Everett, MA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Section 16-26 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Everett, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, sets the household pickup rules. Under paragraph (a), all residences in an area collected by the city or approved contractors must have sufficient container capacity to accommodate their normal volume of solid waste between collections. Paragraph (b) sends items too large for containers, such as appliances, furniture and mattresses, to the disposal provisions of Article III of Chapter 16 rather than the regular cart. Paragraph (c) covers excess that normally fits in containers but overflows because of special circumstances such as holidays: it must be bundled and tied securely to prevent blowing or scattering and placed beside the containers.

Section 16-32 protects materials once they are at the curb. Anyone except an authorized agent of the City of Everett who opens a container placed on the sidewalk for collection, or removes items from one, is subject to a Section 1-8 fine. Section 16-55(c) separately bars anyone from willfully or maliciously tipping over or spilling the contents of a container holding rubbish. Section 16-26(h) prohibits a person who does not live in the city from placing household or commercial solid waste on city streets for removal by the city or its approved contractor, and paragraph (g) bars residents from dumping household waste into sidewalk litter receptacles.

Section 16-30 names who enforces the article: regular police officers, agents delegated by the executive director of City Services, and inspectors from the building, fire and health departments, the housing authority and the park department for the sections each is assigned. The fire and health departments can enforce Section 16-26 where a violation creates an existing or potential fire or health hazard.