Construction Debris: What You Can (and Can't) Take to the Dump
Renovating your home? Drywall, lumber, concrete, and roofing materials have different disposal rules than regular trash. Here's what to know.
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AKS Recycling on Cobbler Drive is the small recycling center folks from Fitchburg and nearby towns use when there's more than what the curbside can handle. Neighbors drop off bags, boxes, and larger stuff from cleanouts; commercial trucks show up too. It’s the sort of place visited during spring cleanups or when a pickup won’t do the job.
Drive in and look for a single entrance with a small attendant booth near the driveway; there’s usually a scale to drive over so weight is recorded before and after. Recycling containers and bunkers are visible from the entrance, with piles and sorting areas that look like a working yard rather than a tidy retail lot. Expect to back up to drop-off points for metal, cardboard, or mixed containers and to be directed where to leave items. Weekends and early spring are busy, so there can be a line of cars and trucks waiting to get in.
Facility Information
Before You Go
- Sort materials at home as much as possible - Massachusetts rules mean staff will often ask for separated cardboard, metal, glass, and rigid plastics.
- Tape or bundle flattened cardboard so it doesn’t blow around the yard; loose boxes tend to get wet or shredded if left loose.
- Leave plastic bags and film out of loose recyclables - those usually belong with plastic-bag collection programs and can jam sorting equipment.
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Disposal Guides
Learn how to properly dispose of common items.
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