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Important Trash News!
Effective November 1, 2022 the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) is implementing a waste ban on mattresses and textiles.
These materials will no longer be allowed to be thrown away in your household or business trash.
Mattresses (including box springs) and textiles will now need to be recycled or donated for reuse.
*PLEASE NOTE* - "Recycled" does not mean to place your textiles in the "blue" recycling bin you currently have and use for glass jars, paper, etc. Recycling, for these items, is different. Keep reading below for textiles and mattress recycling options.
Why?
The State has set a goal to reduce trash disposal by 30% statewide by the year 2030 and by 90% by the year 2050.
What does this mean for you?
Mattresses (including box springs) and textiles will now need to be recycled or donated for reuse.
Donate or Recycle...
Foxborough does not currently have a recycling program in place for residents to bring unwanted mattresses or textiles, nor do we currently have a contract with any one specific vendor to do so.
Also, the State's waste ban restricts trash haulers from picking these items up curbside. So you may experience that your trash hauler is unable to pick up these items.
It will be up to the Resident to properly recycle or donate mattresses and textiles.
Here are a few options:
1. Donate textiles in good condition to a local thrift store and/or organization. Some may even provide pick up services. To find an organization near you, try a Google search "Donation Centers".
2. Look up recycling options for mattresses at the State's "Beyond the Bin" search engine. At this time, there are limited options and you'll find that most locations on the list are Town/City transfer or recycling stations that are for residents only. Here are a few that are open to the public:
New Life Furniture Bank of MA
Green Mattress Recycling
Blackstone Valley Regional Recycling Center
Green Team Junk Removal
3. Textile recycling bins can also be searched for at "Beyond the Bin" as well. Textiles that may be ripped or missing buttons, zippers, etc. for example, that may not be acceptable at thrift stores, can be brought to the drop off locations found on this website.
4. Replacing an existing mattress with a new one? Some retailers will take away and recycle the old mattress while delivering your new one. Ask the retailer if this is something they do.
5. Some retailers have take-back programs and some will accept any brand of clothing. Find a list of retailers that participate in this type of take-back program.
Learn more about mattress recycling (Infographic)
Learn more about textile recycling (Infographic)