Recycling Requirements: Somerville vs Waltham
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Somerville, MA and Waltham, MA?
Waltham has fewer restrictions than Somerville.
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 →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 | Somerville | Waltham |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Program Type | - | Mandatory single-stream |
| 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.
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.
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.
Compare other topics
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