Local news- Press Release
Town of Arlington Massachusetts - State Adds New Items to Solid Waste Ban 01 June 2022 ( news )
Town of Arlington , state Massachusetts ( By Press Release office)
Jun 01,2022
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Starting November 1 , 2022 textiles and mattresses will be added to Massachusetts’ solid waste ban . This means that these materials will no longer be able to go in the regular trash and instead will have to be recycled . This is a part of the state’s Solid Waste Master Plan which establishes goals to reduce the state’s waste by 30% in the next decade . As a state , we have both a limited and diminishing capacity at landfills and combustion facilities .
Mattresses are particularly bulky and hard to dispose of , and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection estimates that 200 , 000 mattresses and box springs are sent for disposal from residents in Massachusetts each year . That number increases to approximately 600 , 000 if you count commercial and institutional sources . That’s 17 , 000 tons of mattresses going to incinerator .
Massachusetts residents and businesses also dispose of about 230 , 000 tons of textiles per year , and about 95% of that could be reused or recycled . Not only will diverting these materials from the waste stream prevent more material from going to landfill or waste combustors , but also a majority the waste from textiles and mattresses can be easily recycled . For example , foam padding from mattresses can be repurposed into carpet underlayment or animal bedding , and the springs of box springs are often already made from recycled scrap metal , and can also be recycled as scrap once again . When textiles like clothing are recycled , it is generally is sorted into grades by the recycler and about 45% are sold to second hand clothing stores here and abroad for reuse . The rest of the material can be repurposed as rags and wipes that are used by commercial garages and other public works operations . Some materials are also broken down to their fibers and used for insulation , carpet padding or soundproofing materials .
Diverting materials to be reused and recycled also creates jobs and other economic stimulus for Massachusetts and elsewhere . For example , the upcoming waste ban also further limits the amount of organic waste commercial operations can dispose of in the trash . One study shows that the initial Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban in 2014 created hundreds of new jobs and increased the Gross State Product by $77 million .
For residents , the main thing to know about the upcoming waste ban is that it will change the way we are able to dispose of mattresses and textiles . Likely , many people choose to donate or recycle textiles already . For example , Arlington public schools are currently participating in a textile recycling competition . All Arlington elementary and middle schools have a Bay State Textiles bin located on the school grounds and the schools earn funds for every ton they collect . Since the start of the program in 2018 , the Arlington schools have collected over 580 , 000 pounds of textiles and earned over $29 , 000 for the district .
With the upcoming waste ban , the Town will partner with a private textile recycler to offer and promote curbside ( and free ) textile pick up . As far as mattresses go , currently residents are able to put out one bulky item per week with their trash and recyclables for curbside pick - up , which can include a mattress and a box spring . Unfortunately this coming fall , residents can expect that mattresses will now require a fee and likely also an appointment to be picked up curbside to be recycled as opposed to be disposed of as trash and incinerated .
For more information about location of textile drop - off bins please go to
ArlingtonMA . gov/recycle
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