Cambridge, MA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

070, part of the Refuse and Litter chapter first adopted by Ord. 1117 in 1991 and Ord. 1137 in 1992 and consolidated by Ord. ' Subsection (B) establishes a program for the mandatory separation of certain recyclable materials from refuse which applies to all buildings in Cambridge, carried out under the supervision of the Commissioner of the Cambridge Department of Public Works (DPW). Subsection (C) then makes the mandate concrete: it is mandatory for each owner or occupant in Cambridge to separate all designated recyclable materials from other refuse, and the requirement applies to all buildings without regard to whether the building's solid waste is collected by the City.

Buildings that get City trash pickup must separate whatever materials the Commissioner designates by regulation, and owners of multifamily buildings must submit a recycling plan to the Commissioner. Buildings that arrange private hauling instead of City pickup are not exempt: they must still submit a recycling plan under subsection (E) covering which materials will be recycled, collection frequency, and container types. Recyclables set at the curb for City pickup become City property once placed out, and scavenging them is itself a separate violation with mandatory restitution to the City.