Massachusetts has not enacted a statewide polystyrene ban, but dozens of cities and towns prohibit foam food containers, and state procurement rules limit foam in agency purchases.
Massachusetts allows municipalities to restrict expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam containers for food service, and over 70 cities and towns including Boston, Cambridge, and Amherst have done so. State procurement policies under Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs guidelines limit agency purchases of EPS products. Statewide bills to ban polystyrene have been introduced but not passed. Local ordinances typically cover food service ware but exempt prepackaged retail foods, with phased compliance dates and small business exemptions.
Local fines range from $100 to $300 per day for non-compliant retailers, with most ordinances providing warning periods before assessment of penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Lowell, MA
Lowell Code Section 204-4C(1)-(4) declares unlawful any unnecessary motor noise (backfiring, racing, tire-screeching), improper horn/signaling-device use, di...
Lowell, MA
Lowell Code Section 204-3 sets a full district-by-time dBA table (residential 40-50 dB(A), industrial up to 70 dB(A) daytime), measured at the property bound...
Lowell, MA
Lowell restricts gas-powered leaf blower use to daytime hours; no outright ban exists, but decibel and hour limits apply under the general noise ordinance.
Lowell, MA
Outdoor music at restaurants, breweries, and event venues in Lowell requires an entertainment license and must end by 10 p.m. in residential zones.
Lowell, MA
Lowell Code Chapter 204, Section 204-3 sets district-based dBA limits keyed to time of day. In single- and two-family residential districts the limit drops t...
Lowell, MA
Lowell Code Section 204-4C(12) makes it unlawful to operate any radio, stereo, loudspeaker, instrument or other sound-reproducing device so as to disturb a r...
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