Everett, MA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Section 16-22, Disposal Restricted
- Scope
- Any manner or amount, public or private property
- Vehicle presumption
- Registered owner presumed to be the person who littered
- Penalty section
- Section 16-31, fine under Section 1-8
- Fine cap
- $300.00 per offense
- Cargo rule
- Loose cargo must be covered and secured
Summary
In the City of Everett, Massachusetts, Section 16-22 makes it unlawful to throw, discard, place or deposit litter in any manner or amount on any public or private property except in containers or areas lawfully provided. Non-residents and out-of-city businesses are barred by name, and the registered owner of a vehicle is presumed to be the person who littered from it.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, discard, place or deposit litter in any manner or amount on any public or private property within the corporate limits of the city, except in containers or areas lawfully provided therefor. (b) It shall be unlawful for any business located outside the city or person who is not a legal resident of the city, to throw, discard, place or deposit litter in any manner or amount on any public or private property within the corporate limits of the city. (c) In the prosecution charging a violation of (a) above from a motor vehicle, proof that the particular vehicle described in the complaint was the origin of the litter, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was at the time of such violation the registered owner of such vehicle, shall constitute in evidence a presumption that the registered owner was the person who committed the violation.
Full Breakdown
Article II of Chapter 16 defines litter as any quantity of uncontainerized paper, metal, glass, plastic or miscellaneous solid waste that can be classified as trash, debris, rubbish, refuse, garbage or junk. Private property under the article expressly includes yards, driveways, parking areas, storage areas and vacant lots, and public property includes streets, catch basins, sidewalks, alleys, parks, beaches and municipal waterways. Section 16-22 has no minimum quantity: any manner or amount is covered. Subsection (b) separately bars any business located outside the city or any person who is not a legal resident from littering in the city.
Subsection (d) requires anyone distributing commercial handbills, leaflets or flyers to keep them from littering. Section 16-23 requires loose cargo on a truck or other motor vehicle to be covered and secured, and lack of covering is itself proof of a violation. Section 16-25 bars litter accumulating at a construction or demolition site before, during or after the project and requires containers on site, with proof of collection or final disposition available on demand. Section 16-24 requires establishments to remove unbinned loading litter at the end of each working day.
Section 16-29 makes every owner, agent, occupant or lessee keep exterior private property free of litter. Section 16-30 authorizes regular police officers, the executive director of City Services and delegates, and building, fire, health, housing authority and park department personnel to enforce specified sections. Section 16-32 adds a fine for anyone other than an authorized city agent who opens or removes items from a container set out for collection.
Violations & Fines
Section 16-31 subjects any person who fails to comply with the article to a fine under Section 1-8, which caps a penalty at $300.00 per offense. The printed schedule is $25.00 for a first offense, $50.00 for a second, $100.00 for a third and $300.00 for a fourth and later offense, with higher amounts allowed for hazardous violations, and each day a violation continues is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Everett litter ordinance apply to private property?
Who is presumed responsible when litter is thrown from a car?
What are contractors required to do about debris in Everett?
How much is the fine for dumping litter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Everett
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