Overflow Trash Bag Program

The Overflow Trash Bag Program is one of several strategic initiatives the City has taken to reduce recycling contamination. As part of this program, residents can purchase overflow trash bags to put excess trash in. These overflow bags can be left out on your regular trash pick-up day.

As of November 2018, Providence’s weekly curbside recycling rate stood at 18%. The City has also reduced its contaminated monthly residential recycling loads by 50% since 2015 and is on track to meet its goal of zero contaminated recycling loads and a 30% residential recycling rate by 2030. This data is tracked and reported publicly via the City’s SustainPVD Dashboard online at SustainPVD.org.

Local businesses are encouraged to participate in the official Providence Overflow Trash Bag Program, offering high-quality bags for retail sale at $10 for a sleeve of five bags. Participation in the program requires that businesses sell the official Overflow Trash Bags selected by the City, at the set unit cost, and with the addition of RI sales tax to the sale of the bags.

The City continues to ask residents to under no circumstances place excess trash within recycling bins and to only place excess trash in the designated Overflow Trash Bags, which are specifically designed to prevent rodent intrusion.

Retailers can place orders by calling 1-800-866-3954 or by emailing customerservice@wastezero.com.

Overflow Trash Bag Purchase Locations

Outreach will continue over the life of the program to include more local participating businesses, those currently enrolled in the program and selling bags in Providence include: