Blog Post

MassDEP Releases Draft 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan for Public Comment

October 4, 2019

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has released the Draft 2020-2030 Solid Waste Master Plan. The plan proposes aggressive goals for waste reduction, building on the 18 percent reduction in disposal per capita achieved from 2008 to 2018. MassDEP has developed and implemented extensive programs since releasing the previous Solid Waste Master Plan in 2010. This includes the RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) program, which has a cumulative program impact of more than 140,000 tons of material diverted since 2013.

In addition to the goal of reducing the current annual solid waste disposal by 1.7 million tons, or 30 percent, by 2030, the plan also proposes an aggressive longer-term goal to reduce trash disposal by 90 percent by 2050. Some of the initiatives included in the 2020-2030 plan include:

  • Increase requirements on the diversion of commercial food material from disposal;
  • Improve the performance of recycling facilities handling construction and demolition materials;
  • Provide financial and technical assistance to enhance municipal solid waste and recycling programs;
  • Target the reuse and recycling of textiles, mattresses and other bulky waste items;
  • Enhance compliance and enforcement of existing waste disposal bans and pursue additional bans on target materials; and
  • Advance adoption of extended producer-responsibility systems for select materials.

MassDEP has scheduled a series of public hearings and will accept comments on the draft plan through 5 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019:

  • Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at 5 p.m. at the MassDEP Central Regional Office, 8 New Bond Street, Worcester;
  • Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 5 p.m. at the MassDEP Northeast Regional Office, 205B Lowell Street, Wilmington;
  • Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the MassDEP Headquarters Office, 1 Winter Street, Boston;
  • Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 5 p.m. at the Springfield City Library, Sixteen Acres Branch, 1187 Parker Street, Springfield; and
  • Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 5 p.m. at the MassDEP Southeast Regional Office, 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville.

Comments can also be submitted via email to dep.swmp@mass.gov or by mail to: John Fischer, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, 1 Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108.

RecyclingWorks helps businesses and institutions maximize recycling, reuse, and food waste diversion opportunities to support the MassDEP waste reduction goals. To learn more about our resources and no-cost assistance, call our hotline: (888) 254-5525 or email us at info@recyclingworksma.com.