Matinicus Island DOES have a municipal solid waste system (unlike years ago, for those who were here in the distant past). PLEASE DO NOT burn your trash! The island is covered with dead and dying trees, and burning trash is a serious fire hazard.

The recycling service sheds are open and staffed by helpful volunteers at 10:00 am on Saturdays year-round, and also from 3:00-4:00 pm on Fridays during the summer. We plan to add a third day (probably Tuesday, time to be determined,) for July and August 2022 so watch for signs! If none of these times work for you, please call Eva Murray at 366-3695 and we’ll find a volunteer to meet you. DO NOT just drop off trash or items outside the sheds, please! The sheds are on church-owned property, and we have agreed to keep the area neat and tidy.

We can take most everything EXCEPT poisons, liquids, and trash that will stink or attract vermin. Dump out and rinse all food containers. Food waste can safely be “fed to the seagulls” but make sure you do not toss plastic items overboard while doing so!

WE NEED EVERYBODY TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT FOOD WASTE!  Do not “sneak” food waste, lobster shells, etc. into your trash and bring it to our sheds! Trash must often sit for 2-4 weeks, in summer heat, before the next truck on a ferry, so it is ESSENTIAL that is not contain anything that will encourage rats, maggots, etc.! Remember that on Matinicus trash is handled by volunteers—your neighbors—and that we have very infrequent vehicle ferry service. We also use a rented U-Haul for island recycling and trash (it’s not just a “garbage truck”) and we cannot return it in disgusting condition. NO FOOD MEANS NO FOOD! FOR REAL!

WE CAN TAKE: all types of reyclable containers (plastic, glass, or cans,) returnable beverage containers, clean paper (such a catalogs, office paper, etc.) empty boxes, broken household items, TVs and appliances, metal items, batteries, electronics, dry textiles, etc. 

WE TAKE pretty much any dry, non-organic trash. No liquids. No chemicals.

WE CANNOT STORE food waste, “bathroom trash,” used diapers, etc. in our sheds. Those items should go into a separate small trash bag and YOU should bring that bag to the mainland yourself on your next trip. 

Please call 366-3695 with any questions about trash, recycling, or the household hazardous waste collection on August 2-3, 2022.