Frequently Asked Questions

Mattresses and box springs are scheduled to visit the UTEC Mattress Recycling website. This service is available for residents served by the municipal trash program only. Collection fee is $20 per unit.

Other bulky items can be scheduled online, using the Recycle Coach tool on the main Trash & Recycling page or by using the Recycle Coach mobile app (download from Apple App Store or Google Play Store). Collection fee is $20 per item for bulky furniture and fees vary for metal items, appliances, electronics and tires. Please note that construction materials (such as toilets, sinks, etc.), a wood waste (including pallets) are prohibited from the municipal trash program. Residents should contact a private hauler or utilize a dumpster bag.

You may cancel or reschedule a bulky item or white goods collection up until 2PM on the business day before your scheduled pickup by contacting the DPW at trashrecycling@bedfordma.gov or by phone at 781-275-7605 x4261. 

Contact UniPay directly to cancel a pending payment before close of business on the day you submitted your payment. To request a refund beyond this timeframe, please complete and sign a W9 form to be submitted to the Town's Finance Dept. Return completed form to trashrecycling@bedfordma.gov or to the Finance Office, Town Hall, 2nd floor. Refund checks are typically processed within 7-10 business days of receiving a completed form and mailed to the address listed on your form.

Contact the DPW at (781)275-7605 with any questions.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. Compost your food waste. Sign up for curbside organics pick-up with Black Earth Compost or Purchase a low-cost backyard compost at the DPW Building. 
2. Make sure you recycle everything you can. Visit Recycle Smart MA for recycling guidelines.
3. Donate items that are in usable condition to organizations like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Big Brother/Big Sister. Use the Recycle Coach tool to search for an organization nearby.
4. Official Overflow Bags are available for sale at Moison's Ace Hardware, Whole Foods, and Stop and Shop. See fee schedule for current pricing.
5. If you seem to dispose of excess trash on a regular basis you can also fill out a second cart application using our Online Permitting System. The cost is $185 per year, plus a one-time $75 administration fee with each new application.

Yes. Residents may request a recycling cart in a size that best meet their needs. Available cart sizes are as follows:

• Standard Size: 64-gallon recycling cart. 
• Larger Size: Beginning Fall 2025, residents may swap the standard size cart for a 96-gallon cart for $30 annual fee, plus a one-time administrative fee of $75.
• Smaller Size: 35-gallon carts are also available at no cost, on a case-by-case basis, for those whom the standard cart presents a hardship.

Request a change to your curbside services by completing an application using our Online Permitting System or by submitting a Service Level Change form. 

Yes. Each residential unit is assigned one 48-gallon trash and 64-gallon recycling cart, including ADU and multi-family properties, up to 4 units. Please use the Cart Request Application available on the online permitting page. DPW will review your request and verify that your property is a legal multi-family home per the Town's Assessor's Department and Code Enforcement. Additional carts are assigned only after a Certificate of Occupancy is issued for a new residential dwelling.

Trash & Recycling carts are the property of the Town of Bedford. Maintenance of the carts is the responsibility of the property owner. A dirty cart is easily cleaned with a power washer. A Google search can also identify local providers offering cart cleaning services. The DPW does not contract with or provide an endorsement for any one provider, but one such company is Bin Bath. 

Report damaged carts to the DPW at 781-275-7605, ext. 4261. 

If you suspect your cart has been stolen, please obtain a police report before calling the DPW.

Event details will be sent by regular postal mail and posted on the Events page. 

Please visit the Health Department page for the most up to date information about Household Hazardous Waste collection events. 

Resident stickers or proof of residency are required to use the Recycling Center. Resident stickers are free and can be requested at the DPW, 314 Great Road, during business hours. Proof of residency is required in the form of vehicle registration showing your Bedford address or utility bill from your residence in Bedford. 

Yard Waste is collected curbside on one date in the Spring and three dates in the Fall, with one additional collection in January for Christmas Tree collection. 

Residents are encouraged to bring yard waste material to the Bedford Recycling Center, 108 Carlisle Rd. Visit the Bedford Recycling Center (BRC) page for current schedule and acceptable items list. 

Cart placement makes a big difference on trash day. If your cart was too close to any obstacles, including mailboxes, utility poles and other carts, the driver will need to pull the collection vehicle forward before placing the cart back down with the automated arm. Please place the cart at least 3 feet from all obstacles. Try putting the recycling near your mailbox and the trash cart on the other side of the driveway.