Massachusetts waste and mattress bans, upcoming changes to New Bedford, Dartmouth

“As of November 1, 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will no longer allow the disposal of the following materials in the trash:

1. Mattresses and box springs.
2. Textiles including clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabric, and similar products, except for textiles that are contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil, or hazardous substances.
3. Food material from entities generating more than one-half ton of food material per week (it currently applies to entities generating more than one ton of food material per week).

New Bedford Residents

Through December 31, 2022, residents may continue to dispose of mattresses and box springs as they would other bulky items. As of January 1, 2023, residents will be charged a disposal fee for mattresses and box springs. Residents will be notified well in advance of the amount of the fee and other pertinent information.

Below are some options for moving along clothing, shoes, and accessories:

• Drop off at a thrift store or clothing bin. Here’s a map of some in our area: Clothing & Shoes Drop-off Locations – Google My Maps. The map is also available on the City’s website.
• Give away or consign items locally or online.
• Ripped or stained clothing, if it is dry and not smelly, can be bagged and placed in a clothing bin. These are turned into rags or insulation.

Dartmouth Residents

Below are some options for recycling a mattress or box spring:

• SMART customers can schedule a curbside collection appointment; $35 for each mattress, $10 for each box spring
1. Call the Department of Public Works at (508) 999-0740, credit card payment accepted over the phone.
2. Go to the Department of Public Works at 759 Russells Mills Rd, cash or check payment accepted, Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3. If you only have a mattress, please call HandUp, a local mattress recycler, at (774) 271-8744 to arrange for pickup, $35 for each mattress.

• Dartmouth residents can drop off a mattress or box spring at the Dartmouth Transfer Station, 976 Russells Mills Rd. Fee for mattress: $25 each. Fee for box spring: $14 each. Open Tuesdays & Thursdays 7:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. and Saturdays 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Permit required to access the transfer station.
• If you are buying new, you can check with the retailer to see if they will recycle your old one.

Below are some options for moving along clothing, shoes, and accessories:

• Schedule a free curbside pickup online at https://www.bbbsfoundation.org/schedule-a-pickup/ or call/text PICKUP to (508) 466-4590. This program benefits the Town of Dartmouth & Big Brother Big Sister Foundation.
• Drop off at a thrift store or clothing bin. Here’s a map of some in our area: Clothing & Shoes Drop-off Locations – Google My Maps. The map is also available on the Town’s website.
• Give away or consign items locally or online.
• Ripped or stained clothing, if it is dry and not smelly, can be bagged and placed in a clothing bin. These are turned into rags or insulation.

List of Banned Items

Below is the list of materials banned from disposal in landfills by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection:

• Cathode ray tubes – these are found in non-flat screen TVs and computer monitors
• Commercial food material (lower threshold effective November 1, 2022)
• Construction materials including asphalt pavement, brick, concrete, metal, wood, and clean gypsum wallboard
• Glass, metal, and plastic containers (bottles, cans, jars, jugs and tubs)
• Lead acid batteries
• Leaves, grass, and brush
• Mattresses and box springs (effective November 1, 2022)
• Recyclable paper, cardboard, and paperboard
• Textiles including clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabric, and similar products (effective November 1, 2022)
• White goods (large appliances)
• Whole tires (shredded tires acceptable)

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts provides free technical assistance to help businesses reduce waste and comply with waste disposal bans. Contact the RecyclingWorks hotline to learn more by phone at (888)254-5525 or by email at info@recyclingworksma.com.

For more information, please visit gnbrrmdistrict.org, call the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District at (508) 979-1493, or email Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org.”