Massachusetts Recycling Rules: South Shore Homeowner Guide

Massachusetts generated 6.22 million tons of solid waste in 2024 — and the state’s diversion rate sits at roughly 36%, well below the targets set in MassDEP’s 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan (MassDEP 2024 Solid Waste Data Update, 2024). A big part of the gap isn’t about not caring. It’s about not knowing the rules.

Most South Shore homeowners recycle by instinct. But according to NBC Boston’s 2024 investigation inside the Casella Charlestown facility — the plant that processes recyclables from much of the South Shore — between 15 and 20 percent of what arrives can’t actually be recycled. Plastic bags, food-soiled containers, and batteries show up in nearly every load.

At the same time, Massachusetts now bans 23 categories of materials from landfills and incinerators entirely. Mattresses, electronics, yard waste, and more have to go somewhere else — but where?

This guide covers the actual rules for South Shore single-stream recycling, the complete Massachusetts waste ban list in plain language, and exactly where to take the items that don’t belong in your bin.

Key Takeaways

• In 2024, Massachusetts generated 6.22 million tons of waste with a statewide diversion rate of ~36% (MassDEP, 2024)

• All 18 SSRC member towns on the South Shore use single-stream recycling — one bin, no sorting

• 15–20% of South Shore recycling is rejected at the MRF due to contamination — plastic bags are the #1 cause

• Massachusetts bans 23 categories from landfills, including mattresses (since Nov. 1, 2022) and electronics

• Contaminated loads don’t get a second chance — they go straight to the incinerator or landfill

Does Your South Shore Town Use Single-Stream Recycling?

In 2023, WBUR reported that at least 180 Massachusetts communities use single-stream recycling, where all accepted recyclables go into one bin with no sorting required. Every one of the 18 towns in the South Shore Recycling Cooperative — including Hingham, Norwell, Scituate, Weymouth, Abington, and Hanover — uses single-stream.

That’s the good news. The trade-off is that single-stream only works when the materials going in are actually recyclable.

What the SSRC Does for South Shore Towns

The South Shore Recycling Cooperative is a regional partnership of 18 member towns that coordinates recycling programs, education, and compliance across the South Shore. It was established in 1998, and according to its 2021 annual report, the SSRC saves member towns $98,970 per year in technical assistance and program coordination alone (SSRC Annual Report, 2021).

SSRC member towns include: Abington, Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Rockland, Scituate, Weymouth, and Whitman.

Troupe Waste serves 20 South Shore communities that overlap significantly with the SSRC network. When our trucks pick up recycling from Norwell or Scituate, that material heads to a Material Recovery Facility — most likely the Casella plant in Charlestown — where it gets sorted, processed, and sent to end markets. We’ll cover that journey in more detail below.

Single-Stream vs. Source Separation: What’s the Difference?

Before single-stream became widespread, residents had to separate paper from bottles and cans — a system called source separation. About 150 Massachusetts communities still do this. The SSRC towns don’t.

Single-stream is more convenient for residents, which tends to increase participation. The downside? Everything that isn’t actually recyclable ends up contaminating the whole load.

Massachusetts Communities by Recycling System (2023)

Waste collection workers load bags into a large green garbage truck on a residential street during morning pickup

What Can You Put in the Recycling Bin in South Shore MA?

South Shore single-stream recycling accepts five main categories of material — paper and cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs, and rigid plastic containers — all clean, empty, and dry. That last part matters more than most people realize.

According to NBC Boston’s June 2024 investigation, in 2024 between 15 and 20 percent of what arrives at the Casella Charlestown MRF — the facility that processes much of the South Shore’s recycling — cannot be recycled (NBC Boston, June 2024). Plastic bags are the single biggest cause. Food residue and batteries are close behind.

The Full Accepted-Items List

Paper and cardboard: Regular paper, newspaper, magazines, catalogs, office paper, cardboard boxes (flattened), paper bags, cereal and food boxes (empty), paper towel rolls. Shredded paper is not accepted loose — it jams sorting equipment.

Metal cans: Aluminum beverage cans, steel and tin food cans. Rinse them out. Aluminum foil and pie plates are accepted if clean.

