Transfer Station
Additional Pages
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Contact |
(413) 369-4727 |
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Office Hours |
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NEW TRANSFER STATION POLICY. The Selectboard has created new procedures for the purchasing of car permit decals, and these changes take effect October 7th, 2023. Permits will need to be purchased through the Town Offices (not Town Hall) and will require a vehicle registration. Each permit holder will be given 104 free trash bag stickers, which is the equivalent of 2 free 35 gallon bags of trash per week. Please read more about the new policy and procedures here, and you can view the transfer station public forums here.
CLICK HERE FOR AN ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VEHICLE PERMIT DECALS You do not need to fill out this application if you are coming in person, only if you mail it in or use the dropbox.
There is a 'Clean Sweep' bulky waste day coming up on Saturday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. Click here for more information.
The Transfer Station is located at 186 Old Cricket Hill Road and is open to receive trash and recyclables on the days listed above.
Your Transfer Station Attendants:
- Brian Aldrich
- Fredric Brown
- Jeff Clairemont
- Thomas Eaton
- Tim Fisk
- Troy Lucier
The transfer station is now managed under the Selectboard by the Town Administrator townadmin@conwayma.gov or (413) 369-4235 x3. Conway is part of the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District (FCSWMD) which is responsible for our hauling and disposal contracts.
As a resident of Conway you have access to at least six Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events each year. As a member of the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, there are reciprocal agreements that allow Conway residents to participate in collections held in other Pioneer Valley towns. Pre-registration is required for all HHW collection events. To see the complete list of regional collection event dates, times and locations visit the Franklin County Waste District website.
The State of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has instituted Waste Bans, which are materials which are not allowed to be disposed of in the trash. These bans were instituted beginning in 1990 and are updated as the need arises. The newest waste bans are for mattresses, textiles and food waste produced in quantities over a half ton per week. Here is a quick fact sheet on these bans.
All of Conway's recyclables go to the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) for sorting and selling to an end market. The MRF has a MRF Advisory Board or MAB which is in charge of educational materials for all municipalities which use the MRF. The MAB recently created four new short videos explaining how different materials are sorted, one on containers, one on paper & cardboard, one on what happens to recycled materials, and the last on recycling's most unwanted. These videos can all be found on the MRF website, and are truly useful guides.
The town manages many different materials at our transfer station; please click on the pictures below to find out more about how to properly dispose of these items.
Items You May Bring to the Transfer Station
Appliances
Appliances (white goods) – $12.00
Includes stoves, refrigerators (with doors removed), dishwashers, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, air conditioners, humidifiers with cooling coils.Many of these applliances contain freon which must be properly evacuated before they can be recycled.
Batteries
Proper Disposal of Household Batteries
Rechargeable batteries are found in those electronics and appliances that can be recharged, such as ipods; cell phones; cordless phones; laptop computers; power tools; some toys; some digital cameras; and rechargeable toothbrushes, razors, flashlights, and handheld vacuum cleaners. In addition, rechargeable batteries that can be recharged with a battery recharger should also be recycled. Cell phones should also be recycled in this manner. Rechargeable batteries and cell phones contain heavy metals and should never be thrown away; they should always be recycled. Our transfer station has a special “Call 2 Recycle” box for rechargeable batteries and cell phones. The specific batteries accepted in these boxes are: Nickel-cadmium (Ni-cad), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn), Lithium Ion batteries (Li-ion), and Small Sealed Lead (Pb). These abbreviations are printed on rechargeable batteries. The boxes for free rechargeable battery recycling are also available at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Radio Shack.
Alkaline batteries are the most common household batteries. They are available in many sizes and shapes such as AAA, AA, C, D and 9 volt. Alkaline batteries manufactured since 1994 do not contain mercury or other hazardous materials. Conway residents should bring alkaline batteries to our transfer station and give them to the attendant. All batteries should be checked carefully before disposal, as some non-alkaline batteries resemble alkalines.
If you would like to cut down on the number of alkaline batteries you are using, you could purchase an inexpensive battery charger and some compatible rechargeable batteries. These batteries can be used and recharged over and over again, but remember to recycle them in a battery box when they cannot be charged anymore.
Carbon Zinc and Zinc Chloride batteries may be disposed of in the same manner as alkaline batteries; see above.
Lithium batteries are used many applications but most often in cameras. The word “lithium” is printed on the battery. Be sure to check all batteries; some lithium batteries, such as the AA size or short and fat lithium batteries used in cameras, resemble alkaline batteries, but should be recycled properly with button batteries. See below.
