The Tiverton landfill on Main Road is nearing its final weeks, now that it has reached its capacity as permitted by DEM. The official closure, which has been in the works for years, will officially take place November 30, 2022.

As of October 31, yard waste will no longer be accepted at the landfill. With a new recycling center in the works, it is expected that yard waste will be collected at this location.

“We’ve moved this thing three times and we have a temporary solution, but the permanent solution probably will not be done until early next spring,” said Town Administrator Christopher Cotta. “We’re looking to hopefully have a temporary recycling center by the end of November in the Industrial Park.”
Cotta said officials have not yet determined the days or hours of operation for the temporary recycling center. The facility, planned for Progress Way, will likely accept:
• Curbside recycle bin items (e.g. bottles, cans, and cardboard)
• White goods (refrigerators, dehumidifiers, A/C units, etc.)
• Tires (car and pickup truck)
• Clean mattresses (with the exception of wet, soiled, or torn mattresses)
• Hard plastics
• Metals
• Yard waste
• Electronic waste

The recycling center will not take trash of any kind, and residents will have to rely on roadside pickup. For those looking to haul construction debris or bulk trash, they will be redirected to Rhode Island’s Central Landfill in Johnston, or will have to hire a vendor to transport their trash for them, whether that be a roll-away dumpster or trash-removal service.

Tiverton’s landfill had been operational since 1955, and is the only municipal landfill left in the state, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program. Cranston’s privately-owned landfill closed in 1985, followed by the closure of Westerly’s town landfill in 1992. Bristol’s town landfill closed in 2002, leaving Tiverton with the last-standing public landfill. e to respond for several days.