City of New Bedford Department of Public Facilities

Regulations Governing the:

• Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste
• Collection of Recyclable Material
• Facility Operation

1.0 DEFINITIONS

Bulky Waste - items of unusually large size including but not limited to a bureau, sofa, chair, mattress and a box spring.

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) - any intact, broken, or processed glass tube used to provide the visual display in televisions, computer monitors and certain scientific instruments such as oscilloscopes.

Commercial Dwelling - any housing structure with more than six separate units.

Commercial Establishment - non-industrial place of business

Compostable Material - organic material limited to leaves, grass, brush and plant material.

Construction and Demolition Debris - the waste building materials and rubble resulting from the construction, remodeling, repair or demolition of buildings or other structures. Construction and demolition waste includes but is not limited to, lumber, plaster, and may contain small amounts of concrete, bricks, masonry, road paving materials, and rebar.

Curbside Recyclables - items that are collected at the curb for recycling.

Facility - the solid waste transfer station, drop-off recycling center and compost area.

Glass Containers - glass bottles and jars (soda-lime glass) but excluding light bulbs, Pyrex cookware, plate glass, drinking glasses, windows, windshields and ceramics.

Lead-Acid Batteries - lead acid batteries used in motor vehicles or stationary applications.

Metal Containers - aluminum, steel or bi-metal beverage and food containers.

Private or Commercial Hauler - any person, partnership, association, firm, company, corporation, or other entity responsible for the removal and/or transportation of solid waste.

Recyclable Paper – newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail, brown paper bags, phone books, corrugated cardboard, and paperboard products.

Single Resin Plastics - all plastic containers numbered 1 through (except Styrofoam).

Solid Waste – any discarded material generated at residences, commercial establishments, institutions and municipal buildings. 

Special Collection Item – items that require separate collection by appointment including but not limited to white goods, cathode ray tubes and items made of metal (e.g. bicycle, grill, table).

Special Waste - materials such as sewage solids, radioactive wastes, pathogenic wastes, explosive materials, chemicals, liquid wastes or other material of hazardous nature or materials requiring special handling or procedures for disposal.

White Goods - appliances employing electricity, oil, natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas to preserve or cook food, wash or dry clothing, or cool or heat air or water. These include refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, gas or electric ovens and ranges, and hot water heaters.

2.0 GENERAL

Should any provisions of these regulations be found to be in conflict or violation of any Federal or State Law, City Ordinance or if amended or changed by order of the Commissioner of Public Facilities, all other provisions of these regulations shall remain in full force and effect.

3.0 COLLECTION

Interruptions may be caused by strikes, work stoppages, inclement weather, and legal holidays, at which time the resident shall store the Solid Waste, recyclable material, or compostable material on his property until the next collection date.

3.1 Solid Waste Collection

1. Solid Waste shall be placed in containers that are watertight, non-corrosive, rodent resistant and securely covered. Containers shall have handles and shall not weigh more than 60 pounds when filled. Overweight containers, or any container with sharp, protruding edges, which can be harmful to the collector, shall not be collected.
2. Solid Waste containing Special Waste or construction and demolition waste shall not be collected.
3. All containers must be removed from the curb area by the owners as soon as practicable or in any event no later than 7:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
4. Solid Waste shall not be collected from Commercial Dwellings.  Owners are responsible to make sure solid waste is properly disposed.

3.2 Residential Solid Waste Collection

1. Residents shall place Solid Waste curbside prior to 7:00 a.m. on the designated collection day but no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection.

3.3 Solid Waste Collection from Commercial Establishments

1. Commercial establishments in the Downtown shall place Solid Waste curbside between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to be collected by the Solid Waste Division Monday through Friday. 
2. Commercial establishments outside the Downtown shall place Solid Waste curbside prior to 7:00 a.m. on the designated collection day but no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection.

3.4 Cardboard Collection from Commercial Establishments

1. Cardboard shall be collected weekly from Commercial Establishments.  The collection day will be determined by the Solid Waste and Recycling Division.
2. Cardboard shall be placed curbside between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on the designated collection day.
3. Cardboard shall be flattened and secured or consolidated by placing smaller boxes into larger boxes.
4. Cardboard shall be free of plastic, Styrofoam or similar packaging.
5. Wax coated cardboard shall not be accepted and shall be
   collected as Solid Waste.

