Maya Ellison
Massachusetts has nine material recovery facilities (MRFs) that sort and recycle plastic and other materials. These facilities accept plastic and metal caps and lids, plastic drink bottles, milk jugs, yogurt cups, tubs, lids, and shampoo bottles. However, they do not accept plastic bags, plastic wraps, plastic pouches, or odd-shaped plastics like toys or furniture. Curbside recyclables are sorted at MRFs and then sent to recycling mills or secondary processors for further processing. In the Northeast, nearly 100% of plastics are sold to U.S. companies. Massachusetts also has a deposit system for carbonated soft drink, beer, malt beverage, and sparkling water containers, where residents can return clean, empty containers to retailers or redemption centers for a refund.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Where plastic recycling goes in Massachusetts | To sorting facilities known as Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) |
| What happens at MRFs | Everything is sorted into marketable commodities (metal, paper, plastic, etc.) |
| How is sorting done | Through manual labor and specialized equipment like magnets, screens, and optical sorters |
| What happens after sorting | Recyclables are compressed into cubes (bales) and loaded onto trucks to be sent to recycling mills or secondary processors in the case of plastics |
| Where is plastic recycling sent | In the Northeast, nearly 100% of plastics are sold to U.S. companies |
| What about plastic bags, wraps, and pouches | These should not be placed in recycling bins as they can damage equipment. Most supermarkets and retailers accept these for recycling at no cost |
| What about odd-shaped plastics or small items | These cannot be handled by MRFs. Check local guidelines or the Recyclopedia for proper disposal methods |
| How to find specific information | Check with your city or town's recycling staff or refer to local guidelines like Recycle Smart MA or the Recyclopedia |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bags and wraps
However, many supermarkets and retailers in the state accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling at no cost. These include Stop & Shop, Market Basket, REI, Target, and Walmart. Some of these stores have plastic bag recycling boxes or bins near the entrance or in the area where bottles and cans are returned.
If no locations near you accept plastic bags, foam, or wraps for recycling, you may have to throw them in the trash. However, it is important to note that some retailers have been accused of disposing of collected plastic bags in landfills or incinerators or sending them overseas to polluting facilities.
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Plastic bottles
In Boston, residents are provided with curbside collection for recycling plastic bottles, among other materials. The city accepts all items in one bin with its single-stream service. However, it is important to check which items are accepted before placing them in the blue bin. Boston residents can use the Trash Day App to view their collection schedule and determine what can and cannot be recycled.
While plastic bottles are widely accepted for recycling in Massachusetts, certain types of plastic are not recyclable. Plastic bags, plastic wrap, and polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) should not be placed in recycling bins as they can damage recycling equipment and cause worker injuries. Instead, plastic bags and wraps can be recycled at participating grocery and retail stores, many of which have bag collection bins in their entry areas.
Massachusetts has a deposit return system, often known as the "Bottle Bill," where consumers pay a five-cent deposit when purchasing certain beverage containers and can redeem this deposit when returning the empty containers to retailers or redemption centers. This system has been reported to increase bottle recycling rates, and modernizing it could bring additional environmental and economic benefits to the state.
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Plastic toys
If you have plastic toys that you wish to recycle, you can check the Recyclopedia for Massachusetts to see if there are any other options for recycling them. You can also try contacting your city or town's recycling staff to ask about any alternative options for recycling plastic toys.
It is important to note that plastic bags, wraps, and packing materials such as polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) should not be placed in your recycling bin. These materials can cause damage and worker injuries at recycling plants. Most supermarkets and other retailers accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling at no cost, and shipping companies often accept loose fill foam "packing peanuts" for reuse.
In Massachusetts, every town and city with curbside collection or a drop-off center accepts certain items for recycling, including newspapers, mixed paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum cans, plastic, automobile batteries, used motor oil, and scrap metal. It is recommended to follow the rules in your community and refer to the Smart Recycling Guide or the Recyclopedia for specific guidelines on what can and cannot be recycled.
In Boston, specifically, residents are provided with curbside collection for recycling metal, glass, plastic, and paper. All of these items can be placed in one bin with their single-stream service. However, it is important to check what is accepted before putting recyclables in the blue bin. Boston also has a Trash Day App that can be used to view the collection schedule and determine what can and cannot be recycled.
