MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans

November 1, 2022

MassDEP is expanding its waste disposal bans by:

• Lowering the threshold on commercial organic/food waste to facilities generating more than one-half ton of these materials per week; and
• Adding mattresses and textiles to the list of materials banned from disposal or transport for disposal in Massachusetts.

For details and definitions, see the regulations.

October 2021

MassDEP issued its final 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan, which established goals for reducing disposal statewide by 30 percent (from 5.7 million tons in 2018 to 4 million tons in 2030) over the next decade. It set a long-term goal of achieving a 90 percent reduction in disposal to 570,000 tons by 2050. 

See Additional Resources below to learn more.

The MassDEP waste disposal bans can be found in Section 19.017 of the agency's Solid Waste Management Facility Regulations at 310 CMR 19.000.

MassDEP has prepared these documents to help businesses, haulers, and solid waste management facilities comply with disposal ban requirements as they apply to specific items and materials.

MassDEP has prepared these resources to help Massachusetts cities and towns comply with disposal ban requirements as they apply to curbside collection, drop-off acceptance, and transfer of solid waste and recyclables.

See also: Material-Specific Compliance Assistance

The Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) conducts ongoing inspections at landfills and combustion facilities to identify waste haulers and generators who improperly dispose of banned materials, and to ensure that these items are not being accepted for disposal.

See also: Material-Specific Compliance Assistance

The Third-Party Inspector needs to record the results of a solid waste waste ban inspection and report these findings to MassDEP using the following forms:

• Waste Ban Compliance Inspection Report (with all applicable sections completed and the certification statement signed);
• Load Observation and Comparative Analysis worksheets; and
• Corrective Action Plan & Schedule if the inspection report indicates these are necessary.

These instructions, forms, and worksheets can be found in Additional Resources below.

Please Note: The Waste Ban Inspection Load Observation and Comparative Analysis worksheets have been updated to reflect the November 1, 2022, expansion of disposal bans and should be used for all inspections performed after that date.