The Martha's Vineyard Transfer Station Guide
Getting rid of things on this island is more complicated than it should be, so here's the straight version, from a crew that's at these facilities more or less daily. This guide covers which station serves your town, what costs extra, what Massachusetts won't let you throw away at all, and when it makes sense to do it yourself versus hand it off.
Which station serves your town
There isn't one island dump; there's a system. Edgartown, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah run through the regional refuse district, with the main facility on Edgartown–West Tisbury Road plus up-island drop-offs. Oak Bluffs and Tisbury each operate their own town transfer stations for their residents. Which one you can use - and what permit or sticker you need - depends on where you live, so check your town's current rules before you load the car. Hours shift seasonally and fees change, so always confirm the current schedule before the trip. Nothing stings like arriving with a mattress at 3:05 on a day they closed at 3.
What costs extra
Household bags are one thing; bulky items are another. Expect separate fees for mattresses and box springs, appliances (refrigerant units like fridges, freezers, and AC units cost more because the coolant has to be professionally removed), TVs and electronics, tires, and furniture. Construction debris is charged by weight or volume and adds up fast.
What Massachusetts won't let you throw away
Statewide waste bans cover more than most people realize. Mattresses and textiles are banned from the trash and must be recycled. So are electronics, appliances, tires, leaves and yard waste, and anything hazardous - paint, chemicals, propane tanks. Hazardous materials only move at designated collection events, so you have to plan around those dates.
Everything off this island travels by boat
Worth knowing: the island's waste doesn't stay here - it's hauled off-island, which is a big part of why disposal costs what it does. It's also why keeping usable things ON the island matters. Furniture and household goods in decent shape can go to island thrift shops instead of the waste stream - better for the item, the organization, and everyone's disposal bill.
The honest math: do it yourself, or hand it off
If you've got a truck, the strength, and one or two items, the transfer station is your cheap option - use it. Where it stops making sense: no truck, heavy items on upper floors, a whole cleanout, or a Saturday you'd rather keep. That's the job we exist for - we sort what can be donated, haul the rest, and handle every fee and rule above so you never think about them.
Have a pile and no truck? Text photos to (970) 376-8687 and we'll send a clear quote before we come - junk removal handled start to finish, disposal rules included.
Get a clear quote before we start
Text photos of the job to (970) 376-8687. We'll look at what you've actually got, ask what we need to ask, and send back a clear quote before any work begins - the number we quote is the number you pay. Or call - a human named Bosko answers. Fully insured. Serving all of Martha's Vineyard, including Chappaquiddick.