Use Middletown’s Recycling Center Without a Turn-Away
Middletown, Connecticut operates a municipal recycling center at 185 Johnson Street for recyclable materials, food scraps and qualifying bulky waste generated in Middletown.
The facility is not a general public dump. Residents need a vehicle tag, contractors and waste transporters have separate licensing requirements, household trash is not accepted, and fees apply to many bulky items.
Quick answer: who can use the Middletown Recycling Center?
The facility is for recyclable materials and qualifying bulky waste generated in Middletown, Connecticut. Residents need a vehicle tag before entry. Businesses and contractors transporting waste must follow the City’s registration and licensing rules.
The center does not accept ordinary household trash. Residents must continue using their curbside or private trash service for routine garbage.
On this page
- Address & contact
- Hours & Saturday schedule
- Resident vehicle tag
- Contractor/business rules
- Free recycling items
- Bulk-waste fees
- Electronics
- Mattresses
- Tires & Freon appliances
- Brush, leaves & food scraps
- Hazardous-material routes
- What is not accepted
- Swap Shack
- 2026 closures
- How to use the center
- Before-you-go checklist
- Map & directions
- Related guides
- Official sources
- FAQs
Middletown Recycling Center Address and Contact
The City facility is located at 185 Johnson Street, Middletown, CT 06457, at the corner of Johnson Street and North Main Street.
For questions about access, fees, bulky waste, permits or an unusual item, contact Middletown Public Works at 860-638-4850.
Recycling Center
185 Johnson Street
Middletown, CT 06457
Public Works Office
245 Dekoven Drive, Room 210
Middletown, CT 06457
Middletown Recycling Center Hours
The weekday schedule is straightforward, but Saturday access changes during the year. Check the calendar before making a weekend trip.
| Period | Open days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All year | Monday-Friday | 7:00 AM-2:45 PM |
| April-June | Every Saturday | 7:00 AM-11:45 AM |
| September-November | Every Saturday | 7:00 AM-11:45 AM |
| December-March | 1st and 3rd Saturday only | 7:00 AM-11:45 AM |
| July-August | 1st and 3rd Saturday only | 7:00 AM-11:45 AM |
Resident Vehicle Tag: Get It Before You Arrive
Middletown residents need a vehicle tag to use the Recycling Center. The City’s current 2026 application is restricted to Middletown renters and property owners.
Confirm you qualify
You must be a Middletown resident, renter or property owner using the center for eligible Middletown-generated material.
Gather residency information
The City requests proof of Middletown residency and the license-plate number of the vehicle associated with the pass.
Apply online or in person
You can request a vehicle tag online or apply at Public Works in City Hall, Room 210.
Use the permitted vehicle
Bring the approved/tagged vehicle when using the facility and follow staff directions at entry.
Contractor and Business Rules Are Different
Businesses and contractors cannot simply use a resident tag when they are being paid to transport waste. Middletown requires businesses transporting material to register, and those that use the Recycling Center must obtain the applicable City license.
For the July 2026-June 2027 licensing period, the City’s waste-hauler page lists a $25 per vehicle licensing charge.
Commercial transporter
Register and obtain the required City license before using the facility.
Large load
The center limits loads to two tons at one time. Larger loads need an appropriate private facility.
Items Middletown Residents Can Recycle Free
The City lists a broad range of recyclable materials that residents can bring without a disposal charge. Keep material separated and use the designated containers at the center.
Paper & cardboard
Cardboard, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, paperboard and other accepted paper streams.
Containers
Accepted glass and metal food/beverage containers, aluminum foil and qualifying plastic containers.
Electronics
Residential household electronics are accepted at no charge, subject to the City’s item limits.
Food scraps
The Recycling Center accepts food scraps in the City’s designated collection system.
Cooking oil & antifreeze
These have dedicated recycling routes at the center. Do not mix them with ordinary containers.
Leaves & qualifying brush
Resident yard material can be accepted under the City’s rules. Contractor loads are treated differently.
Middletown Recycling Center Fees for Bulky Waste
The City’s current bulky-waste notice says paid bulk material is weighed on a scale. The current listed rate is $160 per ton unless otherwise noted, with a $10 minimum charge.
