Trash & Recycling in Brockton, MA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Brockton, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Brockton requires all waste streams (trash, recycling, yard waste, bulky items, holiday trees) to be curbside, off the street, no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before pickup and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Noncompliant or late set-outs need not be collected.
Brockton Trash and Recycling Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 8-3.3
For collection by the City of Brockton or its contractor, solid waste, recyclables, yard waste, bulky items and holiday trees shall be placed at the curb but off the street in appropriate containers as provided for in section 8-3.2. Solid waste, recyclables, yard waste, bulky items and holiday trees shall be placed so as not to obstruct passage on sidewalks or public ways. No person shall place...
Bulk Item Disposal
Brockton allows one bulky item per household per week at the curb through city collection, covering large furniture, mattresses and rolled carpet. The city may add a fee for bulky-item pickup, payable to the city or its collection agent when the pickup is scheduled.
Bulky Item Pickup Rules in Brockton
Some RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 8-3.2(d)
(d)For collection by the City of Brockton or its contractor, bulky items, with a limit of one (1) item per household per week, shall be placed at the curbside. The city may require a fee to be paid for pick-up of bulky items in the future to offset the cost of managing these items. Any fee assessed must be paid to the City of Brockton or the city's agent or authorized designee at the time the p...
Recycling Requirements
Brockton requires recyclables to go out in a city-approved, properly identified recycling container, collected every other week year round. The city or its agent runs the biweekly route citywide, separate from the weekly solid-waste pickup.
Brockton Curbside Recycling Program Rules
Some RestrictionsBrockton City Code §§ 8-3.2(b), 8-3.4
(b)For collection by the City of Brockton or its contractor, recyclables shall be placed in a city provided or approved recycling container properly identified. ... Sec. 8-3.4. - Collection intervals. The City of Brockton or its agent shall be responsible for the collection of recyclables on a bi-weekly (every other week) basis year round.
Holiday Pickup Schedule
Brockton collects undecorated, nonliving holiday trees at the curb for two weeks following December 25, either whole or cut into sections. Trees left out after the special pickup window revert to the standard yard-waste set-out rules.
Brockton Holiday Tree Pickup Schedule
Light RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 8-3.2(e)
(e)For collection by the City of Brockton or its contractor, nonliving, organic holiday trees, either uncut or cut into sections, without decorations, may be placed at the curbside for the two (2) weeks following December 25. Any trees remaining after the special pickup ends, may be set out in conformance with the rules for yard waste set-out procedures and will be collected as yard waste.
Illegal Dumping
Brockton bans dumping, depositing or abandoning garbage, refuse and trash on any public or private property unless the city council has designated the site a garbage dump or sanitary landfill. Violators face fines up to $300 per offense under the city's general penalty clause.
Brockton Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsBrockton City Code §§ 8-8, 1-9
Sec. 8-8. - Use of garbage dump required. It shall be unlawful for any person to dump, deposit or abandon garbage, refuse and trash upon any public property or any private property within the city unless said location has specifically been designated by the council as a garbage dump or sanitary landfill. ... Sec. 1-9. - General penalty. Whoever violates a provision of these Revised Ordinances...
Yard Waste Collection
Brockton picks up yard waste weekly from May 1 through June 30 and November 1 through December 15, then bi-weekly from July 1 through October 31, under Sec. 8-3.4. Only bundled brush, Kraft paper bags or reusable containers up to thirty-two gallons qualify; plastic bags are refused.
Brockton Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 8-3.4
The City of Brockton, or its contractor, shall be responsible for the collection of yard waste on a weekly basis May 1 and June 30 and between November 1 and December 15. Collection from July 1 through October 31 will be bi-weekly. The collection shall be made from all premises, excepting commercial, industrial, and multi-family (over five (5) units) dwellings, provided that the material is pro...
Dumpster Rules
Any dumpster on private property in Brockton needs a Board of Health permit under Sec. 8-11, must sit at least ten feet from lot lines and public ways, and must be screened by a wall, fence or evergreen hedge at least one foot taller than the container. Operating without a permit costs $100 a day.
Brockton Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Significant RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 8-11
(a)Definition. A dumpster is a waste container, compressor, compactor or other vessel for outside storage of waste material having a capacity in excess of one (1) cubic yard that is designed to be hydraulically lifted from the front or rear of a trash collection vehicle other than those portable waste containers for residential use which are placed curbside for weekly municipal trash pickup.(b)...
Collection Schedule
Brockton collects solid waste and bulky items weekly year-round and recyclables every other week, per Sec. 8-3.4 of the City Code. Multifamily buildings over five units, and commercial or industrial properties, are excluded from the standard schedule and must arrange service separately.
Brockton Trash and Recycling Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 8-3.4
The City of Brockton or its contractor shall be responsible for the collection of solid waste, and bulky items on a weekly basis year round. The collection shall be made from all premises, excepting commercial, industrial and multifamily (over five (5) units) dwellings, at least once each week, provided that the material is property stored for collection in containers complying with the provisi...
Recycling Rules
Brockton's code defines exactly which materials qualify as recyclables for curbside pickup: paper products, cardboard under 2 by 2 feet, aluminum and steel food containers, glass, and plastics numbered #1 through #7. Ceramics, mirrors and drinking glasses are excluded.
What Counts as Recycling in Brockton
Some RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 8-3.1(e)
(e)Recyclables shall mean the following items placed untied in reusable containers: newspapers, including, without limitation, news and inserts; magazines, catalogues and telephone books; draft paper, white paper, computer printout paper, box board (clean frozen vegetable containers; cereal boxes, pasta boxes, etc.); paper bags, mail, manila folders and envelopes; corrugated cardboard that is 2...
Looking for Plymouth County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Brockton city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Plymouth County →