How Massachusetts’ New Waste Ban Regulations Affect Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — The Brookline Department of Public Works has shared information on how the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's (MassDEP) new waste ban regulations will affect residents when it goes into affect on Nov. 1.

MassDEP's 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan established an objective to reduce disposal statewide by 30 percent over the next decade. In an effort to reach this goal, MassDEP has established new rules requiring that mattresses and textiles be kept out of the trash so they can be recycled or donated for reuse.

According to MassDEP, approximately 300,000 mattresses and box springs are disposed of each year in the state and about 85 percent of this mattress material can be recycled. In addition, approximately 23,000 tons of textiles are disposed of each year and about 95 percent of it can be reused or repurposed.

The state has also updated existing legislation requiring that businesses and institutions that dispose of a half-ton or more of organic material per week divert their organic waste from the trash. The previously established threshold was one ton.

The Town of Brookline is reminding residents that mattresses and textiles cannot be recycled through household recycling bins. They must be scheduled for pickup or given to organizations that specialize in reselling them second-hand or repurposing them for other uses.

Ways to Recycle Mattresses and Box Springs

Clean mattresses and box springs must be recycled or donated for reuse.

• Residents on town trash collection service who wish to recycle a mattress should call the DPW at 617-730-2156 to request a mattress pickup.
• Residents or businesses on private service can search for recycling service providers for mattresses through www.recyclingworksma.com or https://tinyurl.com/depmatt.
• Residents may search MassDEP’s Beyond the Bin recycling directory for organizations near them that accept mattresses for donation and reuse.
• More information can be found at brooklinema.gov/recyclingprograms.

Ways to Recycle Textiles

All clean clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabric, or similar products must be recycled or donated for reuse.

• The Town of Brookline recently entered into a partnership with Helpsy for textile recycling. Residents can schedule a free home pickup service for their textiles by visiting helpsy.co/brooklinema or calling 1-800-244-6350.
• Two Helpsy textile drop-off boxes, accessible 24 hours a day, are located at 815 Newton St. in Brookline.
• A list of local charitable organizations that accept textile donations is also available here.
• More information can be found at brooklinema.gov/recyclingprograms.

Recycling Organics/Food Waste

The term “organics” includes all food and vegetative materials. Liquids, yard waste, biodegradable products, and compostable paper are not included in the ban.

MassDEP offers several resources through RecyclingWorks, a recycling assistance program, to help businesses and institutions better understand how likely it is that their operation will be subject to the commercial organics ban. A Food Waste Estimation Guide developed by RecyclingWorks is available here.

Businesses and institutions can comply with this ban by donating servable food to shelters and food pantries, reducing food waste generation through more efficient food service operations, and/or working with a hauler to send food waste to a composting facility, anaerobic digester, or for animal feed.

While the town does not recommend any specific compost haulers for commercial organics, the following companies are currently permitted to operate in Brookline:

• Black Earth Compost: 978-290-4610 ext. 2
• Bootstrap Compost: 617-642-1979
• CERO: 617-379-1234
• City Compost: 978-378-3048
• Save that Stuff: 617-241-9998

RecyclingWorks also offers free technical assistance and guidance to businesses and institutions. To request this service, contact RecyclingWorks at info@recyclingworksma.com or 888-254-5525. Additional information can be found at recyclingworksma.com.

Additional information on the upcoming waste bans can be found here.