by Marty Green ·
Friday, June 19, 2026
It’s now or never for residents who want to receive their new Transfer Station stickers by July 1, when current stickers expire. Because all the new stickers are being mailed out, the cutoff date for turning in an application to Town Hall is Monday, June 22. Residents who submit their applications after that date may have to skip a trip or two to the Transfer Station in early July, until their new stickers arrive by mail.
There are two ways to apply for a new sticker, both of which begin at the town website (harvard-ma.gov/789/Permits-Fees). Once there, applicants can choose between an online form or a mail-in paper form. The online application requires payment by credit card through Unipay. The mail-in form must be accompanied by a check payable to the Town of Harvard; a stamped, self-addressed envelope; and a photocopy of the registration for each car on which a sticker will be displayed.
Unfortunately, it’s already too late to mail in a paper application and be sure of receiving a sticker by July 1. But fortunately, those paper forms can be placed in an envelope and delivered to Town Hall in person or left in the drop box there.
This year, stickers cost $140, up $10 from last year, as voted by the Select Board at its April 7 meeting. However, residents 60 and older will still pay last year’s price of $130. For those applying online, there is also a postage fee and a $5 credit card fee.
The price of bags is also going up sharply as of July 1. A package of five 15-gallon bags will rise from $5 to $10. And a package of five 30-gallon bags will cost $20 instead of $10. The Department of Public Works has ordered a vending machine from which people can buy the bags. It will be installed on the porch at Hildreth House in July, if all goes as planned.
Everyone using the Transfer Station facilities needs a sticker, according to Michael Matterazzo, operations manager in the Department of Public Works. That includes people who are recycling glass or plastic, dropping off batteries and fluorescent lightbulbs, leaving items in the metal pile, or putting textiles in the designated bin. Years ago, people could buy a less expensive sticker, just for recycling, but that is no longer an option.
The town website states that Harvard residency is not required to buy a sticker. Lindsay Ames, the town treasurer/collector, explained that people who have seasonal homes near Bare Hill Pond may choose to use the Transfer Station while they are here, even though their official residence is elsewhere. Also, a few people from neighboring towns apply for stickers because the location is more convenient for them, she said.