Lithium-ion batteries are different from Lithium batteries, and must be disposed of differently. See info under "Rechargeable batteries" above. You can also learn more about the problems with lithium batteries making their way into the waste stream with this podcast by MassRecycle.
Lead Acid batteries from cars, trucks, golf carts, motorcycles, etc. must be recycled by law and recycling programs, some for cash or credit back, are available at auto supply stores, local scrap metal recyclers, and at some transfer stations. Lead acid batteries are also accepted at household hazardous waste collections.
Bulky Waste
| Bulky Waste Dumpster Specifications: Furniture, carpeting Fiberglass insulation, etc. Empty household haz waste containers, haz aerosol cans, empty oil paint cans Latex paint cans, with the latex paint dried out: no liquid paint Anything non-hazardous that doesn’t fit in a trash bag Alkaline batteries manufactured after 1996. Smoke detectors (NOT thermostats: those must be bagged and placed securely in pail.) Electronic ballasts, or ballasts marked “No-PCBs” must go in bulky. |
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Compost
Compost is back at the transfer station! It will be the same as before, with 64 gallon carts lined with compostable bags, which will then be hauled away weekly to Martin’s Farm in Greenfield.
Please click HERE for information on what may be put into the compost carts.
Backyard composting:
Conway residents can now purchase a backyard compost bin at reduced cost! Conway residents can purchase an Earth Machine backyard compost bin at a subsidized price of $25. The subsidized compost bin can only be purchased at the Solid Waste District office. Visit Franklin County Solid Waste Management District for information on backyard composting and the District’s office location. The town encourages all residents to remove organic material from the trash and bring it to the transfer station collection program and/or use a backyard compost bin. Approximately 25% of household trash is organic material that can be diverted to a compost collection or compost bin.
Conway Mall Swap Shop
The Conway Mall
The Mall’s hours of operation is seasonal. The Mall is open the first Sunday in April through the third Sunday in November. Weather permitting, it will be open the first Sunday in February and March for your shopping convenience.
Donations are taken from its opening through the first Sunday in November. They can be left on the table or in its vicinity. Please remember all items should be clean and in usable condition. The Mall is set up for the following types of donations: Clothing of all ages and genders (in season), books, bedding and household goods and footwear. The Mall offers a space where you can also post larger items or items not accepted on-site. The Mall cannot take any electronic donations such as TVs, iPads or items that would normally go into the Electronics cage.
Electronics
Electronics Recycling Specifications (E-Waste):
YES for E Waste Recycling:
State law: must recycle screens of all kinds (flat and CRT)
TVs, computer monitors, laptops, tablets, i pads, games
Scanners, printers and copiers with a flatbed (must recycle w/ e-waste)
Computer “towers,” hard drives, can go with electronics.
NO for E Waste Recycling:
Metal VCRs, DVD, CD players, metal stereo equipment (put in scrap metal dumpster)
Keyboards, printers and fax machines that do not contain a flatbed, cordless phones (remove rechargeable battery), stereo equipment, speakers (put in trash / bulky waste)
Electronics Fees
All CRTs, TVs, monitors, laptops – $10.00
Large console CRTs in cabinets – $15.00
Large screen TVs (greater than 36”) – $20.00
All other electronics – No Charge
Fluorescents
Limited Hazardous Waste Collection — first Saturday of the month, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hazardous waste collection is provided for limited types of household hazardous waste, such as automotive products (used motor oil, oil filters, transmission fluid, anti-freeze); mercury-containing devices (fluorescent lamps, button batteries, fever thermometers and thermostats); oil-based paints, thinners, lacquers, and other paint-related items; rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries; and fluorescent lamp ballasts.
Grease, Fats & Oils
Residents are now also able to properly dispose of their vegetable and animal fats in a 55 gallon drum, which will be located next to the compost carts. Western Mass Rendering is the company recycling our fats & grease. This is an excellent way to keep fats and oils out of our septic systems while helping to recycle and create new products such as biofuel. It is important NOT to put any motor or other automotive oil into this container; doing so will cost the town money. If you have some automotive oils to dispose of, please see our helpful transfer station attendants.
Household Hazardous Waste
Conway is a host town to what are called 'Super Sites'. Conway residents do not have to pay for these monthly collections, held at our transfer station.
Super Sites
The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District encourages residents to dispose of household hazardous waste properly. The District operates several facilities in Franklin County where any District resident may bring common household hazardous waste items for disposal. The "Super Sites" are open year-round and are located in Colrain and Conway. These facilities are permitted to accept automotive products such as used motor oil, oil filters, transmission fluid, and anti-freeze; mercury-containing devices such as fluorescent lamps, button batteries, fever thermometers and thermostats; oil-based paints, thinners, lacquers, and other paint-related items; rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries; and fluorescent lamp ballasts. Latex paint is non-hazardous and will not be accepted.