Glass: Bottles and jars. Rinse them. Caps and lids can stay on plastic containers but should be removed from glass.

Plastic bottles and jugs: This means #1 (water and soda bottles) and #2 (milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent jugs). The test: if it’s a rigid bottle or jug, it’s probably in. If it’s soft, squeezable, or film-like, it’s out.

Rigid plastic containers: Yogurt tubs, deli containers, plastic clamshells (when clean). The rule of thumb — if it holds its shape when empty, it’s likely acceptable.

Want the clearest reference? Here’s the full in/out breakdown for South Shore single-stream:

For a deeper look at the “why” behind the clean-empty-dry rule, see our guide on why recyclables need to be clean, empty, and dry.

What Can’t Go in the Recycling Bin?

Plastic bags, Styrofoam, greasy pizza boxes, food waste, batteries, and electronics are the items our drivers see most often in contaminated South Shore bins — and any one of them can cause an entire truckload to be rejected at the processing facility.

In June 2024, NBC Boston spent time inside Casella’s Charlestown MRF and reported that lithium-ion batteries are the number one fire and safety hazard at Massachusetts processing facilities (NBC Boston, June 2024). A single punctured or damaged lithium battery can start a fire that shuts the entire facility down for hours.

The Most Common Culprits — and Why They Cause Problems

Plastic bags and film wrap: These don’t get sorted — they jam the sorting machinery. Even bags stuffed with recyclables get pulled out and landfilled. Return plastic bags to the drop-off bins at the front of most grocery stores.

Styrofoam / polystyrene: Breaks apart into small beads that contaminate paper bales. Most Massachusetts MRFs don’t have a market for it.

Greasy pizza boxes: A clean pizza box is recyclable. A grease-soaked one is not — the grease contaminates paper fiber. If the bottom half is greasy, tear it off and trash it; the clean top can go in the bin.

Food waste: Small food residue is tolerable if the container is rinsed. Significant food waste ruins the recyclables around it and attracts pests at the MRF.

Batteries: All types — alkaline, lithium, rechargeable — can spark fires on sorting belts. In Massachusetts, standard alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, D-cell) can legally go in the trash, but they’re safer at a drop-off. Lithium and rechargeable batteries should never go in the bin or the trash.

Electronics: TVs, computers, monitors, and phones are banned from Massachusetts trash entirely. They’re also not recyclable at the MRF. Drop-off is required.

Shredded paper: The individual pieces are too small for sorting equipment to process. If you want to recycle shredded paper, check if your town accepts it in a sealed paper bag — most don’t.

From our drivers: The most common thing we see isn’t laziness — it’s the plastic bag full of recyclables. Someone does the right thing, puts their cans and bottles in a bag, and tosses it in the bin. The bag makes the whole thing a problem. Always empty recyclables directly into the bin; never bag them.

What Are the Massachusetts Waste Disposal Bans?

Massachusetts bans 23 categories of materials from disposal in landfills and incinerators statewide under MassDEP regulation 310 CMR 19.017. These aren’t recycling suggestions — they’re laws. It’s illegal for any Massachusetts hauler, including Troupe, to knowingly accept banned materials in regular trash. (MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans, current)

Here’s the full list, organized into five groups, with what South Shore residents should do with each one.

Group 1: Electronics (E-Waste)

Televisions, computer monitors, desktop computers, laptops, printers, and cell phones are all banned from Massachusetts trash. Most South Shore town transfer stations accept electronics at no charge or a small fee. For a full guide, see our post on electronic waste disposal in Massachusetts.

Group 2: Organics

Yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, brush) has been banned since 2006. Many South Shore towns offer curbside yard waste pickup in season or drop-off at the transfer station. Commercial food waste is banned for businesses generating over one ton per week — a threshold that applies to most restaurants, supermarkets, and large offices. The ban is driving real results.

In 2024, Massachusetts diverted 350,000 tons of commercial food waste — up from 190,000 tons in 2016 — according to BioCycle reporting on MassDEP data (BioCycle / MassDEP, November 2025). That’s progress, though it still falls well short of the state’s 780,000-ton goal for 2030.

