Reduce and Reuse
Source: https://www.cambridgema.gov/Services/reducereuse
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:18
Reduce and Reuse
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City Services List
> Reduce and Reuse
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is in order of importance. It is better to reduce than reuse; better to reuse than recycle.
Reducing and reusing prevent the environmental impact of making new items. All disposal has financial costs to the city. Recycling and composting cost the City less than trash. Still, preventing waste in the first place is best for Cambridge and the environment. It is one of the key recommendations in the Cambridge
Zero Waste Master Plan
.
Key Tips
Choose Secondhand First
– check online, with friends and neighbors, and local secondhand shops.
Give, Sell, or Find Reused Items Online
- for example:
Craig's Lis
t
,
Nextdoor
,
Facebook Marketplace
, and
Buy Nothing Facebook groups.
Choose Reusable over Single-Use
- Keep reusables (mugs, shopping bags, cloth napkins) in an accessible easy-to-remember location.
Moving and Clean-outs
Give Away, Resell, and Donate
Give Away or Sell
: Often the simplest way to give your things a second life is to give them away for free. Reselling locally is another good option.
Sell or Post for Free:
Craig's List
,
Nextdoor
,
Facebook Marketplace
Post for Free Only:
Buy Nothing Cambridge Facebook groups.
Make an appointment with a local consignment store
Donate:
There are many great organizations that accept materials to support their mission. Please respect the work they do and
only give items they accept
. Donating unwanted items may add to the disposal costs of the organization you are trying to help. This is true no matter how good you may think your donations are.
Some donation resources:
Pinpoint Donation
is a starting place to see what Metro Boston area charities take. Confirm with charities.
ReSupply
, a Veteran-operated company, provides an in-home fee-based pickup option. ReSupply works with local charities to give your unwanted furniture and household goods a second life. ReSupply will go into the home, go up and down stairs, and even disassemble items if needed. Residents will receive a tax credit for their donation.
Use the Get Rid of It Right Tool
This tool will help you find the right way to dispose of over a thousand items. Some things might not get reused but you can keep them out of the trash
Common Categories to Check
Electronics and Scrap Metal
are highly recyclable, but not in your curbside recycling.
Fluorescent Bulbs, Oil-Based Paint, Chemicals, Non-Alkaline Batteries
and more are toxic and must be kept out of the trash. Some items have more convenient disposal options. Others must be brought to a
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day
Schedule Collection in Advance
You will need to schedule a pickup for some items and sometimes pay for a permit.
Some
Large Items
(TVs, air conditioners, etc.)
Mattresses and box springs
Clothing, Shoes, or Textiles
(even torn or stained)
Tips:
Schedule early. The schedules can fill up.
You can put out one large item/furniture each week if the city collects your trash. This is for items that do not need scheduling.
If your mattress collection day is after you move out, coordinate with your property manager.
Household Hazardous Waste - Use Up, Give Away, or Take to HHW Day
Items with CAUTION or HAZARDOUS warnings have no curbside collection.
Use it up
: The best way to manage Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is to use it all.
Give it away:
If you don’t need it, try finding someone who can use it.
Take it
to
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days
, which are four times a year.
Before Buying New
Buy or Find Used
Used items often cost less and are as good as new. Not only is buying secondhand a great way to reuse goods but it often has less packaging waste.
Shop at local consignment stores and secondhand stores. Try the “used” filter for online retailers.
Online neighborhood groups offer many used goods both for free and for sale.
For Sale or For Free:
Craig's List
,
Nextdoor,
Facebook Marketplace
Free Only:
Buy Nothing Facebook Groups
Share, Borrow, or Rent
For items you don’t need every day - like tools or party decorations - share, borrow, or rent. Learn more about the
positive impact of borrowing
.
NextDoor.com
and
Buy Nothing groups on Facebook
, help make borrowing and sharing easy.
Some hardware stores rent tools and equipment.
Make it fun! Host a Clothing, Toy, or Book Swap with friends.
Fundraising? Our textile recycling partner, HELPSY, may be able to help your group with a clothing drive and swap! Email
recycle@CambridgeMA.gov
Repair and Maintain
Repairing and maintaining can save you money by keeping your things going for longer.
Support a local repair shop. The Recycling Advisory Committee created a
Cambridge Circular Economy Business Directory.
Learn how to mend and maintain all kinds of things from
YouTube
,
instructables.com
, and
iFixit.com
.
The
Cambridge Fixing & Repairing Community
on Facebook shares upcoming repair events. You can bring your broken items get help fixing them.
Library of Things
The Cambridge Public Library offers far more than books!
Takeout Technology
offers Chromebooks, Wi-Fi hotspots, STEAM Learning Kits, and more.
The Hive Makerspace
gives you access to tools like sewing machines, hand tools, 3D printers and more.
Borrow video games, DVD, and CDs.
The
eLibrary
offers TV, movies, music, e-books, audiobooks, and more.
