Beginning Nov. 1, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is expanding the Massachusetts waste disposal bans by adding textiles and mattresses to the list of materials banned from disposal in Massachusetts. This is part of DEP’s 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan, which has set a goal to reduce disposal statewide by 30% by 2030 (from 5.7 million tons in 2018 to 4 million tons in 2030).
According to DEP, in Massachusetts:
Residents and businesses dispose of approximately 230,000 tons of textiles annually.
About 95% of this material could be reused or recycled instead of thrown away.
DEP defines textiles as: “clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabric, and similar products, except for textiles that are contaminated with mold, insects, oil, or hazardous substances.”
Harvard residents can recycle textiles at the four collection bins at the Transfer Station, at the Red Cross collection bin at the Public Safety Building, or the white collection bin in front of Rollstone Bank. The Board of Health is looking into bringing more textile collection bins to town. Please remember that textiles should be bagged. If a collection bin is full, please do not leave textiles on the ground as they could become wet. Textiles cannot be put out with other recycling (paper, glass, and plastic).
Mattresses can be donated or disassembled and the parts recycled. According to DEP, mattresses are made up almost entirely of recyclable materials. Once disassembled, more than 75% of mattress components can be recycled.
Residents can find more information at the following websites:
- Textiles at www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-textile-recovery.
- Mattresses at www.mass.gov/ser vice-details/mattress-recycling.
- MassDEP waste disposal bans at www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-waste-dispos al-bans.
If you have questions, feel free to contact the Board of Health or the Transfer Station.
Chris Mitchell, Sharon McCarthy, Libby Levison, Board of Healt
Tim Kilhart, director, Department of Public Works