Group 3: Construction and Demolition Materials

Asphalt pavement, brick, concrete, metal, and clean wood from construction and demolition projects can’t go in the trash. If you’re doing a renovation and renting a roll-off dumpster, C&D debris goes to a specialized facility — not a standard MRF.

Group 4: Standard Recyclables

Cardboard, glass, metal cans, paper, and plastic containers are banned from the trash because they belong in the recycling bin. This group is the one most residents are familiar with — though contamination remains the persistent problem.

Group 5: Special Waste

This is where a lot of South Shore homeowners get caught off guard.

Mattresses and box springs have been banned from Massachusetts trash since November 1, 2022. Massachusetts discards more than 600,000 mattresses per year, and MassDEP reports that over 75% of mattress components are recyclable (MassDEP via ToughStuff Recycling, 2025). For details on where to take one, read our dedicated post on the Massachusetts mattress disposal ban.
Tires are banned from Massachusetts landfills. Most tire retailers will take old tires, sometimes for a small fee.

Lead-acid batteries (car batteries): banned. Auto parts stores and mechanics accept them for recycling.

White goods (refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioners): banned. Most South Shore towns have bulk item pickup or transfer station drop-off.

The Bottle Bill: One More Thing Worth Knowing

In 2023, Massachusetts had the lowest bottle bill return rate of any state with a bottle deposit law — just 36%, down from 66% in 2013 and 57% in 2017, according to the Container Recycling Institute as reported by Waste Dive (Waste Dive, August 2024). The state Senate voted in June 2024 to expand the program and raise the deposit from 5 to 10 cents, though that change hadn’t been enacted as of this writing.

What does that mean for your recycling bin? Redeemable bottles and cans can go in the bin — they’ll be recycled — but you’re leaving the deposit behind. If you want that money back, return them to the store.

What Happens to Your Recycling After Troupe Picks It Up?

After Troupe’s truck picks up your South Shore recycling, it travels to a Material Recovery Facility — an MRF (pronounced “murf”). For most South Shore communities, that means Casella’s facility in Charlestown. NBC Boston reported in June 2024 that the Charlestown MRF is the fourth-largest in the United States, processing 700 to 800 tons of recyclables every week (NBC Boston, June 2024).

The Journey from Your Curb to End Markets

At the MRF, material moves through a series of screens, magnets, optical sorters, and human sorters. Paper gets separated from containers. Aluminum is pulled out with magnets. Optical sorters use infrared light to identify different plastic types and blast them into the right chutes.

The whole system depends on what comes in being reasonably clean and free of contaminants. Plastic bags are the biggest problem — they get caught in the screens and have to be pulled out by hand, slowing the entire line.

When a load is too contaminated to process, it doesn’t get a second chance. It goes to an incinerator or a landfill. That’s the practical reason contamination matters — it’s not about the environment so much as a straightforward logistics problem: contaminated loads simply can’t be recycled.

Why This Matters in Massachusetts Specifically

Massachusetts is running low on in-state disposal capacity. According to Keep Massachusetts Beautiful citing MassDEP data, the state has only five active landfills remaining — down from more than 300 in the 1980s — with most expected to close by 2030 (Keep Massachusetts Beautiful / MassDEP, 2024). About 20% of Massachusetts trash already gets shipped out of state.

That means recycling isn’t just a preference — it’s part of how the South Shore manages a disposal capacity crunch that’s only going to get tighter.

We’re the first link in the chain. When we pick up a clean, uncontaminated load from your Hingham or Norwell bin, we can deliver it to the MRF where it actually gets processed and turned into something new. A contaminated load skips that step entirely.

Are There Recycling Rules Specific to Your South Shore Town?

The 18 SSRC member towns share the same single-stream accepted-items list, but each town sets its own pickup schedule, collection day, and schedule for special events like household hazardous waste days and bulk-item pickup. So while the rules for what goes in the bin are consistent across Abington, Hingham, Norwell, and Rockland, your pickup day and which HHW events are available to you depend on your specific town.

Pay-As-You-Throw: Does Your Town Use It?

