Violation Notifications

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Violation notifications are an educational tool that the Sanitation Division uses to inform residents when they do not comply with current City or State policies, ordinances, laws, or regulations. If you received a Violation Notice on your City of Framingham provided refuse and/or recycling cart or on an item that was left in the City’s right-of-way, below you will find an explanation for each violation category.

Violation Notices Explained

Exceeds Cart Limit: 

Refuse and recycling disposal is limited to the cart size(s) provided. Do not overload your cart. Overloaded carts pose collection problems, such as trash spilling onto the street, and may not be collected. Please ensure that the lid is closed and the cart lid opening is facing the street. Each unit is entitled to one refuse cart, and one recycle cart.

Recyclable Material:

Massachusetts Waste Ban Regulation CMR 310 CMR 19.017 prohibits the disposal of recyclable materials into your refuse cart. Residents of Framingham are asked to recycle only the following materials in their curbside recycle cart: 

  • Paper
  • Cardboard
  • Household Plastics
  • Aluminum and Steel Cans
  • Glass Containers 

Please ensure that all recycled materials are empty, clean, and dry. Reference the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Waste Ban Materials List. 

Hazardous Material:

The City does not accept any type of hazardous material in your curbside refuse or recycling cart. Examples of common hazardous materials found in carts include oil and liquid latex paints, paint thinners, chemicals, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, televisions, computer monitors, vehicle fluids, and automotive parts. Reference more information about prohibited materials and proper disposal techniques.

Construction Material:

Construction debris is strictly prohibited from curbside refuse and recycling. Your cart will not be collected until the debris is removed. Construction materials commonly found in refuse and recycling carts include wood and wood dust, fiberglass, vinyl siding, doors, gypsum board, and flooring.

Yard Waste:

Leaves, grass, plant waste, trimmings, and brush, including live Christmas trees, are not accepted in either your refuse or recycling cart. The Sanitation Division conducts curbside leaf (yard waste) and brush collections in the spring and fall. Christmas tree collection takes place in January. Reference this year’s collection schedule. Residents with a valid Recycling Drop-off Center Permit can also utilize the Yard Waste Facility on Dudley Road seasonally. 

Contaminated Recycling:

Your recycling is deemed contaminated when your cart contains:

  • Anything other than:
    • Paper
    • Cardboard
    • Household Plastics
    • Aluminum and Metal Containers
    • Glass Containers and Bottles
  • The above items that are not reasonably clean

Learn more about recycling properly by referencing the City’s Curbside Recycling Page. Or, consult the Waste Wizard, which can be installed on your mobile device ad-free. Download the FramWorks application on your Google or Apple device.  

Cart Blocked by Object:

Refuse and recycling carts must be accessible to the automated collection vehicles. Common reasons why carts do not get collected include:  

  1. Improper cart spacing: Carts must be spaced 2-3 feet apart with the lid opening facing the street. 
  2. Too close to objects: Carts must not be closer than 3 feet from any object, including vehicles, mailboxes, utility poles, fire hydrants, or placed under low-hanging utility cables, guide wires, basketball hoops, etc.
  3. Do not put carts on top of or behind snowbanks.  

Plastic Bags/Film:

MassDEP prohibits the recycling of plastic bags and films curbside. Plastic bags can be recycled at your local grocery store. Do not bag recyclable materials. Bagged recyclables are disposed of as solid waste.

Late/Early Placement: 

Have your cart(s) at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on your collection day and no earlier than 6 p.m. on the day before collection. Please remove your cart from the curb after it has been collected.

Clothing/Textiles:

Clothing and textiles are highly recyclable and can be easily disposed of by scheduling a home textile collection using the City's clothing donation service, Simple Recycling, or by going to the Recycling Drop-off Center located at 255 Mt Wayte Ave. The Recycling Drop-off Center is open to permitted residents only.