If you have questions about the disposal of specific household hazardous products at these regional sites, please call the District office at (413) 772-2438 to determine if the items are accepted.
Site location and hours are as follows:
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Conway Transfer Station |
First Saturday of every month 11 am - 2 pm |
Please see the information on the Franklin County Solid Waste Management website for more information.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY
Held annually in September
GCC MAIN CAMPUS AND ORANGE TRANSFER STATION
Register online at: franklincountywastedistrict.org
Limited Hazardous Waste Collection — first Saturday of the month, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hazardous waste collection is provided for limited types of household hazardous waste, such as automotive products (used motor oil, oil filters, transmission fluid, anti-freeze); mercury-containing devices (fluorescent lamps, button batteries, fever thermometers and thermostats); oil-based paints, thinners, lacquers, and other paint-related items; rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries; and fluorescent lamp ballasts.
Mattresses
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has instituted a waste ban on mattresses beginning November 1, 2022. What this means is that all mattresses in Massachusetts must now be recycled as opposed to being thrown out in the bulky bin for disposal. There are some exceptions for mattresses that are not suitable for recycling. Those will be allowed for disposal in the bulky bin for $45 a piece. The transfer station attendants will need to approve and record the disposal of any ruined mattresses.
Please read this press release from the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, and for more information, please visit their website.
Plastic Bags
For information about what plastics bags may be recycled and where to recycle them please visit the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District webpage.
Recyclables
The Town of Conway has a contract with the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility to take our paper, cardboard, and glass, plastic and metal containers.
Click here for the “YES and NO” of what can go in recycling boxes
Scrap Metal
Scrap Metal Specifications:
YES, in metal:
Items that are mostly metal
o (Example of a NO: rolling office chair: 90% plastic & cloth)
Oil filters that are punctured and hot drained (absolutely no drips!) (Or drum if have one)
Any metal drums/barrels MUST have one end removed, and be empty, drained
Lawnmowers, engines must have fluids drained
Prefer to have bike tires removed but not necessary
Freon containing items, after freon has been removed (dehumidifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers)
Microwaves go into scrap metal; also, chain link fence, chicken wire, light strings in metal
NO:
No propane tanks of any kind or size! Helium tanks OK if punctured per tank instructions.
No paint cans of any type (empty cans go in bulky). No motor oil, corrosives, poisons, etc.
No capacitors. No ballasts of any type! Ballasts marked “No-PCBs” must go in bulky. (If PCBs are not mentioned on the label, assume it is PCB and put in ballast pail.)
No barbed wire - this has to go in bulky waste, or offered for reuse.
Textiles
Beginning November 1, 2022 per the MassDEP waste ban, textiles are no longer allowed to be discarded in the trash, UNLESS they are wet, moldy or oily. The transfer station has a Salvation Army collection box where old clothing and other textiles may be deposited - after seeing if they can be used in the Conway Mall of course!!
For more information about all the different materials which must now be recycled please visit the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District website.
Tires
Tires
Regular sizes up to 17” – $2.00
Mounted – $5.00
Large sizes above 17” – $5.00
Trash
NEW TRANSFER STATION POLICY. The Selectboard has created new procedures for the purchasing of car permit decals, and these changes take effect October 7th, 2023. Permits will need to be purchased through the Town Offices (not Town Hall) and will require a vehicle registration. Each permit holder will be given 104 free trash bag stickers, which is the equivalent of 2 free 35 gallon bags of trash per week. Please read more about the new policy and procedures here, and you can view the transfer station public forums here.
CLICK HERE FOR AN ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VEHICLE PERMIT DECALS You do not need to fill out this application if you are coming in person, only if you mail it in or use the dropbox.
Waste Motor Oil
Limited Hazardous Waste Collection — first Saturday of the month, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hazardous waste collection is provided for limited types of household hazardous waste, such as automotive products (used motor oil, oil filters, transmission fluid, anti-freeze); mercury-containing devices (fluorescent lamps, button batteries, fever thermometers and thermostats); oil-based paints, thinners, lacquers, and other paint-related items; rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries; and fluorescent lamp ballasts.
What Do I Do With?
The newest edition of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle guide was published April 20, 2023, in the Recorder! Check it out for yourself, it is chock-full of valuable information and tips on reducing trash. If there is an item you need to find out how to dispose and our transfer station does not handle it, check out the 'What Do I Do With' section of the RRR guide.