Massachusetts Statewide Rule

Massachusetts Statewide Waste Disposal Bans on Recyclables

Heavy RestrictionsApplies statewide across Massachusetts (2026)

Massachusetts bans disposal of recyclable materials including glass, metal, paper, cardboard, and certain organics from landfills and incinerators statewide.

Key Facts

Statute: G.L. c. 21H
Regulation: 310 CMR 19.017
Organics Threshold: 0.5 tons/week commercial
Max Penalty: $25,000/day

Source: Massachusetts General Court

Full Breakdown

Under G.L. c. 21H and 310 CMR 19.017, MassDEP prohibits the disposal of designated materials in solid waste facilities. Banned items include glass and metal containers, recyclable paper and cardboard, single-resin plastics #1 and #2, leaf and yard waste, white goods, cathode ray tubes, treated/untreated wood (commercial), and as of November 2022, commercial organic waste exceeding one-half ton per week. The bans apply to haulers and facilities statewide regardless of municipal program differences.

Violations & Penalties

Haulers and facilities face MassDEP penalties up to $25,000 per violation per day for accepting banned materials in disposal loads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do residents face fines for putting cans in trash?

Direct fines on residents are rare; enforcement targets haulers and facilities. However, many municipalities will reject improperly sorted carts under their own ordinances.

What organics are banned?

Commercial generators producing 0.5 tons or more of food waste per week are banned from sending it to disposal and must compost, donate, or send to anaerobic digestion.

Sources

G.L. c. 21H - Solid Waste

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Full Breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

Do residents face fines for putting cans in trash?

Direct fines on residents are rare; enforcement targets haulers and facilities. However, many municipalities will reject improperly sorted carts under their own ordinances.

What organics are banned?

Commercial generators producing 0.5 tons or more of food waste per week are banned from sending it to disposal and must compost, donate, or send to anaerobic digestion.