Recycling Requirements: Newton vs Waltham
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Newton, MA and Waltham, MA?
Newton and Waltham have similar restriction levels.
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 →Waltham, MA
Middlesex County
Waltham operates a mandatory single-stream recycling program. Paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles, and plastics 1-5 and 7 must be separated from trash and placed in blue recycling carts.
View full Waltham rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Newton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|
| Program Type | Single-stream, weekly | Mandatory single-stream |
| 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 | - |
| Accepted Plastics | - | #1-5 and #7 |
| Not Accepted | - | Plastic bags, film, styrofoam |
| Cardboard | - | Flatten before placing in cart |
| State Rule | - | 310 CMR 19.017 |
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.
Waltham FAQ
Is recycling mandatory in Waltham?
Yes. Massachusetts waste bans and city ordinance require residents to separate recyclables from trash.
Can I put plastic bags in recycling?
No. Plastic bags clog sorting equipment. Return them to grocery store drop-off bins instead.
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