No more than two tons may be delivered at one time. Cars and SUVs carrying bulky waste are also weighed.
| Material / service | Current listed charge | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| General bulky waste | $160 per ton | $10 minimum; maximum two tons per load. |
| Passenger tires | $3 each | Limit four per trip. |
| Truck tires / tires on rims | $10 each | Keep separate for staff direction. |
| Freon-containing item | $15 per unit | Includes equipment requiring refrigerant management. |
| Contractor brush | $25 per load | Applies to registered contractor delivery under current City rules. |
| Qualifying household electronics | No charge | Residential electronics only; item limit applies. |
| Qualifying mattress / box spring | No charge at center | Must be dry and free of mildew and bed bugs for recycling. |
Electronics Recycling at 185 Johnson Street
Residential household electronics are accepted at no charge. The City’s current recycling material includes computers, monitors, televisions, printers, phones, copiers, radios, speakers, microwaves and other household electronic devices.
The City states that residential electronics are limited to no more than seven items per load.
Computers
Desktops, computers and associated household equipment are included in the electronics stream.
TVs & monitors
Televisions and monitors are accepted as household electronics at the municipal center.
Phones & accessories
Cell phones and other listed small consumer electronics can use the electronics route.
Mattress and Box Spring Recycling
Dry mattresses and box springs without mildew or bed bugs can be brought directly to the Recycling Center for recycling at no charge.
Wet, mildewed or bed-bug-contaminated mattresses cannot use the free mattress-recycling container. The City directs those items into bulky-waste disposal and requires appropriate wrapping.
Free at the center
Dry mattress or box spring in acceptable recyclable condition.
Not eligible for free recycling
Wet, mildewed or bed-bug-infested item. These must follow the City’s bulky-waste rules.
The City’s curbside mattress option is different: current guidance lists $36 per mattress or box spring, in addition to the applicable bulk-pickup charge when used with curbside bulk service.
Tires, Refrigerators and Other Fee-Based Items
Passenger tires
Current fee: $3 each, with a maximum of four per trip.
Truck tires / rims
Current City fee information lists $10 each for truck tires and tires on rims.
Freon appliances
Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners are listed at $15 per unit.
Brush, Leaves, Food Scraps and Yard Material
The center accepts leaves, food scraps and qualifying brush. Residents should keep these streams separate so they can be directed to the proper area.
Contractor-delivered brush is treated differently from resident brush and is subject to the City’s contractor rules and listed load charge.
If you have a large tree, stump, oversized limb or landscaping-company load, call Public Works first instead of assuming it fits the normal resident brush program.
Household Hazardous Waste: Some Items Need Another Route
The Recycling Center accepts several special materials, including antifreeze, electronics, Freon-containing appliances, alkaline batteries, lead-acid batteries and fee-based tires.
However, it is not a full-time household hazardous-waste facility. Middletown specifically says waste motor oil is not accepted at the City Recycling Center because of past contamination issues.
| Material | Current route |
|---|---|
| Antifreeze | Accepted at the Recycling Center. |
| Lead-acid batteries | Accepted at the Recycling Center. |
| Alkaline batteries | Listed by the City among special materials accepted at the center. |
| Waste motor oil | Not accepted at the City Recycling Center; use HHW or an appropriate retailer. |
| Empty 20-lb propane tank | City guidance says empty tanks can be brought to the Recycling Center. |
| Small gas cylinders | Use the City’s HHW guidance rather than assuming normal recycling-center acceptance. |
| Unused paint | Use a PaintCare collection location or other City-recommended paint route. |
What the Middletown Recycling Center Does Not Accept
The biggest mistake is treating the center like a general landfill or transfer station. Several common materials need a different route.
Regular household trash
Routine garbage must be handled through the resident’s property trash service.
Concrete
The City’s current Recycling Center page specifically says concrete is not accepted.
Asphalt
Asphalt must go to an appropriate private construction-material or disposal facility.
Clean fill
Clean fill is also excluded from the municipal Recycling Center.
Oversized load
More than two tons at one time must use another appropriate facility.
Non-Middletown material
The center accepts material generated within Middletown, not waste hauled in from another town.
Middletown Swap Shack: Reuse Before Disposal
The Swap Shack operates at the Recycling Center for small usable household items. Residents can leave eligible items for others to take at no charge.
The normal schedule is first and third Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and the Wednesdays following those Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Remaining 2026 Holiday Closures
As of September 29, 2026, the City’s Recycling Center page lists these upcoming closures. Check again before a holiday because schedules can be revised.
| Date | Listed closure |
|---|---|
| October 12, 2026 | Columbus Day |
| November 26-27, 2026 | Thanksgiving holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Christmas Day |
| January 1, 2027 | New Year’s Day |
How to Use the Middletown Recycling Center Step by Step
Check that the material came from Middletown
The facility is not intended for waste generated outside the city.