If you have
Library Extension
when you see a book for sale online, it will automatically display whether that book is available at your library.
Everyday Living
Reduce Food Waste
Food waste hurts both the environment and our wallets. On average a family of four
wastes $1500
a year on uneaten food.
Shop Smart
Check your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry before shopping.
Make a checklist of daily staples (e.g.: grains, dairy, and eggs) and only buy more when you are running out.
Make a weekly meal plan and grocery list before shopping.
Waste Less
Eat
leftovers
and perishable food first.
Properly
store food
.
Use your
freezer.
Compost
What You Can’t Eat.
Use the curbside compost program or one of our compost drop-off locations.
Refuse Single-use Disposables - Opt-out & Bring Your Own
Recycling Advisory Committee’s
Cambridge Circular Economy Business Directory
lists where you can:
Bring Your Own
- Bag, bottle, travel mug, and more!
Buy in bulk
, instead of single servings, to reduce packaging and save money.
Other tips include:
Choose Reusable
- Are you throwing away or recycling something a lot? Is there a reusable option?
Opt-out of condiments and utensils
on take-out orders - you can request it in the notes or if you call.
Opt out of junk mail
and sign up for electronic billing and direct deposits. (More tips in this
NY Times article
.)
Give and Celebrate Sustainably
Gifts
Consider gifts of experiences, like movie tickets or zoo memberships
or vintage gifts.
Holidays & Celebrations
Try using reusable plates, napkins, decorations, and more. If you need extra, consider borrowing or renting.
Invite your guests to bring empty food containers to bring home leftovers.
Important Links and Helpful Resources
Helpful Resources
Get Rid of It Right Tool
Cambridge Fixing & Repairing Community Facebook Group
Cambridge Circular Economy Business Directory
Reduce and Reuse Resources
RecycleSmartMA.org
Beyond the Bin Search Directory
Useful Documents & Resources
Cambridge Circular Economy Business Directory
Cambridge Fixing and Repairing Community
Waste Guide in English
Waste Guide Amharic
Waste Guide Chinese [PDF]
Waste Guide Haitian Creole [PDF]
Waste Guide Spanish
Sign Up to the Recycling Newsletter
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for service announcements, reminders, Reduce & Reuse Tips, and more!
View the City's privacy statement
Contact Us
How can we help?
Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:
Description:
*
Name:
Email:
As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.
Read our complete privacy statement
Service Requests
Enter a service request via SeeClickFix
for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here
Close
Skip to Navigation
Skip to Main Content
Skip to Footer
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Home
>
City Services List
> Reduce and Reuse
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is in order of importance. It is better to reduce than reuse; better to reuse than recycle.
Reducing and reusing prevent the environmental impact of making new items. All disposal has financial costs to the city. Recycling and composting cost the City less than trash. Still, preventing waste in the first place is best for Cambridge and the environment. It is one of the key recommendations in the Cambridge
Zero Waste Master Plan
.
Key Tips
Choose Secondhand First
– check online, with friends and neighbors, and local secondhand shops.
Give, Sell, or Find Reused Items Online
- for example:
Craig's Lis
t
,
Nextdoor
,
Facebook Marketplace
, and
Buy Nothing Facebook groups.
Choose Reusable over Single-Use
- Keep reusables (mugs, shopping bags, cloth napkins) in an accessible easy-to-remember location.
Moving and Clean-outs
Give Away, Resell, and Donate
Give Away or Sell
: Often the simplest way to give your things a second life is to give them away for free. Reselling locally is another good option.
Sell or Post for Free:
Craig's List
,
Nextdoor
,
Facebook Marketplace
Post for Free Only:
Buy Nothing Cambridge Facebook groups.
Make an appointment with a local consignment store
Donate:
There are many great organizations that accept materials to support their mission. Please respect the work they do and
only give items they accept
. Donating unwanted items may add to the disposal costs of the organization you are trying to help. This is true no matter how good you may think your donations are.
Some donation resources:
Pinpoint Donation
is a starting place to see what Metro Boston area charities take. Confirm with charities.
ReSupply
, a Veteran-operated company, provides an in-home fee-based pickup option. ReSupply works with local charities to give your unwanted furniture and household goods a second life. ReSupply will go into the home, go up and down stairs, and even disassemble items if needed. Residents will receive a tax credit for their donation.
Use the Get Rid of It Right Tool
This tool will help you find the right way to dispose of over a thousand items. Some things might not get reused but you can keep them out of the trash
Common Categories to Check
Electronics and Scrap Metal
are highly recyclable, but not in your curbside recycling.
Fluorescent Bulbs, Oil-Based Paint, Chemicals, Non-Alkaline Batteries
and more are toxic and must be kept out of the trash. Some items have more convenient disposal options. Others must be brought to a
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day
Schedule Collection in Advance
You will need to schedule a pickup for some items and sometimes pay for a permit.
