Framingham, MA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Framingham City Code § 419-1 bars anyone from placing, throwing from a dwelling or vehicle, or letting spill from a truck any litter, paper, dirt, stones, loam, debris, garbage, sweepings, rubbish, cans, broken glass, paint, filth cleanings, ashes or other refuse onto a public street or sidewalk, or onto any other public or private property without the owner's permission. The only exception is disposal in the place and manner the Director of Public Works has approved for solid waste or recycling collection, or for street cleaning or painting operations.

A companion provision, § 419-5, separately bans throwing or dumping rubbish or other matter into any stream, brook, lake or pond within the City where it would obstruct the free flow of water, protecting waterways like Farm Pond and Lake Cochituate from the same dumping conduct. Anyone who wants to maintain a private dumping place on their own property must instead get a Board of Health permit under § 419-2, and if that spot sits within 150 feet of a building, combustible material must be buried weekly; further than 150 feet, monthly.

The Board of Health can revoke any such permit under § 419-4. Enforcement for the unlawful-deposit and waterway provisions runs through the Article I penalty clause, which applies uniformly across §§ 419-1 through 419-5.