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:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 149        FILED ON: 1/11/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1294

[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:
 

SECTION 1. Section 8H of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the first two paragraphs and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Each city, town, or district shall establish a recycling program for the purpose of recycling any type of solid waste including but not limited to paper, glass, metal, rubber, plastics, used tires and compostable waste. A recycling program established pursuant to this section shall require that all residents, schools and businesses separate recyclables from their solid waste. The program may be established for groups of cities, towns or districts upon agreement of all municipalities or districts in a joint program. In cities and towns in which solid waste is collected at the curbside, the recycling program may include curbside collection of such recyclables. In cities and towns in which residents, schools or businesses may take their solid waste to a municipal landfill or transfer station, the recycling program shall include provision for the separation and storage at such landfill or transfer station of the solid waste being disposed by such resident, schools or businesses, and may include collection of recyclables at the curbside.

A recycling program established pursuant to this section shall require all owners of an apartment building having three or more units and any condominium association consisting of three or more units to provide the means and materials necessary to allow tenants or owners in those units to participate in a recycling program in the manner determined by the city, town, or district.