Transfer Station

The Transfer Station is operated by the Department of Public Works to provide services to residents for the responsible disposal of household waste. It is operated in a manner consistent with state laws and in support of the sustainability initiatives set by the Carlisle Select Board. Its mission is to reduce the amount of trash by recycling, reuse, and source reduction. This includes composting food scraps. The Transfer Station strives to provide efficient, convenient and cost-effective service to all residents of the Town of Carlisle.

The Transfer Station accepts only trash and recycling which originates within Carlisle from normal household activity and conforms with acceptable use as defined in the Carlisle Recycling & Transfer Station Regulations and is disposed in conformance with the MA Department of Environmental Protection's waste bans.

Items not permitted for regular disposal at the Transfer Station:

  • Hazardous waste such as oil-based paints and used motor oil. The DPW hosts a Hazardous Waste Day once per year for residents to dispose of these items. 
  • Materials containing asbestos of any kind. See the Asbestos Safety Program at mass.gov
  • Large bulk items (boats, cars, etc.) 

Please see Recycling at the Transfer Station for information regarding general recycling, large bulk items, brush, and debris.
 
Location:  59 Morse Road (off of Elizabeth Ridge Road)
 
Hours of Operation (except for holiday closures)

       Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-7pm

       Saturday from 8am-5pm

Transfer Station Stickers (Permit)


Use of the Transfer Station requires a vehicle permit, issued annually for each calendar year, affixed to the interior windshield on the driver's side. A sticker is valid through the calendar year printed on the sticker. The fee for the first sticker for each residence is $55. An additional sticker per residence is $15. Each household is allowed two permits. More than two permits may be issued after review by Town staff or the Transfer Station Action Committee; use the Additional or Replacement Permit Application Form. Any resident using a commercial hauler which uses the services of the Transfer Station (known as a "local hauler") must also purchase a sticker. Stickers are available for purchase online (sticker will be mailed) or in person at the Police Station (41 Lowell Rd.), subject to station renovation safety measures. Check payments will be mailed after submitting the online application form. Cash payments are no longer accepted, and no exception will be made. 

To Purchase 2026 Permits:

No in-person transactions are available at Town Hall. Issuance of sticker at time of purchase is only available at the Police Station with credit or debit payment. 

Visit our UniPay site to pay online.

Your sticker(s) will be mailed to you.

You will have the following payment options:

  • Electronic Check--You will need one of your checks with you when you pay your bill online in order to get your account number and bank's routing number from it. You will be shown where this information is on your check.
  • Credit Card--UniPay accepts Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover for credit card payments.

Fill out our online application form to pay by check. Your stickers will be mailed to you. 

Cash payments are no longer accepted. 

In Person at the Police Station

Your sticker(s) will be issued at time of purchase, if you are pre-qualified (residence is pre-validated) and no special circumstance applies. 

You will have the following payment options:

  • Credit Card or Debit Card (using a "swiper"). 
    • UniPay accepts Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover for credit card payments. 

Check and cash payments are no longer accepted at the Police Station. 

If your residency cannot be confirmed or there is an issue with the transaction, the Dispatcher, at their discretion, may issue a One-Time Permit for that day's date. This will allow you access to the Transfer Station for one day. Only one One-Time Permit will be available per household per calendar year. 

Additional or Replacement Permits

After purchasing your initial permit ($55 fee), you may purchase an additional permit for $15. This can be completed in one transaction if you choose, when you purchase your initial permit. 

If you choose to purchase your second sticker later, you must choose "Replacement Sticker" on the online payment form to be charged correctly. Your permit will be delayed up to six weeks if you choose a regular permit because the Town must issue a refund for the overpayment. To pay by check, complete the Additional or Replacement Permit Application Form and send check payment of $15 to Town Hall Attn: TS Permit.

To purchase more than two permits for your household, complete the Additional or Replacement Permit Application Form. Your request for more than two permits will be reviewed by staff or the Transfer Station Action Committee (TSAC). After completing the form, a staff member will contact you through the email address you provided to update you on the status of the application (approved, requiring of TSAC review, or disapproved). Once approved by staff or the TSAC, you may process payment online or by mailing a check to Town Hall Attn: TS Permit. 

To acquire a replacement permit, complete the Additional or Replacement Permit Application Form and complete an online transaction or send check to Town Hall. 

Special Circumstances (Temporary and Caregiver Permits)

Contact Gretchen Gallimore ggallimore@carlislema.gov or 978-369-6136 to obtain permits under special circumstances. 

  • Provision for vehicles temporarily out of service: Residents whose stickered vehicle is temporarily out of service may request from Town Hall staff the issuance of a temporary placard usable for 30 days which may be placed in the alternate vehicle, visible to the Transfer Station attendant, while the stickered vehicle is unavailable. These placards should be returned to the Transfer Station on expiration. 
  • Provision for those with Disabilities: Recognizing that some residents may not be able to bring their own trash and recycling to the Transfer Station and at the discretion of the designated Town Hall staff, a sticker may be issued to a non-resident caretaker for the explicit use of disposing of the trash and recycling of one identified resident. A By-Proxy (Caregiver) Permit application must be submitted to Gretchen Gallimore ggallimore@carlislema.gov, signed by both the resident needing such service and the individual to whom the sticker will be provided. This application will require the resident to attest that disposal will be limited to the resident’s waste only and that the sticker user is their caretaker and that any violation will result in loss of this sticker. 
  • Provision for other financial hardship: Residents with financial hardship may request that the sticker fee be waived. Such requests would be made to designated Town Hall staff.

Construction Debris Disposal Permit

Carlisle residents may obtain a one-time use permit for residential construction debris from the Executive Assistant at Town Hall (66 Westford St.) during Town Hall's open hours. Construction Debris permits are not available at the Police Station or the DPW. Please plan ahead for weekend and evening dumping. 

Construction Debris Permit Fees:

  • $50 for a Pickup Truck sized load
  • $150 for a Large Truck (up to a small box truck) sized load

Payment can be made by check or credit/debit card. Credit/debit cards will incur a fee based on UniPay's fee schedule.  

The permit allows for one load at the indicated size on the indicated date. Fees are payable by credit/debit or check in person at Town Hall during Town Hall's open hours. (Permits cannot be issued on Saturdays or after Town Hall has closed.)

Commercial dumping of any kind is prohibited at the Transfer Station.