Everett, MA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Chapter 16, Article III defines acceptable waste to include garden and lawn waste: grass, leaves, brush, tree trimmings, and vine or shrub trimmings not amounting to tree waste. Section 16-52 directs the city services commission to cause acceptable solid waste to be collected and to provide for its disposal. Tree waste sits on the non-acceptable list in Section 16-51(b)(7): stumps, trunks or limbs which exceed five (5) inches in diameter or forty-eight (48) inches in length. Section 16-53(a) puts removal of non-acceptable waste on the occupant, owner or business operator at frequent enough intervals to prevent a nuisance, and Section 16-54(a) bars storing that waste on a public street or way without permission of the city services commission or its designee.

Collection mechanics are in Section 16-55. Acceptable solid waste and recyclables go in suitable containers at the outer edge of the sidewalk no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled day and no earlier than sunset on the day before. Containers come off the sidewalk after collection and in no case later than 12:00 midnight that day. No container can extend past the property line to obstruct the walkway, and collection follows a schedule the city services commission publishes. Section 16-26(c) requires excess loose material that normally fits in containers, such as at holidays, to be bundled, tied securely and placed beside the containers.

Section 16-26(d) requires containers to be kept covered at all times. Section 16-29(c) bars pushing sidewalk sweepings into streets and requires them to go into solid waste containers. Section 15A-22 separately bars discharging pollutants, which Section 15A-2 defines to include yard wastes, into the storm drain system.