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Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
MSB § 8.05.060(B)
Curbside recycling
None; drop-off only
Where to recycle
Transfer sites and disposal facility
Applies in
Areas outside Wasilla, Palmer, Houston
Enforcement
Infraction under MSB § 8.05.105

Summary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough runs no curbside recycling program. Under MSB § 8.05.060, the borough designates special waste areas at its solid waste transfer sites and disposal facility for recyclable materials, and decides for itself what qualifies as acceptable for recycling, a list that changes with the market.

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

(A) Special waste areas may be designated at the solid waste transfer sites and/or disposal site for recyclable materials, junked and abandoned vehicles, asbestos containing material, waste oil, batteries, paint, and for the collection, storage and transporting for disposal of hazardous wastes as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. (B) Recyclable material: The Matanuska-Susitna Borough will be responsible for determining what materials are acceptable for recycling. The recyclable materials which will be accepted may vary from time to time depending upon the market for such recyclable materials.

Full Breakdown

020 for areas outside Wasilla, Palmer, and Houston, carries no recycling mandate for residents. 060 gives the borough sole authority to decide which of those materials it will actually take. Subsection (A) authorizes special waste area designations at the transfer sites and the disposal facility for recyclable materials, alongside junked and abandoned vehicles, asbestos, waste oil, batteries, paint, and hazardous waste. Subsection (B) makes clear the accepted list is not fixed: the borough determines what is acceptable for recycling, and that list may vary from time to time depending on the market for the material.

090, billed per ton or per cubic yard. Residents in the unincorporated borough and its special land use districts must haul recyclable material to a designated transfer site or the central disposal facility themselves rather than set it out for collection; Wasilla, Palmer, and Houston run their own separate waste and recycling arrangements outside this chapter. 45.

Violations & Fines

Dumping recyclable material anywhere other than a borough-designated special waste area is a prohibited act under MSB § 8.05.050(A)(5). Chapter 8.05 violations are infractions under MSB § 8.05.105, with remedies and penalties handled under MSB Chapter 1.45; the manager's enforcement officer may issue citations, and a citation filed in district court serves as a lawful complaint under MSB § 8.05.110.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Matanuska-Susitna Borough pick up recycling at the curb?
No. The borough runs no curbside recycling collection. Under MSB § 8.05.060, recyclable materials are accepted only at borough-designated special waste areas located at its solid waste transfer sites and the central disposal facility, so residents haul recyclables there themselves.
What materials can I recycle in the borough?
MSB § 8.05.060(B) leaves that to the borough: it decides which recyclable materials it will accept, and the accepted list can change over time depending on the market for that material, so check current signage at the transfer site before hauling a load.
Do Wasilla, Palmer, and Houston use the borough's recycling rules?
No. MSB § 8.05.020 establishes the borough's solid waste service for areas outside the three cities. Wasilla, Palmer, and Houston operate their own waste and recycling arrangements within their city limits, separate from Chapter 8.05.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

All Matanuska-Susitna Borough rules

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