If you've got old tires, household hazardous waste or confidential papers you no longer need laying around your house or yard, you can get rid of them at some upcoming drop-off events.

The Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District has announced Tire Drop-Off Day this coming Saturday, May 12; Paper Shredding Day on May 19; and Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day June 9.

"We often find that the spring events are busier, and we do end up having a lot of people bring items to these various events," District Recycling Coordinator Marissa Perez-Dormitzer told WBSM News. "Paper Shredding Day and the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day are particularly busy events."

Tire Drop-off Day will take place on May 12 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Shawmut Avenue Transfer Station located at 1103 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. It is open to New Bedford and Dartmouth residents only (and you'll be required to show ID). The fee is $1 for each car tire, $5 for each light duty truck tire, and $15 for each heavy duty truck tire, cash or check only. No commercial loads will be accepted, and neither will tires with a rim greater than 24 inches, or tires for off-road equipment.

"The Tire Day is a great opportunity. It's very affordable, and a great chance to have those tires properly recycled, so you don't have them accumulating water and resulting in mosquitoes," Perez-Dormitzer said.

Paper Shredding Day will take place on May 19 from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot across from City Hall in New Bedford, on the corner of William Street and North 6th Street. All are welcome, and there is no fee, thanks to a sponsorship from New Bedford Credit Union. There is a two box limit per person (standard size box used to hold reams of paper). Paper clips and staples do not need to be removed, but you should remove paper from folders and binders.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day will take place on June 2from 9 a.m. to noon at the Crapo Hill Landfill, located at 300 Samuel Barnet Boulevard, New Bedford. It is open to New Bedford, Dartmouth and Freetown residents only. Accepted items include oil-based paints, paint thinner and waste fuels. No motor oil, antifreeze, fluorescent light bulbs, TVs, propane tanks or latex paints will be accepted. There is a limit of 25 gallons or 25 pounds per person, and is only for household waste, not commercial.

"We want residents to have the opportunity to recycle or properly handle as much as possible. That way, we're not filling up the landfill with all different items," Perez-Dormitzer said.

And no one has to worry about giving up a beautiful Saturday by spending the whole day waiting in line.

"We try to set up the events so we can move the cars through quickly," Perez-Dormitzer said. "We don't want anyone to have to wait too long."

For more information about the events, contact the Refuse District’s recycling office by phone at (508) 979-1493 or by email at recycling@newbedford-ma.gov.

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