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.
Somerville, MA
Somerville restricts amplified music through its noise ordinance and entertainment licensing, with plainly-audible standards at property lines and stricter c...
Somerville, MA
Somerville limits construction noise to daytime and early-evening weekday hours with shorter Saturday windows and a full Sunday and holiday prohibition, refl...
Somerville, MA
Overnight street parking in Somerville requires a resident permit citywide. Snow emergencies trigger odd-even or posted-side bans.
Somerville, MA
Commercial vehicles over 2.5 tons cannot park overnight on Somerville residential streets. Loading zones are time-limited and signed by block.
Somerville, MA
Most Somerville streets are resident-permit zones. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours on posted blocks from 8 AM to 8 PM daily including weekends.
Somerville, MA
Somerville requires a building permit for most fence installations, with historic districts adding a Historic Preservation Commission review step for visible...
See how Somerville's polystyrene foam rules rules stack up against other locations.
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