Trash & Recycling in Fall River, MA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Fall River, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Fall River, Massachusetts caps household trash and ash receptacles at roughly the size of an ordinary 35-gallon refuse container, so oversized or overly heavy bins don't qualify for curbside pickup under the City's collection rules.
Fall River Trash Receptacle Size Limit
Light RestrictionsFall River Code § 62-31
All receptacles containing ashes and house refuse for removal must be no larger or heavier than the ordinary refuse container, the size to be approximately 35 gallons' capacity.
Bin Placement Rules
Fall River, Massachusetts sets exact curbside hours for trash and recycling carts: out no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the evening before collection, and back off the sidewalk by 5:00 p.m. the following day.
Fall River Trash Cart Placement Times
Some RestrictionsFall River Code § 62-39
Carts shall be placed on the outer edge of the sidewalk no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the evening before and by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. The carts must face the proper direction (lid opening to street side). Carts must be placed in front of the property to which they are assigned. Carts shall be placed approximately two feet apart. Empty carts must be removed from the sidewalk area, but no late...
Bulk Item Disposal
Furniture, appliances and other items too large for a 32-gallon barrel count as bulky items in Fall River, collected only by paid, scheduled pickup rather than regular trash day.
Fall River Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsFall River Code § 62-47
If an item is not in a barrel (thirty-two-gallon barrel or less) it shall be considered a bulky item. B. If a resident has one, two or three items to be picked up, the resident must pay the fee at either the government center or the DPW complex and the pick up shall be scheduled. If a resident has more than three items, the resident can purchase additional pick ups for the same day, but must...
Recycling Requirements
Fall River requires residents to sort recyclables like bottles, cans, cardboard and paper into blue or pink carts, separate from trash.
Fall River Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsFall River Code § 62-35(A)
All plastic bottles and containers labeled 1 through 7, clear, green and brown bottles and jars, tin, steel, aluminum cans (including both deposit and non-deposit beverage cans), newspapers with inserts, cereal boxes, waxy milk and orange juice cartons, cookie boxes, flat or corrugated cardboard, mail, magazines, and all office/home paper shall be placed in the blue or pink recycling carts. B....
Illegal Dumping
Fall River bans dumping litter on any open or vacant private lot within city limits, whether you own it or not, with a $300 civil penalty per violation.
Fall River Illegal Dumping on Vacant Lots
Some RestrictionsFall River Code § 26-41
No person shall throw or deposit litter on any open or vacant private property within the City, whether owned by such person or not.
Yard Waste Collection
Fall River, Massachusetts requires residents to separate leaves, grass, and yard waste from trash and recycling, and set it out in boxes, paper bags, or barrels during the scheduled season: never in plastic bags or the City's carts.
Fall River Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsFall River Code § 62-32(B)
For the collection of leaf and yard waste materials, residents shall place the materials into suitable cardboard boxes, biodegradable paper bags, or ordinary refuse barrels. Leaf and yard waste materials shall not be placed in plastic bags. These boxes, paper bags and barrels shall be placed on the curbside on those days of the week scheduled for leaf and yard waste pickup, during the leaf and ...
Dumpster Rules
Placing any refuse container of 100 pounds or more capacity in a Fall River street or public way requires a Traffic Commission permit, and such a container can never be placed on a sidewalk.
Fall River Street Dumpster Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsFall River Code § 62-45
Except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, no person shall place or maintain or allow to be placed or maintained in or upon any public way any container or receptacle of a storage capacity of 100 pounds or more used or intended or designed to be used for the storage or collection of refuse or any other material without first obtaining a permit from the Traffic Commission. No permit shall b...
Collection Schedule
Fall River, Massachusetts runs mandatory City solid waste and recycling collection for single-family homes and multi-family buildings with up to six units, but trash must go in the green cart, never the blue or pink recycling carts.
Fall River Mandatory Trash Collection
Some RestrictionsFall River Code § 62-2(C)
The City shall collect solid waste and recyclables from single-family dwellings and multiple-family residential buildings containing up to six dwelling units. Solid waste shall be collected only if placed in a bag and placed in a green cart. Recyclables shall not be placed in green carts, and solid waste shall not be placed in blue or pink carts.[1] [Added 8-18-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-23; amende...
Looking for Bristol County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fall River city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Bristol County →