Recycling Requirements: Newton vs Somerville
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Newton, MA and Somerville, MA?
Newton has fewer restrictions than Somerville.
Newton, MA
Middlesex County
Newton offers weekly single-stream recycling for paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and plastics 1-7. Contaminated bins may not be collected, and Massachusetts bans certain materials from trash.
View full Newton rules →Somerville, MA
Middlesex County
Somerville requires single-stream recycling weekly alongside trash. Massachusetts bans cardboard, paper, metal, glass, and certain plastics from trash. Contaminated recycling bins may be rejected.
View full Somerville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Newton | Somerville |
|---|---|---|
| Program Type | Single-stream, weekly | - |
| Plastics Accepted | Numbers 1-7 rigid only | - |
| No Plastic Bags | Return to grocery store drop-offs | - |
| Yard Waste | Seasonal, paper bags only | - |
| Textiles | Banned from trash statewide | - |
| Frequency | - | Weekly, same day as trash |
| Stream | - | Single-stream blue cart |
| MA waste bans | - | 310 CMR 19.017 |
| Plastic bags | - | Prohibited in recycling |
| Contamination | - | Warning then skip |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Newton FAQ
Can I put plastic bags in Newton recycling?
No. Plastic bags tangle sorting equipment. Return them to grocery store collection bins or throw them in the trash.
Does Newton recycle number 5 plastic?
Yes. Newton accepts rigid plastics numbered 1 through 7, including yogurt containers and margarine tubs, as long as they are empty and clean.
Somerville FAQ
Do I need to separate paper and containers?
No. Somerville uses single stream so all accepted recyclables go in one blue cart, but items must be clean and dry.
What about food waste?
Somerville offers a free curbside compost program for residents. Sign up through the DPW website to receive a kitchen bin and weekly collection.
Compare other topics
See how Newton and Somerville compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool