A ban on throwing out textiles and mattresses in Massachusetts goes into effect Tuesday, which is part of an effort to be more environmentally conscious and also help those who are in need.
Beginning Nov. 1, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is adding mattresses and textiles to the list of materials that are banned from disposal in the Bay State.
According to MassDEP regulations, textiles include:
- Clothing
- Footwear
- Bedding
- Towels
- Curtains
- Fabric
- Similar products
The ban does not apply, however, to textiles that are contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil or hazardous substances.
MassDEP first rolled out bans on certain types of garbage in 1990. There are now over a dozen categories of trash people aren’t allowed to throw out, including asphalt pavement, glass and metal containers, lead acid batteries, yard waste recyclable paper and more.
The goal with the latest round of bans on mattresses and textiles is to recycle the fibers and make them into new products, or simply reuse them as is. More than 230,000 tons of textiles get thrown out in Massachusetts every year, according to the state. The state estimates that 85% of the textiles being thrown out could instead be donated, reused or recycled instead.
You can find a place to take your old textiles here.
For help finding somewhere to take an old mattress, click here.
MassDEP has a goal of a 90% reduction in disposal by 2050.
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