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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 149 FILED ON: 1/11/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1294
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
James B. Eldridge
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act encouraging municipal recycling and composting.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and WorcesterLindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/1/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/1/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 149 FILED ON: 1/11/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1294
By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1294) of James B. Eldridge,
Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Vanna Howard for legislation to encourage municipal recycling and
composting. Municipalities and Regional Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1332 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act encouraging municipal recycling and composting.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 8H of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the first two paragraphs and inserting in place
3thereof the following:-
4 Each city, town, or district shall establish a recycling program for the purpose of
5recycling any type of solid waste including but not limited to paper, glass, metal, rubber, plastics,
6used tires and compostable waste. A recycling program established pursuant to this section shall
7require that all residents, schools and businesses separate recyclables from their solid waste. The
8program may be established for groups of cities, towns or districts upon agreement of all
9municipalities or districts in a joint program. In cities and towns in which solid waste is collected
10at the curbside, the recycling program may include curbside collection of such recyclables. In 2 of 2
11cities and towns in which residents, schools or businesses may take their solid waste to a
12municipal landfill or transfer station, the recycling program shall include provision for the
13separation and storage at such landfill or transfer station of the solid waste being disposed by
14such resident, schools or businesses, and may include collection of recyclables at the curbside.
15 A recycling program established pursuant to this section shall require all owners of an
16apartment building having three or more units and any condominium association consisting of
17three or more units to provide the means and materials necessary to allow tenants or owners in
18those units to participate in a recycling program in the manner determined by the city, town, or
19district.