September Public Works newsletter: fall events, compost hours, and leaf pickup

Sep 4

(2-minute read)

The Reading Department of Public Works has released its September newsletter, with details on fall collection events, the compost center’s season, curbside leaf pickup, and new trash and recycling rules.

Fall collection events

The DPW had scheduled three drop-off events this fall:

Fall Recycling Event: Saturday, October 3, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the DPW facility (75 Newcrossing Road)
Bulk item drop-off: Saturday, October 24, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the DPW facility (75 Newcrossing Road)
Hazardous materials collection: Saturday, October 31, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Wakefield High School (60 Farm Street, Wakefield)

The newsletter also covers new trash and recycling rules and the town’s Black Earth Compost program.

Black Earth Compost

Reading residents can also sign up for Black Earth Compost, a curbside food-waste program. The company collects organic waste from more than 100 communities in eastern Massachusetts and turns it into compost for local farms and gardens. Accepted items include certified compostable products and food waste, such as fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, bones, dairy, and soiled pizza boxes. Visit the town website for more information.

More than 500 Reading households have enrolled, and the town said the price has dropped again for new and renewing subscribers. Residents can sign up by visiting the Black Earth Compost website.

Compost center

The compost center, on Strout Ave at the end of Grove Street past the golf course, will close for the season on Sunday, December 6. Any schedule changes will be posted in the Reading Chronicle and on the DPW webpage.

The center accepts only leaves, grass clippings, and yard waste from Reading residents, and commercial vehicles are not allowed. Tree trimmings may be no more than eight feet long and eight inches in diameter. Brush should not be left in paper bags, and paper bags should not be placed in the brush pile; residents who bring brush in bags are asked to empty them.

Access requires a 2026 Community Access sticker or a compost center-only sticker. Stickers are available through the Reading Police Department, and compost center-only stickers through the DPW. Both can also be purchased online through the town’s website.

Curbside leaf pickup

The town has set aside four weeks this fall for curbside leaf collection. Leaves must be placed in paper bags and set curbside on your regular day during these weeks:

October 26 to 30
November 2 to 6
November 16 to 20
November 30 to December 4

For questions about the compost area, trash, or recycling, residents can call the DPW at 781-942-9092 until 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or at 781-942-9077 Monday through Thursday.