State disposal rules / Massachusetts
MassDEP · 310 CMR 19.017
Massachusetts rules for construction debris
Massachusetts bans a long list of materials from disposal or from transfer for disposal, and several of them are the bulk of a renovation dumpster: brick, concrete, asphalt paving, clean drywall, metal and wood. The first bans began in 1990 and others were phased in.
- 1Rule 310 CMR 19.017
- 2Items named 14
- 3Construction materials 4
- 4Fee pages in state 4
What MassDEP lists
The 14 entries below are copied from MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans (no update date printed; mattress and textile bans and the lower food threshold took effect November 1, 2022); 4 of them are construction materials. Construction materials: 4; Recyclables and packaging: 3; Batteries, electronics and hazardous items: 2; Yard and food waste: 2; Appliances, tires and bulky items: 3.
| Material or project | Rule |
|---|---|
| Asphalt pavement, brick and concrete | banned from disposal |
| Clean gypsum wallboard | banned from disposal |
| Treated and untreated wood and wood waste | banned from landfills only |
| Ferrous and non-ferrous metals | banned from disposal |
| Recyclable paper, cardboard and paperboard | banned from disposal |
| Glass, metal and plastic containers | banned from disposal |
| White goods (large appliances) | banned from disposal |
| Mattresses | banned since November 1, 2022 |
| Textiles | banned since November 1, 2022 |
| Whole tires | banned from landfills only; shredded tires acceptable |
| Leaves and yard waste | banned from disposal |
| Commercial food material | banned above a threshold lowered November 1, 2022 |
| Lead acid batteries | banned from disposal |
| Cathode ray tubes | banned from disposal |
Source: MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans, 310 CMR 19.017; read 2026-10-21. The agency's current text governs.
How the rule is applied
- MassDEP inspects landfills and combustion facilities to find haulers and generators who send banned materials, and to make sure those facilities refuse them.
- Solid waste facilities must have periodic third-party waste ban compliance inspections under 310 CMR 19.018, done only by MassDEP-listed inspectors who report load observations and any corrective action plan.
- MassDEP publishes a Minimum Performance Standard for construction and demolition handling facilities and separate guidance on the gypsum wallboard ban for those facilities.
The debris these rules touch, by weight
A loose cubic yard of concrete weighs 860 lb, drywall weighs 467 lb, lumber and demolition wood weighs 169 lb, scrap metal weighs 225 lb, cardboard weighs 106 lb, glass bottles weighs 380 lb, appliances weighs 145 lb, clothing and textiles weighs 175 lb and leaves weighs 500 lb. A 20-yard filled level with concrete or drywall or leaves would pass the 4-ton low end of Republic Services' 20-yard allowance, so those loads are usually sized by weight. One 8-ft pickup bed holds about 2.5 cubic yards, or 2,150 lb of concrete.
Disposal fees in Massachusetts on this site
Sudbury charges $32 per cubic yard ($16 minimum); Wellfleet charges $290 per ton; Marblehead charges $320 per ton; Scituate charges $340 per ton. For one 8-ft pickup bed of mixed debris that runs from $80 in Sudbury to $206 in Scituate.
Other states: Vermont · New Hampshire · California · North Carolina · Wisconsin · Florida. To size the container itself, use the dumpster sizer.
This page summarises MassDEP's published text as read on 2026-10-21. It is not legal advice; local ordinances, haulers and facilities can be stricter, and the agency's current rule governs.