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Plastic furniture
In Massachusetts, plastic waste is taken to one of the state's nine material recovery facilities (MRFs) for sorting and recycling. At these MRFs, recyclables are sorted by hand and with specialised equipment, such as magnets, screens, and optical sorters. After sorting, the plastic is compressed into cubes (bales) and transported to recycling mills or secondary processors.
While plastic furniture is not accepted by these MRFs, plastic waste is being transformed into furniture by innovative companies and individuals. For example, Precious Plastic Georgia crafts tables, chairs, and swings from recycled plastic sheets, and Aaron and Will from Glasgow create fun and colourful stools with wooden legs.
C.R. Plastics also produces outdoor furniture made from up to 100% recycled plastic, including dining tables, chairs, and pub tables. Arper's Adell armchair is another example of plastic furniture made from 80% recycled polypropylene, with a design inspired by nature.
Recycled plastic is sorted by type and colour, then melted at a low temperature to create furniture. This process results in lightweight and compact pieces that are fully recyclable. Designers are embracing recycled plastic as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional materials, and it is now possible to find plastic sofa frames, lamp diffusers, carpets, and more.
The use of recycled plastic in furniture is not limited to the home. For example, the Zile floor lamp by Luceplan is designed for office spaces, with a diffuser made from biodegradable plastic derived from industrial sugar production waste.
The versatility of recycled plastic means it can be used to create various furniture pieces for different settings, contributing to a more sustainable future.
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Plastic in landfills
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue, with millions of tons of plastic waste generated annually in the United States alone. The majority of this plastic ends up in landfills, despite recycling and waste-to-energy facilities being available. Landfills are a major repository for plastics such as LDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, and PET, constituting 48-60% of all plastics in landfills. In 2018, landfills in the European Union received 7.2 million tons of plastic.
The problem with plastic in landfills is that it can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, and during this long degradation process, it can release harmful substances. Plastic undergoes significant changes in its chemical structure under specific environmental conditions, resulting in the loss of some of its properties. This leads to the release of toxic volatile organic compounds through oxidative photodegradation, which has hazardous effects on floral and faunal species. These small plastic particles, known as microplastics (MPs), can act as carriers of pollutants, absorbing them and transporting them over long distances. MPs are formed through the degradation of larger plastics via chemical, photo, and biological degradation.
The presence of plastic in landfills contributes to soil and water contamination. As plastic degrades, it can leach toxic chemicals into the soil, affecting plant life and other organisms living within the soil. These contaminants then enter the food chain, eventually reaching humans. Additionally, plastic in landfills produces significant greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change.
While recycling is a crucial solution to reducing plastic in landfills, it is important to note that not all plastics are recyclable. Odd-shaped plastics, such as toys or plastic furniture, very small items, and flexible plastics like bags, wraps, and pouches, are often not accepted by recycling facilities. These plastics can cause damage and injuries at recycling plants as they can get tangled in processing equipment. Therefore, it is essential to properly dispose of these plastics and avoid putting them in recycling bins.
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Frequently asked questions
Recyclable plastics in Massachusetts go to one of the state's nine Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for sorting. After sorting, the plastics are sent to recycling mills or secondary processors.
After sorting, the MRFs produce compressed cubes of plastic (called bales) which are then loaded onto trucks and sent to recycling mills or secondary processors.
Plastic drink bottles, milk jugs, yogurt cups, tubs, lids, and shampoo bottles can be recycled in Massachusetts. However, odd-shaped plastics (like toys or plastic furniture), very small items (smaller than a credit card), or flexible/stretchable plastics—like bags, wrap, and pouches—cannot be recycled.
The Smart Recycling Guide is a set of guidelines that outline what materials can and cannot be recycled in Massachusetts. It is designed to help residents recycle correctly and reduce contamination in the recycling stream.
Plastic that cannot be recycled in Massachusetts should not be placed in the recycling bin. These items should be thrown in the trash or, in the case of plastic bags and wraps, returned to local grocery stores or drop-off locations for recycling.