3.5 Curbside Recyclable Collection

1. Curbside Recyclables shall be placed at the curb prior to 7:00 am. on the designated collection day but not earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection.
2. Curbside Recyclables shall be placed in a blue plastic bin issued to the resident or commercial establishment by the Department of Public Facilities for the purpose of containing Curbside Recyclables.
3. All single family residents with more than one bin must separate all paper into one bin and all containers into the other bin.  Residents using only one blue bin may place recyclables together in their bin.
4. Any use of the recycling bin issued by the Department of Public Facilities other than its intended use is prohibited
5. Only the following materials, prepared in accordance with
    instructions listed with each material, shall be placed in the
    Curbside Recycling bin for collection:
   
   
   1. all plastic food and beverage containers (except Styrofoam) numbered 1 through 7 - containers shall be rinsed.
   2. glass food and beverage containers - containers shall be rinsed.
   3. metal food and beverage containers - containers shall be rinsed.
   4. newspaper and newspaper inserts –newspapers shall be placed loose in the recycling bin, no plastic bags.  
   5. telephone books
   6. junk mail
   7. office paper
   8. corrugated cardboard
   9. paperboard
      
      
6. The City reserves the right to suspend collection of any of the items listed in 3.5.e if market conditions significantly impact the-City's ability to recycle the material.
   The Curbside Recycling bin must be removed from the curb area by the owners as soon as practicable or in any event no later than 7:00 p.m. on the day of collection.

3.6 Compostable Material Collection

1. Leaves and grass shall be collected curbside from mid-April to mid-December. The actual dates of collection will be announced each spring and fall. Leaves and grass shall be collected on the day following the solid waste collection.
2. Leaves and grass shall be placed in paper bags or loose in barrels. Leaves and grass in plastic bags or mixed with other Solid Waste shall not be collected.
3. Brush and tree limbs shall be collected by the City or its Contractor by appointment only, during the last week of the month from April to November. Individual branches must not exceed four (4) inches in diameter and shall be securely tied in bundles which shall not exceed four (4) feet in length, two (2) feet in diameter. Bundles shall be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled collection appointment.
   

3.7 Bulky Waste Collection

1. Residents may set out one item of Bulky Waste on the regular collection day. 
2. Items shall be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the designated collection day, but no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection.
3. No Bulky Waste will be collected from Commercial Dwellings.

3.8 Special Collection Items

1. Special Collection Items shall be collected by the City or it’s Contractor by appointment only.  No more than four (4) items shall be collected per appointment.  Items shall be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day the scheduled collection appointment, but no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the collection appointment.

4.0  TRANSPORTATION

4.1 Private or commercial haulers engaged in the collection and transportation of Solid Waste in the City of New Bedford shall obtain a permit from the Board of Health, as necessary.
4.2 Anyone transporting solid waste, compostable material, or recyclables over City streets shall ensure that no material is deposited during transport. All solid waste, recyclables or compostable material shall be securely fastened and contained within an enclosed body or contained in a truck with permanent sides and either a permanent roof or a securely fastened cover. Any vehicles not properly covered shall not be admitted into the Solid Waste Transfer Station.
4.3 It shall be the duty of any person hauling solid waste, recyclable or compostable material to remove any debris which has fallen from such vehicle during transport and to prevent the release of any liquid from occurring during transport.
                                                      
5.0 FACILITY OPERATION

5.1 General

1. Only material generated within the boundaries of the City shall be accepted at the Facility. Persons using the facility may be required to present documentation to demonstrate
2. That material was generated within the boundaries of the City.
3. All signs and verbal instruction from City personnel shall be obeyed.
4. All persons using the Facility do so at their own risk.
5. All material delivered to the Facility shall be placed in the appropriate designated area or receptacle. No material which is rejected for any reason shall be left at the Facility.
6. All vehicles entering the facility are subject to inspections of loads to identify any oil or hazardous material. Proper management of oil and hazardous material identified shall be the responsibility of the persons using the facility.
7. No scavenging is allowed in any area of the Facility
   Failure to obey the following regulations shall result in loss of Facility privileges.

