Trash & Recycling Resources

Litter-Free Woonasquatucket

When it rains in our watershed, the runoff drains into the Woonasquatucket River, carrying with it pollutants like fertilizers, oil, and, most noticeably, trash. When people mismanage their trash on land, it affects the wildlife and the health of our waterways. Litter that is carried into the Woonasquatucket River has lots of negative consequences for the plants and animals that live there. Fish, birds, and other animals may get caught in plastic waste, which can strangle them or harm their ability to swim or fly. They might also mistake plastic for food and consume it. When this happens, the plastic can fill up their stomachs, making them feel full even though they are not receiving the nutrients they need to survive.  

At the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC), our team of River Rangers collects litter and debris in the river and along our Greenway every week. We also host community cleanup events in our parks to help remove litter. Picking up litter makes a huge impact, but we know we must work together to stop the problem on land– before the trash ends up in the river.  

To do this, we have partnered with RIDOT and the state’s “Litter-free RI” campaign to raise awareness about litter and provide educational resources to our communities about how to properly manage trash.  

Frequently Asked Trash Questions (FATQ)

How do I get rid of a mattress? 

You can bring your unbagged mattress and/or box springs to The Department of Public Works at 700 Allens Avenue on Saturdays from 7am-12:45pm. To dispose of mattresses at this site, you must have a valid Providence ID. They will accept 2 items at a time per resident (two residents with a valid ID can travel in the same vehicle and bring 4 mattresses). 

To schedule a mattress pickup, call Waste Management 1(800)972-4545 more than 48 hours before your scheduled trash pickup. Mattresses must be bagged to be picked up- bags can be purchased at hardware stores/home centers. DPW also sells one-size-fits-all bags in person at 700 Allens Avenue. 

How do I dispose of large items? 

Large items include furniture and large appliances. 

Fill out this online form or call waste management 48 hours before your regular pickup. 

Large furniture must be kept dry and clean before pickup- we recommend covering it in plastic. 

If Waste Management does not come to collect the item on the scheduled day, you can print the confirmation number to place on the item to avoid fines by the city. 

How do I dispose of tires and paint? 

Tires and paint are considered to be hazardous waste. To dispose of paint and other household chemicals, please contact the RI Resource Recovery Corporation to schedule an appointment for pick up at 942-1430. For tire disposal, bring your tires to RI Resource Recovery’s small vehicle area. The disposal is $8 per tire. 

What if my bin is broken? 

You can request a new bin by filling out this online form on Providence’s DPW website.  

How many items can I have collected in a day? 

Up to 3 items per unit 

How do I compost? 

Composting is a great way to reduce waste- diverting food from the landfill back into our soil! Zero Waste Providence is a great local organization with lots of resources on composting. 

Groundwork RI’s Harvest Cycle offers both drop-off and pick-up services for residential compost in Providence. 

How do I dispose of yard debris? 

Providence’s DPW offers yard debris pickup from April to December. 

Yard debris bags can be purchased from hardware stores, or you can purchase a reusable plastic bin and place DPW’s yard debris sticker on it.  

What is recyclable?  

Information on what you can and cannot recycle in Providence can be found on DPW’s website.  

Only plastic CONTAINERS (iced coffee cups, plastic jars, plastic egg cartons, etc.) can be recycled. Other plastic items, like straws and plastic bags, cannot be recycled.  

It is important to know what can go in the recycling- if too much non-recyclable material goes to the recycling plant, it is all treated as contaminated and cannot be recycled. Taxpayer money is ultimately wasted when this happens, which is why it is important to recycle correctly and responsibly!