Hazardous Waste Collection

The Department of Public Works will hold an annual Household Hazardous Waste Day (HHWD) collection for Carlisle residents with a valid Transfer Station Sticker once a year with no charge to the resident.  

Non-residents will be permitted at Carlisle's HHWD event through the Reciprocal Arrangement with other Department of Environmental Services Northeast District 3 municipalities (schedule will be updated when available). Non-residents must pre-register using this online form (registration will open in July) with $50 fee payment by check only by Aug 6, 2026. Non-residents are not permitted to dispose of any regular household waste, mercury, motor oil, propane tanks, batteries, or sharps. 

Carlisle HHWD Event 2026

The 2026 HHWD Event will be held Saturday August 15, 9am-12pm. 

View the 2025 flyer

Accepted:

  • Oil based paints & stains 
  • Paint thinners & strippers 
  • Solvents & varnishes, glues, resins 
  • Waste fuels, (kerosene, gasoline) 
  • Engine degreasers, brake fluids 
  • Antifreeze, transmission fluids 
  • Poisons, rodent poisons 
  • Pool chemicals 
  • Lawn fertilizers w/pesticides 
  • Herbicides and pesticides 
  • Creosote 
  • Driveway sealers 
  • Aerosol cans 
  • Metal polish and furniture polish 
  • Drain openers, oven cleaners & spot removers 
  • Moth balls 
  • Arts and crafts supplies 
  • Adhesives 
  • Photography chemicals 
  • Laundry and bathroom chemicals 
  • Motor Oil 
  • Sharps in an FDA disposal container

Not Accepted:

  • LATEX PAINT (it is not hazardous) 
  • Smoke detectors 
  • Compressed gas cylinders 
  • Ammunition (disposal available at the Police Station)
  • Fireworks or explosives 
  • Prescription medications (disposal available at the Police Station) 
  • Radioactive wastes 
  • Fire extinguishers (disposal available through regular Transfer Station disposal)
  • Cathode ray tubes (disposal available through regular Transfer Station disposal)
  • Biological waste 
  • Unknown materials 
  • Asbestos

Reciprocal Arrangement

Carlisle residents may visit HHWD Events in the Department of Environmental Services Northeast District 3 municipalities as identified in the Reciprocal Arrangement Schedule. Please take note of municipality-specific instructions in the "notes" section. 

Non-residents will be permitted at Carlisle's HHWD event and must pre-register using this online form (registration will open in September) with $50 fee payment by check only. Non-residents are not permitted to dispose of any regular household waste, mercury, motor oil, propane tanks, batteries, or sharps. 

Hazardous Materials Include:

Oil based paints, stains, strippers, solvents, varnishes, adhesives, glues, engine oil, waste fuels, brake/transmission fluids, poisons, cleaners, spot removers, pool chemicals, aerosol cans, pesticides, antifreeze.

Latex paint is NOT Hazardous Waste. Allow the paint to dry (adding kitty litter or sand can assist) and dispose with solid waste. 

Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection


Massachusetts Smart Recycling Guides 

Disposal of Motor Oil

Massachusetts requires any retailer who sells motor oil to accept used oil from their customers and safely dispose of it. Retailers are required to accept used oil for recycling (up to two gallons per person per day) if you have the purchase receipt. 

Local AutoZone stores are currently accepting used motor oil for recycling (up to 5 gallons per person per day) without a receipt. This information was last verified in September 2022 at the Billerica store but policies may change so you should call ahead to make sure the store will accept your oil. Also see the AutoZone website: HERE

You may also call the MassDEP Used Oil Hotline at 617-556-1022 for assistance. Also use this number to report retailers who are unwilling to accept used oil from customers who have receipts.

Disposal of Sharps

The Police Department is no longer accepting sharps. Carlisle residents may bring sharps t in a FDA-approved sharps container to Carlisle's Household Hazardous Waste Day (HHWD). 

Additionally, there is a map of safe disposal sites maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. View the map on the mass.gov website.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health also updates a document entitled "Proper Use and Disposal of Needles and Syringes" linked at the end of an advisory. Select here to view the advisory.