Get your vehicle tag
Do this before arriving if you are a resident using the center.
Separate the load at home
Keep cardboard, electronics, metal, yard material, food scraps, tires and paid bulk items separate where practical.
Check whether your item has a fee
Bulk waste, tires and refrigerant appliances follow different pricing from free recyclable materials.
Keep the load below two tons
Use a private facility for heavier loads rather than arriving with an ineligible load.
Follow staff directions
Different materials go to different containers or unloading areas. Do not unload until directed.
Before-You-Go Checklist
Map to Middletown Recycling Center, Connecticut
The center is at 185 Johnson Street near the intersection with North Main Street.
Official Sources Used for This Middletown, CT Guide
Primary source for location, residency, vehicle tags, hours, accepted materials, load limits and excluded concrete/asphalt/clean fill.
Open official facility pageCurrent recycling guidance for municipal materials, curbside recycling and Recycling Center access.
Open recycling servicesCurrent bulky-waste disposal, mattress and curbside-pickup guidance.
Open bulk waste guidanceCurrent business, contractor and vehicle-licensing requirements for transporting material to the center.
Open hauler rulesExplains which special materials can use the Recycling Center and which require an HHW or retailer route.
Open HHW guidanceCurrent operating schedule and reuse rules for the small-item exchange program at 185 Johnson Street.
Open Swap Shack pageFrequently Asked Questions About Middletown Recycling Center
Where is Middletown Recycling Center in Connecticut?
The municipal facility is at 185 Johnson Street, Middletown, CT 06457, at the corner of Johnson Street and North Main Street.
What are Middletown Recycling Center hours?
The facility is open Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM to 2:45 PM all year. It is open Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 11:45 AM every Saturday during April-June and September-November, and on the first and third Saturday during December-March and July-August.
Is Middletown Recycling Center open Saturday?
Yes, but the Saturday schedule is seasonal. During some months it is open every Saturday; during December-March and July-August it is open only on the first and third Saturday.
Do I need a permit to use Middletown Recycling Center?
Middletown residents need a vehicle tag. The City provides online and in-person application options and requires residency and vehicle information.
Can people from another town use the Middletown Recycling Center?
The City states that the center accepts recyclable and bulky-waste material generated in Middletown. It is not a general regional public dump.
Does Middletown Recycling Center accept household trash?
No. Regular household garbage must be handled through the property’s normal trash collection service.
How much does bulky waste cost at Middletown Recycling Center?
The City’s current bulky-waste fee notice lists $160 per ton unless otherwise noted, with a $10 minimum charge. Loads are weighed and no more than two tons are accepted at one time.
Does Middletown Recycling Center accept electronics?
Yes. Residential household electronics such as computers, monitors, televisions, printers and other listed devices are accepted at no charge. The City states that no more than seven residential electronics are accepted per load.
Does Middletown Recycling Center accept mattresses?
Yes. Dry mattresses and box springs without mildew or bed bugs can be recycled at the center without a charge. Contaminated or wet items must use the bulky-waste route.
How much are tires at Middletown Recycling Center?
The City’s current fee notice lists passenger tires at $3 each with a limit of four per trip. Truck tires and tires on rims are listed at $10 each.
Does the center accept refrigerators and air conditioners?
Yes, but Freon-containing appliances are fee-based. Current City guidance lists a $15 charge per unit.
Can I take waste motor oil to the center?
No. Middletown says waste oil is not accepted at the City Recycling Center. Use an appropriate Household Hazardous Waste collection or participating retailer.
Does Middletown Recycling Center accept concrete or asphalt?
No. The City’s current facility page says asphalt, concrete and clean fill are not accepted and directs users to appropriate private facilities instead.
Can a contractor use Middletown Recycling Center?
Businesses transporting waste must follow Middletown’s registration and licensing requirements. Only eligible material generated within Middletown may be delivered.
What is the Middletown Recycling Center phone number?
The City’s Public Works Department can be reached at 860-638-4850 for Recycling Center questions.
Is this the Middletown Recycling Center in New Jersey?
No. This guide covers Middletown, Connecticut at 185 Johnson Street. Middletown Township, New Jersey operates a different recycling center with different rules and hours.
Is Recycling-Centre.org the official City of Middletown website?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information website. Verify live facility rules and schedule changes on MiddletownCT.gov or with Public Works before visiting.