Trash & Recycling in Nashua, NH

If you live in Nashua or are thinking about moving there, trash & recycling are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Nashua has 9 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of trash & recycling, and some of them might surprise you.

Collection Schedule

Nashua's residential trash collection runs weekly and recyclables are picked up every other week, under the automated cart program the city has made mandatory in designated areas.

Key details: Standard trash pickup: Once a week (§ 270-39(B)). Recycling pickup: Biweekly, every other week (§ 270-39(C)). Automated collection: Mandatory where city designates it. Cart placement deadline: 6:45 a.m. on collection day. Exact day/details set by: Board of Public Works policy.

Willful violations of the automated-collection rules let the Superintendent or Director terminate a customer's collection service outright, per § 270-43: no fine schedule, just loss of service.

Bulk Item Disposal

Nashua's code hands bulky waste and metal item disposal to the Board of Public Works rather than spelling out pickup rules itself. Section 270-10(D) makes Board policy the binding standard for how these items get collected.

Key details: Governing section: § 270-10(D). Rules set by: Board of Public Works. Code sets: No size or schedule itself. Penalty basis: § 1-12 City Code, § 270-18.

Violating any Board of Public Works rule issued under this article is punished as provided in § 1-12 of the City Code, plus costs of prosecution for each offense, per § 270-18.

Yard Waste Collection

City ordinance requires yard waste and recyclables to be kept separate from regular refuse and placed in their own containers, but leaves the collection schedule, bag limits, and brush pickup details to Board of Public Works policy.

Key details: Rule: Yard waste separated from trash (§270-41E). Weekly collection: Included in standard refuse pickup (§270-39B). Soft yard waste: Allowed in approved bags, not rigid bins. Specifics set by: Board of Public Works policy. Enforcement: Service termination for willful violations.

Willful violation of the collection article can lead to termination of collection service by the Superintendent or Director (§ 270-43). The Police Department, Environmental Health Department, or Code Enforcement Department may enforce after initial notice from the Division of Public Works (§ 270-42).

Dumpster Rules

Nashua requires commercial dumpsters to sit on an impervious, well-drained base, stay leakproof and tightly sealed, and be marked with the owner's identity, with collectors needing an Environmental Health Department permit and collection at least every two weeks.

Key details: Container placement: Impervious, well-drained base required. Collector permit: $300/year from Environmental Health Dept. Collection frequency: At least every two weeks. Governing section: § 270-26, Solid Waste Containers.

Violating the container or collection-service standards is punishable under § 270-28 by a fine under City Code § 1-12 or loss of dumping privileges, or both.

Bin Placement Rules

Nashua requires City-issued automated carts to reach the curb by 6:45 a.m. on collection day, positioned per Public Works spacing rules, and screened from view with shrubbery or fencing when stored close to the street.

Key details: Set-out deadline: 6:45 a.m. on collection day. Curb spacing: within 2 feet of curbline. Object clearance: 3 feet from fences, poles, carts. Screening: required if stored near the street. Removal: same day as collection.

Leaving carts curbside overnight or storing them unscreened near the street violates § 270-38; willful Article VII violations under § 270-43 can get a customer's collection service terminated by the Superintendent or Director.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Nashua requires trash and recyclables to be set out only under rules set by the Board of Public Works, and it is illegal to pick through or take anything already placed at the curb.

Key details: Governing chapter: Nashua Revised Ordinances Chapter 270, Solid Waste. Set-out rule: Trash and waste may be set out only per Board of Public Works rules. Why: To ensure recycling of waste with market value or that cannot be landfilled. Scavenging: Picking over or removing curbside material is prohibited. Bulky waste and metal: Handled under separate Board of Public Works policy.

Setting material out other than in accordance with Board of Public Works rules violates section 270-10(A), and picking over or removing material already placed at the curb violates section 270-10(B). Chapter 270 carries its own violations and penalties provision at section 270-18. Because the operating rules are set by Board policy rather than in the ordinance text, check the current Board of Public Works regulations for the container and schedule requirements that apply to your address.

Recycling Rules

Nashua requires biweekly curbside recycling pickup and mandates that residents keep recyclables and yard waste separated from regular refuse, with the accepted-materials list set by Board of Public Works policy.

Key details: Recycling pickup frequency: Biweekly curbside collection. Separation rule: Recyclables must be separated from refuse. Accepted materials list: Set by Board of Public Works policy. Penalty for willful violation: Collection service termination.

Under § 270-42, Nashua's Police Department, Environmental Health Department or Code Enforcement Department can enforce; § 270-43 lets the Superintendent or Director terminate a customer's collection service for willful violations of the article, including improper recyclables separation.

Recycling Requirements

Nashua collects curbside recyclables every two weeks, with container rules, accepted materials, and zone schedules set by Board of Public Works policy under city ordinance.

Key details: Recycling pickup frequency: Biweekly (every two weeks). Schedule/materials set by: Board of Public Works policy. Separation required: Recyclables kept separate from refuse. Container: City-issued automated collection container. Governing section: § 270-39(C).

Police, Environmental Health, or Code Enforcement enforce after notice from the Solid Waste Department; the Superintendent or Director may terminate collection service for willful violations under § 270-43.

Illegal Dumping

Nashua bans placing or dumping refuse and other wastes on land or into the open air anywhere the Board of Health or Board of Public Works finds it harmful to health, safety, or the environment.

Key details: Governing section: Nashua Revised Ordinances § 270-3. Enforcement: Board of Health or Public Works. Maximum fine: $1,000 per offense, plus costs. Continuing violation: Each day is a separate offense. Scope: Any land or open air citywide.

Fine of up to $1,000 per offense under § 1-12, plus prosecution costs under § 270-18; each day the dumping continues counts as a separate offense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Nashua's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Nashua's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Nashua is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Nashua's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.