As of 2024, more than 175 Massachusetts communities use Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) programs, where residents pay for waste disposal based on how much trash — not recycling — they set out (MassDEP PAYT Fast Facts). According to MassDEP, PAYT programs reduce household trash generation by 35 to 50 percent on average, and communities that adopt PAYT see significantly higher recycling rates.

Several South Shore towns use PAYT. Contact your town DPW or visit ssrcoop.info to find out if yours is one of them.

Household Hazardous Waste Events

Every SSRC member town hosts or participates in periodic HHW collection events — typically spring and fall — where residents can drop off paint, batteries, chemicals, and similar materials safely. The SSRC website at ssrcoop.info maintains current schedules.

For information on signing up for residential pickup in your community, see our guide to residential pickup service in Abington — we’ll be adding town-specific guides for all 20 Troupe communities over the coming months.

Where to Take Hazardous Waste and Special Items on the South Shore

Some materials — paint, batteries, electronics, mattresses, tires — can’t go in the trash, and they can’t go in the recycling bin either. They need to go somewhere specific. Here’s the practical guide for the most commonly mishandled items on the South Shore.

What’s the starting point? In 2024, the Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded more than $4 million to 285 municipalities across Massachusetts for recycling and waste reduction through the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (Mass.gov, 2024). Much of that funding supports local HHW collection events and drop-off infrastructure. Your town almost certainly has options — here’s how to use them.

Mattresses

Mattresses and box springs have been banned from Massachusetts trash since November 1, 2022. ToughStuff Recycling operates mattress drop-off locations serving the South Shore — contact your town DPW for the nearest current location. Troupe does not accept mattresses in roll-off dumpsters. For drop-off locations near you, contact your town DPW or see the Mattresses FAQ below.

Electronics

TVs, computers, monitors, and printers are banned from Massachusetts trash under the state’s e-waste law. Most South Shore town transfer stations accept electronics at no charge or for a small drop-off fee. Some manufacturers offer take-back programs. See the e-waste section of the bans guide linked above for specific drop-off options.

Paint

This one has a simple rule: latex paint can go in the trash — if it’s completely dry. Leave the lid off and let it harden, or mix in cat litter to speed the process. Oil-based paint is hazardous waste and requires either a town HHW event or a PaintCare drop-off location. For the full breakdown, see our guide to paint disposal in Massachusetts.

Batteries

Standard household alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt) can legally go in the trash in Massachusetts — though many towns prefer you drop them at a collection point. Lithium batteries, rechargeable batteries (NiMH, NiCd), and car batteries cannot go in the trash and should never go in the recycling bin. Most hardware stores and electronics retailers accept rechargeable batteries. For specifics, see our guide to battery disposal.

Light Bulbs

CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs contain mercury and must be kept out of both trash and recycling. Most hardware stores — Home Depot, Ace Hardware — accept them for recycling at no cost. LED bulbs can go in the trash. For a full guide, see light bulb disposal.

Tires

Tires are banned from Massachusetts landfills. The simplest option: any tire retailer will take old tires, sometimes for a small fee — typically $3 to $5 per tire.

For a deeper look at the full cost picture, see our post on household hazardous waste disposal costs on the South Shore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is recycling mandatory in Massachusetts?

Yes. Massachusetts has mandatory recycling requirements backed by MassDEP’s waste disposal bans, which prohibit 23 categories of materials from landfills and incinerators statewide. Residents and businesses are required to separate recyclables from trash. Haulers are prohibited from knowingly accepting banned materials.

What happens if I put the wrong things in my recycling bin?

Contaminated loads can be rejected at the MRF and sent to an incinerator or landfill instead of being recycled. In 2024, between 15 and 20 percent of material arriving at the Casella Charlestown facility — which processes South Shore recyclables — couldn’t be recycled due to contamination (NBC Boston / Casella, June 2024). A contaminated load doesn’t get a second chance.

Do I need to separate paper from bottles and cans in South Shore MA?

No. All 18 SSRC member towns on the South Shore use single-stream recycling — everything goes in one bin. No sorting required. Items do still need to be clean, empty, and dry before going in the bin.

