Does my trash have to be in bags?

Yes. Trash goes in the tote bagged. Recycling is the opposite and goes in loose, never in a bag.

Yes for trash, and it is the opposite for recycling. It catches people out constantly, so it is worth saying plainly:

Trash: bagged. When the truck arm tips your tote, anything loose goes with it. Bagged trash stays together.
Recycling: loose. Never bagged. The sorting facility does not open bags, so bagged recycling is pulled off the line and thrown away as trash.

You do not need special bags or town-issued bags. Any ordinary trash bag that holds together is fine.

The item-by-item lists for both totes are on what goes in your totes.

Still not sure? Call the office.

We answer the phone Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If your question is about your own address, a call is always faster than a form.