Some
Large Items
(TVs, air conditioners, etc.)
Mattresses and box springs
Clothing, Shoes, or Textiles
(even torn or stained)
Tips:
Schedule early. The schedules can fill up.
You can put out one large item/furniture each week if the city collects your trash. This is for items that do not need scheduling.
If your mattress collection day is after you move out, coordinate with your property manager.
Household Hazardous Waste - Use Up, Give Away, or Take to HHW Day
Items with CAUTION or HAZARDOUS warnings have no curbside collection.
Use it up
: The best way to manage Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is to use it all.
Give it away:
If you don’t need it, try finding someone who can use it.
Take it
to
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days
, which are four times a year.
Before Buying New
Buy or Find Used
Used items often cost less and are as good as new. Not only is buying secondhand a great way to reuse goods but it often has less packaging waste.
Shop at local consignment stores and secondhand stores. Try the “used” filter for online retailers.
Online neighborhood groups offer many used goods both for free and for sale.
For Sale or For Free:
Craig's List
,
Nextdoor,
Facebook Marketplace
Free Only:
Buy Nothing Facebook Groups
Share, Borrow, or Rent
For items you don’t need every day - like tools or party decorations - share, borrow, or rent. Learn more about the
positive impact of borrowing
.
NextDoor.com
and
Buy Nothing groups on Facebook
, help make borrowing and sharing easy.
Some hardware stores rent tools and equipment.
Make it fun! Host a Clothing, Toy, or Book Swap with friends.
Fundraising? Our textile recycling partner, HELPSY, may be able to help your group with a clothing drive and swap! Email
recycle@CambridgeMA.gov
Repair and Maintain
Repairing and maintaining can save you money by keeping your things going for longer.
Support a local repair shop. The Recycling Advisory Committee created a
Cambridge Circular Economy Business Directory.
Learn how to mend and maintain all kinds of things from
YouTube
,
instructables.com
, and
iFixit.com
.
The
Cambridge Fixing & Repairing Community
on Facebook shares upcoming repair events. You can bring your broken items get help fixing them.
Library of Things
The Cambridge Public Library offers far more than books!
Takeout Technology
offers Chromebooks, Wi-Fi hotspots, STEAM Learning Kits, and more.
The Hive Makerspace
gives you access to tools like sewing machines, hand tools, 3D printers and more.
Borrow video games, DVD, and CDs.
The
eLibrary
offers TV, movies, music, e-books, audiobooks, and more.
If you have
Library Extension
when you see a book for sale online, it will automatically display whether that book is available at your library.
Everyday Living
Reduce Food Waste
Food waste hurts both the environment and our wallets. On average a family of four
wastes $1500
a year on uneaten food.
Shop Smart
Check your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry before shopping.
Make a checklist of daily staples (e.g.: grains, dairy, and eggs) and only buy more when you are running out.
Make a weekly meal plan and grocery list before shopping.
Waste Less
Eat
leftovers
and perishable food first.
Properly
store food
.
Use your
freezer.
Compost
What You Can’t Eat.
Use the curbside compost program or one of our compost drop-off locations.
Refuse Single-use Disposables - Opt-out & Bring Your Own
Recycling Advisory Committee’s
Cambridge Circular Economy Business Directory
lists where you can:
Bring Your Own
- Bag, bottle, travel mug, and more!
Buy in bulk
, instead of single servings, to reduce packaging and save money.
Other tips include:
Choose Reusable
- Are you throwing away or recycling something a lot? Is there a reusable option?
Opt-out of condiments and utensils
on take-out orders - you can request it in the notes or if you call.
Opt out of junk mail
and sign up for electronic billing and direct deposits. (More tips in this
NY Times article
.)
Give and Celebrate Sustainably
Gifts
Consider gifts of experiences, like movie tickets or zoo memberships
or vintage gifts.
Holidays & Celebrations
Try using reusable plates, napkins, decorations, and more. If you need extra, consider borrowing or renting.
Invite your guests to bring empty food containers to bring home leftovers.
Important Links and Helpful Resources
Helpful Resources
Get Rid of It Right Tool
Cambridge Fixing & Repairing Community Facebook Group
Cambridge Circular Economy Business Directory
Reduce and Reuse Resources
RecycleSmartMA.org
Beyond the Bin Search Directory
Useful Documents & Resources
Cambridge Circular Economy Business Directory
Cambridge Fixing and Repairing Community
Waste Guide in English
Waste Guide Amharic
Waste Guide Chinese [PDF]
Waste Guide Haitian Creole [PDF]
Waste Guide Spanish
Sign Up to the Recycling Newsletter
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for service announcements, reminders, Reduce & Reuse Tips, and more!
View the City's privacy statement
Contact Us
How can we help?
Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:
Description:
*
Name:
Email:
As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.
Read our complete privacy statement
Service Requests
Enter a service request via SeeClickFix
for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here
Close