect excess cardboard. Residents with cardboard waste that does not fit in their existing barrels had the option to bring their flattened cardboard to place in the dumpsters.

Officials on Tuesday, though, said issues piled up due to a combination of “non-residential” cardboard and excess cardboard left at the dumpsters after they were already full.

This, the town said, became “unmanageable” for local officials and personnel with the town’s contracted waste-hauler, Republic Services.

Residents interested in taking the Burlington Department of Public Works up on its offer to exchange barrels can contact the DPW by phone at 781-270-1670 or by email dpw@burlington.org to coordinate an exchange.