Can I put plastic bags in my South Shore recycling bin?

No. Plastic bags are the number one contaminant at Massachusetts MRFs. They jam sorting equipment and can cause a truckload of otherwise recyclable material to be rejected. Return plastic bags to the drop-off bins available at most grocery store entrances instead.

Where can I bring a mattress on the South Shore?

Mattresses have been banned from Massachusetts trash since November 1, 2022. ToughStuff Recycling operates drop-off locations serving the South Shore — contact your town DPW for the current nearest option. Troupe does not accept mattresses in its roll-off dumpsters. Our post on the Massachusetts mattress disposal ban covers current drop-off details.

Does my South Shore town use Pay-As-You-Throw billing?

Several South Shore communities use PAYT programs, where households pay based on how much trash — not recycling — they set out. PAYT communities in Massachusetts see 35 to 50 percent reductions in trash generation on average (MassDEP PAYT Fast Facts). Check with your town DPW or the SSRC at ssrcoop.info to confirm your town’s program.

Putting It Together

Massachusetts recycling rules aren’t complicated once you know them — but most South Shore homeowners have never seen them laid out plainly in one place.

Here’s what to take away from this guide:

• Single-stream means one bin, no sorting — but only for clean, empty, dry accepted materials
• Massachusetts bans 23 categories from landfills — most South Shore residents don’t know the full list
• Plastic bags are the biggest contamination problem; batteries are the biggest safety hazard — neither belongs in the blue bin
• Mattresses, electronics, paint, and tires all have specific disposal paths; your town has resources for each
• If your load gets contaminated, it doesn’t get recycled — it goes to the incinerator or landfill instead

Got a question about what goes in your bin, or want to sign up for residential pickup in your community? Troupe Waste has been picking up trash and recycling across the South Shore since 2004. We know the rules because we work with them every single day.

Sources

• MassDEP, 2024 Solid Waste Data Update, retrieved 2026-05-01, https://www.mass.gov/doc/2024-solid-waste-data-update/download
• MassDEP, Waste Disposal Bans (310 CMR 19.017), retrieved 2026-05-01, https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-waste-disposal-bans
• MassDEP, Massachusetts Mattress Recycling Guide, retrieved 2026-05-01, https://www.mass.gov/guides/mattress-recycling
• MassDEP, Pay-As-You-Throw Fast Facts, retrieved 2026-05-01, https://mass.gov/lists/pay-as-you-throw-paytsave-money-and-reduce-trash-in-massachusetts
• WBUR, Glass Recycling in Massachusetts, July 14, 2023, https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/07/14/glass-recycling-massachusetts
• NBC Boston, Inside Casella’s Charlestown MRF, June 18, 2024, https://www.nbcboston.com/investigations/consumer/a-look-inside-one-of-the-largest-recycling-facilities-in-the-us/3403542/
• Waste Dive, Bottle Bill Return Rates Declined in 2023, August 12, 2024, https://www.wastedive.com/news/container-recycling-institute-bottle-bill-recycling-rate-decreases/723916/
• BioCycle / MassDEP, Massachusetts Explores Organics Ban Expansion, November 4, 2025, https://www.biocycle.net/massachusetts-explores-expansion-of-its-organics-disposal-ban/
• Keep Massachusetts Beautiful / MassDEP, Waste Reduction Overview, retrieved 2026-05-01, https://keepmassbeautiful.org/what-we-do/waste-reduction-recycling/overview.html
• RecycleSmart MA / MassDEP, MA Is Chomping Down on Food Waste, September 2025, https://recyclesmartma.org/2025/09/ma-is-chomping-down-on-food-waste/
• Mass.gov, Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $4M for Recycling and Waste Reduction, 2024, https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-awards-4-million-to-285-municipalities-and-regional-groups-for-recycling-and-waste-reduction
• ToughStuff Recycling, Massachusetts Mattress Disposal Ban, 2025, https://toughstuffrecycling.com/massachusetts-mattress-disposal-ban/
• South Shore Recycling Cooperative, Annual Report / Member Towns, retrieved 2026-05-01, https://ssrcoop.info/