More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
Barring unexpected bad weather, the Wellesley Recycling & Disposal Facility’s (RDF) Reusables Area is slated to reopen on Friday, April 8.
For the lowdown on what’s acceptable to drop off at the area, see the RDF’s guidelines. Visitors are requested to spend no more than 30 minutes at a time there in order to give others a fair shake at the treasures donated.
According to the U.S. Flag Code, American flags that have seen better days, “should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” The problem is that most American flags are made of nylon which, when burned, releases toxic fumes. So no, do not throw your frayed flag into the fireplace on a cold winter night and set it ablaze. Instead, bring it to the new flag retirement box at the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF).
The RDF this month placed one of the USPS-like boxes in the used books area to ensure that old American flags are respectfully treated. RDF Superintendent Jim Manzolini says, “Myself and the staff here have seen far too many flags in the trash compactors and on the floor of the trash building. We would prefer that flags be folded (correctly). If you need help doing so please stop by the office and someone will help you do so.”
The retired flags are properly disposed of by the Veterans’ Services Officer.
Worn-out flags can also be brought to Town Hall.
These include clothing, blankets, gloves, jackets, hats, drapes, bedding, rugs, sneakers, backpacks, etc. (But not American flags. See above.) As long as it’s dry, it can go into the “Textiles Area” of the RDF. Even single sneakers, gloves or mittens without mates, and ratty old and frayed sweaters are acceptable. These poor-condition textiles get recycled, which keeps them out landfills.
Mon.-Wed.: 7am-noon
Thur.-Saturday: 7am- 3:45pm
Closed Sundays–(Sunday hours resume April 2022)
The Town of Wellesley will follow a holiday schedule on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Here’s the breakdown:
The RDF is also closed on Sundays until the spring, so plan accordingly when disposing holiday trash.
Buildings and offices will be open for regular business hours on Monday after each holiday.
All school buildings will be closed for winter break on Fri., Dec. 24, 2021.
Classes resume on Mon., Jan. 3, 2022.
Fri., Dec. 24—closed
Fri., Dec. 25—closed
Fri., Dec. 31—closed
Sat., Jan. 1—closed
Safely dispose of your used paint at the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility‘s (RDF) paint drop-off area on Thursday, October 7, 3pm – 6pm.
The following materials are accepted: interior and exterior latex paint, interior and exterior oil-based alkyd paint, and solidified paint.
Materials that are not accepted are: creosote and turpentine, other solvents, and unmarked containers. These materials may be brought to the RDF on Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, which is to be announced.
This is the last paint drop-off day for 2021. Paint recycling will resume in spring 2022.
Paint is available for the taking from the shed during regular RDF hours except 3pm – 6pm on scheduled paint drop-off days.
Empty cans of paint can be disposed of in the regular household trash. The empty metal cans cannot be recycled due to the high level of paint contamination. If a gallon of paint is less than 3/4 full, dry the paint out by mixing it with kitty litter. Once it is dry, dispose of it with the regular household trash.
Mon. – Wed.: 7am – noon
Thur., Fri., Sat.: 7am – 3:45pm
Sun: 10am – 3pm
The Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF) will hold a hazardous household waste collection & document shredding event on Sunday, September 12, 9am – 3pm, at 169 Great Plain Ave.
Only Wellesley residents may participate in the event.
Read the complete procedures for Hazardous Household Waste and for Document Shredding.
Happy Labor Day weekend, Wellesley. Here’s what’s closed on and around this upcoming Monday, September 6th federal holiday.
Schools —closed on Monday, September 6 and on Tuesday, September 7 for Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah observances.
The Recycling and Disposal Facility — closed Monday, September 6
Libraries — closed Saturday, September 4 – Monday, September 6
Town Hall and town offices — closed at noon on Friday, September 3 – Monday, September 6
Note: Town Hall summer hours end after Labor Day. Regular hours for the building are Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm. (Schedules vary by department, so check department webpages for the most up-to-date hours.)
Tolles Parsons Center — closed Monday, September 6 (also closed Saturday and Sunday, as usual)
Post offices — closed Monday, September 6
Banks — closed Monday, September 6
Liquor stores — open at owner’s discretion
MBTA — operating on a Sunday schedule. View all schedules here.
Bars, restaurants, retail — open, regular hours/owner’s discretion
We stop by the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF), affectionately known around town as “the dump,” on a regular basis ostensibly to keep things tidy in the garage. But our weekly visit is so much more than just a way to dispose of trash and deal with our recyclables. Going to the dump is part chore, part fun. We never know what we’ll find—a discarded rose of sharon, root ball intact, while we’re tossing our yard waste; the very book we need for next month’s book group; or almost the entire contents of our swell office.
Here are a few Wellesley RDF summer pics, just in case you’re away and miss the old place.
There’s always a face palm at the end of the trip. What did we forget to bring this time? Dammit. The food waste. Again. We keep leaving it behind in the freezer. So now there’s officially more garbage in our freezer than consumable food. Oh well. Next week.
Monday – Wednesday: 7am-noon
Thursday – Saturday: 7am-3:45pm
Sunday: 10am-3pm
