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Norfolk County, MA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified April 2026

Key Facts

County Rule?
None: municipal program
State Waste Bans
310 CMR 19.017
Plastic Bags
Not curbside: grocery drop-off
Yard Waste
Banned from trash statewide
Single-Stream
Most Norfolk County towns

Summary

Norfolk County does not administer recycling. MA has strong state waste bans (310 CMR 19.017) enforced statewide. Single-stream recycling is standard across Norfolk County municipalities.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Norfolk County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Materials Currently Banned from Disposal or Transfer for Disposal in Massachusetts: Asphalt pavement, brick and concrete; Cathode ray tubes; Clean gypsum wallboard; Commercial food material (lower threshold effective November 1, 2022); Ferrous and non-ferrous metals; Glass, metal, and plastic containers (bottles, cans, jars, jugs and tubs); Lead acid batteries; Leaves and yard waste; Mattresses (effective November 1, 2022); Recyclable paper, cardboard and paperboard; Textiles (effective November 1, 2022); Treated and untreated wood and wood waste (banned from landfills only); White goods (large appliances); Whole tires (banned from landfills only; shredded tires acceptable). [...] Generator & Hauler Compliance Assistance - Both organizations that generate solid waste and those that transport it to disposal facilities are responsible for complying with the Massachusetts waste bans. Businesses and property managers should encourage waste reduction, provide for recycling, and ensure that employees and tenants don't throw away items that landfills and combustion facilities are prohibited from accepting for disposal.

Source: MassDEP Waste Bans (310 CMR 19.017)View official code

Full Breakdown

Recycling in Norfolk County operates at the municipal level but is strongly shaped by state waste bans under 310 CMR 19.017. Banned from trash disposal: cardboard, paper, glass containers, metal cans, single-resin plastics, yard waste, leaves, electronics, CRTs, white goods, mercury products, mattresses, textiles, and (for large generators) food waste. Most Norfolk County towns use single-stream curbside recycling accepting paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and plastics #1, #2, and #5 (per post-2019 market conditions). Plastic bags are NOT curbside recyclable anywhere in Norfolk County, take to grocery drop-offs. Food waste composting programs exist in Brookline, Dedham, and other progressive towns.

Violations & Fines

No county enforcement. Contaminated bins may be tagged and skipped. Repeat contamination: $25-$100 municipal fine. MassDEP waste ban violations at facility level: up to $25,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are typical penalties for violating recycling requirements rules?
Most Norfolk County trash recycling violations start with a written warning followed by escalating civil fines for repeat offenses. Specific dollar amounts and any criminal-misdemeanor exposure depend on the section of code; consult Norfolk County's municipal code or staff for the current penalty schedule.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Norfolk County

All Norfolk County rules

Compare Norfolk County to another location·View the Massachusetts trash & recycling overview

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Recycling Requirements in Cities Across Norfolk County