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Recycling Center Fees & Info

Recycling Center Fees & Info

The Keene Recycling Center and Transfer Station is located off Route 12, at 55 Old Summit Road, Keene, NH 03431 

Operating Hours:
Monday-Friday 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

The Keene Recycling Center is CLOSED for the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Books of 20 disposal tickets are available for sale for $60.00 at the Keene Recycling Center (Checks or Money Orders Only) or the Keene City Hall Revenue Collections Office (Other forms of payment are accepted)

Phone: (603) 352-5739

HHW Information

Reminder: Effective July 1, 2025 it is illegal to put rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries in the trash! They must be recycled through specific battery collection programs and NEVER mixed with regular recyclables.

Only Checks and Punch Card Disposal Tickets are Accepted for Payments (CASH, CREDIT, AND DEBIT CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT THE RECYCLING CENTER)

*Please do not leave recyclables in plastic bags*

Items that can be brought to the Keene Recycling Center at NO CHARGE:
  • Glass food and beverage containers (no ceramics, window glass, drinking glasses, bakeware, or light bulbs)   Please remove tops if possible
  • Steel and aluminum cans, aluminum foil, pie tins and trays
  • PETE #1 (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and HDPE #2 (High-Density Polyethylene) plastics (tops are OK) – NO STYROFOAM, LARGE PLASTIC TOYS, PLASTIC BAGS, OR PLASTIC FILM
  • Newspapers (inserts are OK)
  • Mixed paper (including magazines, catalogs, junk mail, envelopes, stationary, computer paper, office paper, boxboard, and shredded paper) – NO SOILED PAPER, JUICE BOXES, CARTONS, STYROFOAM, PLASTIC BAGS OR SHIPPING ENVELOPES WITH BUBBLE WRAP INSIDE
  • Paper bags
  • Corrugated cardboard – NO SOILED CARDBOARD, NO STYROFOAM, PLASTIC BAGS OR PLASTIC FILM.
  • Books and magazines
  • Lead fishing weights (located at the recycling center public area, near the book and magazine drop-off)
  • Used clothing (must be clean, dry, and bagged)
  • Lead-acid batteries, all Lithium, Nickel-Cadmium, and Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable, and button cell batteries (regular alkaline & heavy duty batteries are trash or can be brought to Staples for recycling.)
  • Scrap metal – Items made of more than 50% metal, stoves, washers, dryers, and equipment such as lawnmowers, trimmers, etc. (ALL fluids MUST be removed from gas-powered equipment) – microwaves are not allowed in scrap metal (charged as electronics)
  • Yard trimmings (leaves, grass clippings and pine needles)
  • Cell phones
  • Cooking oil (liquid)
  • Passenger car tires without rims (KEENE RESIDENTS ONLY – 4 tires per registered vehicle per year – must show valid Keene registration) Residents of other towns see below
  • Compact fluorescent bulbs (KEENE RESIDENTS ONLY)
Public Refuse Drop Off Rates:
  • Household Trash:
    • $3.00 per 33-gallon or smaller bag, up to 10 bags
    • $6.00 per bag larger than 33 gallons, up to 10 bags 
    • More than 10 bags or loose refuse will be weighed and charged $178 per ton ($0.089 per lb.) with a minimum fee of $30.
  • Mixed load of non-recyclable construction debris (pressure treated wood, sheetrock, etc.), including furniture, will be weighed at $178 per ton ($0.089 per lb.) with no minimum fee.
  • Mattresses with innersprings (each) $25.00
    • Foam or futon mattresses are charged as household refuse $178 per ton ($0.089 per lb.)
  • Box springs – $4.00
    Items That Require a Fee for Recycling:
    • Appliances that contain freon – refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, coolers, etc. – $15.00 each
    • DIY mini-split units that contain freon – $30.00
    • Christmas trees – $2.00 each (All lights and decorations must be removed)
    • Brush – $0.065 /lb. ($130 per ton)
    • Shingles, clean load (tar paper, nails, some flashing is ok (NO PLASTIC, VINYL OR TRASH MIXED IN) $0.0625/lb / $125 per ton
    • Recyclable construction debris – $178 per ton ($0.089 per lb.) (NO PRESSURE TREATED OR CREOSOTE COATED WOOD, RAILROAD TIES, SHEETROCK, RUGS, INSULATION, CEILING TILES, VINYL, PLASTIC, PAPER OR CARDBOARD MIXED IN LOAD)
    • Fluorescent bulbs – $0.20/ft
      • CFL bulbs – $2.00/each
    • Electronics – $0.45/lb – (microwaves, TVs, computers, etc.)
      • Solar Panels – $0.62/lb.
    • Passenger car/light truck tires up to 17 inch
      • $5.00 each (OFF RIM)
      • $10.00 each (ON RIM)
    • Truck tires 18- 23 inch:
      • $12.00 each (OFF RIM) 
      • $20.00 each (ON RIM) 
    • Tractor-trailer tires:
      • $35.00 each (OFF RIM)
      • $45.00 each (ON RIM)
    • Farm tractor tires (OFF RIM): $100.00 each
    • Loader/Construction/Skidder OTR tires (OFF RIM): $210.00 each
    • Propane tanks
      • (up to 20lbs) $2.00  
      • (30-100lbs) $20.00
    • Helium tanks – $5.00
    • Fire extinguishers – $10.00
    Recyclable Electronics or E-Waste:

    TVs, computer equipment, laptops, printers, office copiers, microwaves, etc. are weighed at $0.45/lb with a $9.00 minimum. We are now taking solar panels in electronics at $0.62/lb.

    Smoke Detectors – Contact the manufacturer for proper disposal or bring to the next Household Hazardous Waste for proper disposal.

    Not Allowed Items:
    • Medication – Disposal dropboxes at Keene Police Department, CVS or Walgreens for prescription medication (controlled and non-controlled), over-the-counter (OTC) vitamins, syrup, ointments, creams and lotions.
    • Ammunition, fireworks, gun powder and flares – Call NH State Police and leave a message: 603-223-8590

    DISPOSAL OF MEDICAL SHARPS – USE a thick-walled sturdy plastic container with a tight fitting screw cap, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. LABEL the container with the words, “Medical Sharps Container. Not for Recycling.” When about half-full, SEAL the container with heavy-duty tape. DISPOSE of the container with your household trash, NOT your recycling.

    • There is free compost available – please bring your own shovel.
    • Compost bins may be purchased for: $50.00 (Keene residents) and $70.00 (non-Keene residents)
    • Rain barrels may be purchased for $75.00