MassDEP Inspection Sweep Finds Numerous Violations of Waste Bans;
78 Notices Issued to Businesses, Institutions for Improper Disposal

Greater Efforts Needed in the Recycling of Paper, Cardboard, Metals and Electronics

The list of violators (listed below) covers a wide spectrum of public and private institutions, the food and retail sectors, as well as educational and medical facilities. 

"It's time for all of us to step up and play a bigger role in improving our recycling rate. When we increase recycling, we better protect the environment, create more green jobs, reduce our energy consumption and improve our economic competitiveness," said MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt. "Today's enforcement actions are a wake-up call, reminding waste generators and businesses of their obligations. MassDEP stands ready to help them achieve a more successful recycling program."

The list of materials included in the state's waste bans include materials such as: paper, glass, plastic, metal containers, electronics, leaves, and wood wastes. The entire list and further descriptions can be found at: www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/laws/policies.htm#bans.

Waste bans have benefitted the environment and the Commonwealth by helping stimulate the market for recyclable materials, preserving the state's limited disposal capacity, conserving natural resources and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The list of waste-ban materials has grown since the initial list was adopted in 1991.

MassDEP encourages businesses to follow the letter of the law when it comes to recycling. Businesses typically receive a notice of non-compliance if inspectors discover that recyclable materials are improperly being sent for disposal. The violators are required to correct the problem. But if waste ban violations continue, further enforcement action may result. 

While Massachusetts recycles 44 percent of the waste generated here, that rate has declined slightly during the past few years and is well short of the Commonwealth's goal of achieving a 56 percent recycling rate by 2010. Millions of tons of recyclable commodities continue to be disposed of in Massachusetts each year, demonstrating the need for more state oversight of the waste bans.

During public sessions on the state's solid waste master plan held over the last year, MassDEP has repeatedly heard of the need for increased enforcement of the disposal bans. In response, the agency has sent dozens of inspectors to solid waste facilities over the last several months to monitor disposal ban compliance in its effort to understand the obstacles preventing the Commonwealth from achieving a higher rate of recycling. 

Inspectors observed 1,358 solid waste loads being delivered for disposal, and found the following companies warranted written notices due to the excessive amounts of banned materials that could have been re-used, diverted from disposal, or otherwise recycled:

American Adhesives Coating Co., Lawrence
Anderson Place Condos, Boston
Avalon Restaurant, Boston
Bake 'n Joy Foods, North Andover
Best Buy, Dorchester
Billerica House of Correction, Billerica
Blount Seafood, Fall River
Boston Fish Pier Slot 2729, East Boston
Boston Medical Center, Boston
Boston Public Schools Central Kitchen, Dorchester
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
Brockton VA Medical Center, Brockton
Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge
Cedars Mediterranean Foods, Inc., Haverhill
Charista Construction, East Longmeadow
Cintas Document Company, Brockton
C-Mart, Boston
Cobham Defense, Lowell
Comcast, Norwell
Concerto Foods, Taunton
CTS Interconnect Systems, Londonderry NH
Delta Air Freight, Boston
DeNormandy Research, Boston
Dominion Energy, Somerset
DPI Mid-Atlantic, Canton
Edelweiss Bakery, Medford
Fall River Florist Supply, Fall River
Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg
General Electric, Lynn
Guitar Center, Boston
Harvard University Kitchen, Cambridge
Haymarket Pushcart Association, Boston
Herringbone Shirt Manufacturing Co., Fall River
Home Depot, North Hampton NH
Interstate Container, Lowell
Joseph's Middle East Bakery, Lawrence
Kavanaugh Furniture, Springfield
Konica Minolta Business Systems, Wilmington
Lexus of Watertown, Watertown
Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, Weymouth
Majilite Corporation, Dracut
Market Basket, Stratham NH
Market Basket, Lowell
MassPort, East Boston
MBTA, Lynn
McKesson Drug, Methuen
Metavante Corporation, Braintree
MIT, Cambridge
Modells Sporting Goods, Newton
Montillos Baking Co., Brockton
Multigrains Bakery, Lawrence
N Smithfield Transfer Station, N Smithfield RI
National Grid, Braintree
Phillips Andover Academy, Andover
Pearl Meat Packing, Inc., Randolph
Pottery Barn, Boston
Progressive Gourmet, Wilmington
RH White Construction, Auburn
Rose Hill Transfer Station, Peacedale RI
RReef Leasing and Property Management, Bedford
Save-A-Lot, Boston
ServisAir/Globe Ground, East Boston
Shaws Supermarket, West Roxbury
Simon Properties, Braintree
State Liquors Exchange, Worcester
Stop & Shop, Dorchester
Stop & Shop Warehouse, Assonet
Talbot Middle School, Fall River
United Liquors, Braintree
US Post Office, Fairhaven
Verizon, Medford
Walgreens, Hyde Park
Wal-Mart, Seabrook NH
Wal-Mart, Wareham
Warwick Transfer Station, Warwick RI
Wyeth, Andover
Xpedx, Wilmington
Young's Trading Inc., Boston

Businesses that receive a notice of non-compliance are required to respond to MassDEP with their plan of action to stop the disposal of banned materials. 

Businesses that are looking for assistance with managing their waste materials, whether through re-use outlets, commodity brokers or recycling service providers, can find information at the following MassDEP web site: http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/assistan.htm

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