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Community Corner

Donation and recycling resources in Marlborough

There are many alternatives to throwing out items in those new curbside containers. Donate or recycle and help out people in need too!

As the city of Marlborough transitions to the new curbside trash and recycling system, residents  need to rethink how they use and dispose of everyday items. If you have items that are still useful, you don’t need to throw them out in your curbside container. The following are links to places where you can donate or recycle your items. Many of these resources are free.

1) Freecycle: Freecycle is an online community of people who are interested in giving or obtaining usable items. If you have something that you don’t need but is clean and in working condition, post it on Freecycle and often you will find a new home for it by the end of the day. To join Freecycle, visit www.freecycle.org, search for the Marlborough, Hudson, and Sudbury group, and follow the instructions to join the group. Once the moderator has approved your membership, you can offer something to the group, and after your item has been picked up, you can offer more things or accept things too. Our family uses Freecyle often to recycle children’s toys and books, and I was able to borrow a music stand for my son. It’s a friendly group, and you might even meet a neighbor there.  

2) Marlborough Residential Drop-off Facility located at 856 Boston Post Rd. East. Stop by and pick up a free sticker to access the recycling area. In addition to dropping off recyclable goods like bottles, cans, glass and cardboard, you can also recycle clothing and books. Just put them in the clothing or book bins in the recycling area. Don’t worry if the clothing or shoes are torn. Items that don’t get reused are recycled into new items.

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If you wish to use the rest of the drop off facility, you need to purchase a sticker. The annual fee is $50, for seniors 65 and older and Disabled American Veterans the sticker is free, and for seniors 62-65 the annual cost is $15. This one sticker also gives you access to the recycling area. It’s a great city benefit and it is very neat and organized. If you have clean goods that are in good working order, such as bicycles, you can leave them at the swap shop for someone else to use. If you are interested in volunteering to keep the swap shop neat, please ask for Paul at the guard station.

3) Places you can bring items:

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Furnishing Options in Marlborough accepts furniture donations such as sofas, kitchen tables, dressers, bed frames and bed linens. These items are given to low income families or individuals to help them furnish a home. If you have furniture to donate, bring it to their location at 66 Mechanic St. in Marlborough. The store hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-noon and Saturday 9-noon. Please click here to visit their website for more information and to get a list of items that they accept. They do not accept mattresses or sleep sofas.  

Marlborough Community Cupboard. Donate gently used children’s and adult clothing and books. You can ask for a receipt for your taxes. The Marlborough Community Cupboard is located in the Walker Building at 255 Main St. and is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

4) Organizations that come to Marlborough to pick up items:

Donations Clearing House is a home furnishings program in Worcester that provides donated furniture to those in need, such as families or individuals moving from shelters or victims of fire or abuse. Donations Clearing House sends a truck to Marlborough on Fridays. If you have clean, usable furniture that you wish to donate, please call program manager Jessica Cox at 508-752-5519 x 105 to schedule a pickup. At this time they are accepting only furniture. Items must be brought to the ground floor of your home. You will receive a receipt that you can complete for your taxes. Click here for more information on the program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation accepts donations of usable clothing and household items. Schedule a pick up and a truck will come and pick up your items and you can get a receipt for your taxes. Click here to see a list of acceptable donations and to schedule a pickup.  

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