GLOUCESTER – Mayor Greg Verga and the City of Gloucester wish to share information on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) new waste ban regulations, which take effect next month.
MassDEP’s 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan established an objective to reduce disposal statewide by 30
percent over the next decade. In an effort to reach this goal, MassDEP has established new rules requiring that mattresses and textiles be kept out of the trash so they can be recycled or donated for reuse, effective Tuesday, Nov. 1.
According to MassDEP, approximately 300,000 mattresses and box springs are disposed of yearly in the state. About 85% of this mattress material can be recycled. Approximately 23,000 tons of textiles are disposed of each year. About 95% of this material can be reused or repurposed.
Community members are reminded that mattresses and textiles cannot be recycled through household recycling bins. They must be given to organizations that specialize in reselling them second-hand or repurposing them for other uses. Additionally, as a result of the ban, Republic Services will no longer be able to collect mattresses during regular curbside pickup as of Nov. 1, 2022.
Ways to Recycle Mattresses and Box Springs
Clean mattresses and box springs must be recycled or donated for reuse.
- The City has hired Raw Materials Recovery Corp. to properly dispose of unwanted mattresses and box springs. Residents may purchase a $40 sticker and disposal bag at the Department of Public Works, 28 Poplar St. Bagged mattresses and box springs should be left outside homes on Thursday mornings for curbside collection.
- Residents purchasing new mattresses and box springs are encouraged to ask the company they are purchasing from if they will take their old mattresses and box springs.
- Residents may search MassDEP’s Beyond the Bin recycling directory for organizations near them that accept mattresses for donation and reuse or visit https://tinyurl.com/depmatt.
Ways to Recycle Textiles
All clean clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabric, or similar products must be recycled or donated for reuse.
- Donate items to the Big Brother/Big Sister Foundation by calling 508-466-4590 or scheduling a pickup online at https://bbbsfoundation.org.
- Donate items to CMRK Clothing with a Conscience. Request home pickups by calling 508-466-4590 or visiting https://www.cmrkne.com.
- To find other textile recovery organizations, please visit https://tinyurl.com/depmunirec and navigate to “How and Where to Recycle Textiles” for a list of organizations and what they accept. You also can visit MassDEP’s textile recovery web page at https://tinyurl.com/deptextile.
Residents are reminded that mattresses and textiles should only go in the trash if they are wet, moldy or contaminated.
For more information on the upcoming waste bans, please click here.
