CSWD is committed to reducing and managing the solid waste generated within Chittenden County. This is done, in part, by ensuring that our community members are able to safely and comfortably navigate our facilities.
CSWD’s Sensory and Accessibility Guide is designed to help our visitors with sensory sensitivities or disabilities to use our drop-off centers with confidence, by providing helpful information on noise levels, terrain, crowd sizes, and accessibility.
Check out the highlights below or download the full report.
Know Before You Go
Restrooms – Please plan to use the restroom before your visit. We do not have public restrooms at our facilities.
Parking – Our facilities have limited parking, and guests may have to move to different spots throughout the facility for accessible access. Visitors with mobility devices or challenges can use parking spaces closer to the recycling and trash compactors to be more centrally located.
Accessibility – Ask a staff member if you have any needs that we can assist you with, including:
- Help locating where to place items on site.
- Are Deaf, hard of hearing, or would like to view a visual aid handout.
- Would like to request ear plugs for blocking out sounds.
Important note: Our Drop-Off Centers are self-serve facilities. We would love to be able to help everyone, but safety and liability concerns and staffing limitations prevent us from helping customers remove and carry items from their vehicles. Please bring physical assistance to help recycle or dispose of your items.
Timing Your Visit
CSWD’s Sensory and accessibility guide offers a breakdown of common busy and slow periods at each of our drop-off center locations. During busy periods, Drop-off centers may be noisier, with longer wait times and limited parking. Generally:
- All drop-off centers tend to be busiest on Saturdays.
- On average, all drop-off centers are slower during the middle of the week, either on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
- Burlington and Hinesburg are the slowest sites on average.
Sensory Information
All Drop-off Centers contain metal compactors for trash and recycling, as well as containers for food waste. As a result, Drop-off centers may be noisy or smelly, particularly during peak hours and summer months.
Please check the full Sensory and Accessibility Guide for additional details, and ask a staff member for assistance near compactors, if needed.
Color Guide
To help our visitors quickly identify the correct location for their materials, CSWD labels bins for each category of material with its corresponding color or symbol. These symbols are standard across Vermont and can help you find what you are looking for easily.
Special materials are items that need special handling and can’t go in regular trash or recycling. Common examples include household batteries, books, propane tanks, and scrap metal. You can find more information on the special materials accepted at each drop-off center by checking out Chuck-it Guide or looking up specific items in our A-Z Guide. Still not sure where items should go? Call or ask a staff member for assistance.
If you have any questions or recommendations for ways to accessibility improvements, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Amy Jewell, Director of Administration, (802) 872-8100 x213.