Solid Waste - Banned Materials

Overview

Hazardous and recyclable items are banned from disposal or transfer for disposal at solid waste facilities in Massachusetts per the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) waste ban regulations,  310 CMR 19.017. Please see the Massachusetts Waste Ban for more information.

Important:  Sharps Disposal Ban Effective July 1, 2012

Disposal of all used and unused/unopened home sharps in household trash or recycling is prohibited by Massachusetts state law. Home sharps include hypodermic needles and lancets that result from personal use or use on pets.

Medical sharps (needles, syringes, lancets) are accepted at the Recycling Drop-Off Center, 255 Mt. Wayte Avenue, for residents with a valid permit. Or at the Framingham Police Department, 1 William Welch Way. 

Banned Materials

Waste Ban materials include but are not limited to:

  • Asphalt pavement, brick and concrete
  • Cathode ray tubes
  • Clean gypsum wallboard
  • Commercial food material (lower threshold effective November 1, 2022)
  • Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
  • Glass and metal containers
  • Lead acid batteries
  • Leaves and yard waste
  • Mattresses (effective November 1, 2022)
  • Recyclable paper, cardboard, and paperboard
  • Single-resin narrow-necked plastic containers
  • Textiles (effective November 1, 2022)
  • Treated and untreated wood and wood waste (banned from landfills only)
  • White goods (large appliances)
  • Whole tires (banned from landfills only; shredded tires acceptable)

Construction & Demolition Waste Ban Details

Materials are generated from but are not limited to the processes of construction, demolition, and renovation, including domestic home improvements.

This includes anything that has been permanently affixed to a residence, such as wall-to-wall carpeting and fixtures. To dispose of this waste, please call a private hauler or transport it to a commercial transfer station.

Leaf & Yard Waste Ban Details

Please see yard waste collection for information on how to dispose of yard waste.

  • Grass clippings
  • Leaves
  • Other similar compostable materials
  • Plant cuttings
  • Shrub trimmings
  • Tree branches and vines not exceeding 4 inches in diameter or 4 feet in length

Tree & Landscaping Waste Ban Details

  • Bricks
  • Concrete
  • Fencing
  • Manure
  • Rocks
  • Sand
  • Sod
  • Soil
  • Tree stumps
  • Trunks or limbs 4 inches or more in diameter and/or 4 feet or more in length
  • Wood
  • Wood chips

Hazardous Waste Ban Details

All products deemed hazardous waste, either by state guidelines or by the Director of Public Health, cannot be given for curbside collection and must be removed either by a private certified removal company or be disposed of during the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Day event.