5.2 Solid Waste Transfer Station

1. Only Solid Waste generated and collected within the boundaries of the City of New Bedford shall be accepted at the Solid Waste Transfer Station.
2. The following items are banned from disposal as solid waste at the Solid Waste Transfer Station:
   1. cathode ray tubes
   2. glass containers
   3. lead acid batteries
   4. compostable material
   5. metal containers
   6. recyclable paper
   7. single resin plastics
   8. white goods
   9. whole tires
   10. special waste
   11. asphalt pavement
   12. brick & concrete
   13. metal
   14. wood
       
       
3. Banned items listed in Section 5.2.b.2 through 5.2.b.8 shall be recycled at the Drop-Off Recycling Center.
4. Cathode ray tubes shall be recycled at the designated area in the Solid Waste Transfer Station or as a Special Collection Item.
5. Tires shall be recycled at Tire Recycling Day, held at the Solid Waste Transfer Station in the Spring and Fall.
6. Household Hazardous Waste shall be accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off days, held at the Solid Waste Transfer Station in the Spring and Fall.
7. Loads delivered to the Solid Waste Transfer Station and found to contain banned items as described in 5.2.b shall be subject to a reloading surcharge in addition to the tipping fee.
8. Vehicles containing Solid Waste loads in excess of two (2) tons shall be prohibited from access to the Solid Waste Transfer Station.All vehicles using the Solid Waste Transfer Station shall come to a full stop at the weigh scale prior to unloading and immediately following unloading, unless otherwise directed.
9. A tipping fee, as prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Facilities, shall be charged for all Solid Waste loads disposed at the Solid Waste Transfer Station, except as described in Section 5.2.j
10. Vehicles, as identified by the vehicle registration number, shall be limited to the disposal of up to four (4) bulky items twice per year at no charge. Bulky items exceeding this quantity shall be charged at the same rate as solid waste.
11. All vehicles are limited to 10 minutes for unloading and shall unload under the supervision of City personnel.
12. An acceptable form of tipping fee payment shall be made at the time waste is disposed. Payments shall be made by check, money order or acceptable credit card. Cash shall not be accepted.
13. Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the Solid Waste Transfer Station.
14. Access to the Solid Waste Transfer Station shall be during operating hours only, unless authorized by the Commissioner. The operating hours are:

    Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    Closed Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays and Half Holidays

5.3  Drop-Off Recycling Center

1. The following materials, prepared in accordance with the instructions listed with each material, shall be accepted at the Drop-Off Recycling Center.
   
   
   1. all plastic containers numbered 1 through 7 (except Styrofoam) - containers shall be rinsed.
   2. antifreeze - material shall not be mixed with any substance other than water and shall be placed in transparent containers with a volume of no more than one (1) gallon. No more than five (5) gallons of antifreeze shall be accepted per visit.
   3. books- includes paperback and hardcover. No encyclopedias.
   4. brown paper bags
   5. corrugated cardboard - material shall be flattened and not contain any other packaging material.
   6. fluorescent light bulbs
   7. glass containers - containers shall be rinsed.
   8. lead acid batteries
   9. mercury containing items
   10. metal containers - containers shall be rinsed.
   11. mixed paper – magazines, junk mail, office paper, and paperboard.
   12. newspaper and newspaper inserts
   13. rechargeable batteries
   14. reusable shoes and clothing
   15. scrap metal 
   16. telephone books 
   17. used motor oil filters
   18. waste oil - material shall not be mixed with any other
       substances, including water, and shall be placed in transparent containers with a volume of no more than one (1) gallon. No more than five (5) gallons of waste oil shall be accepted per visit.
   19. white goods
   20. empty aerosol containers
   21. propane tanks
       
       
2. Antifreeze, fluorescent light bulbs, mercury containing items, rechargeable batteries, used motor oil filters and waste oil generated by a Commercial Establishment or business shall not be accepted at the Drop-Off Recycling Center.
3. Surplus paint shall be accepted at the Drop-Off Recycling Center between April and October of each year. The actual dates during which paint shall be accepted shall be announced each year. Paint cans shall be at least two-thirds full, tightly sealed in the original can with the original label clearly visible. The City reserves the right to reject any paint.
4. All material delivered to the Drop Off Recycling Center shall be placed in the appropriate container or receptacle. Each container shall contain clearly marked signs indicating the appropriate material to be deposited in the container.
5. Smoking is prohibited in the Drop-Off Recycling Center.
6. The City reserves the right to limit quantities of materials accepted at the Drop-Off Recycling Center.
7. Access to the Drop-Off Recycling Center shall be during operating hours only, unless authorized by the Commissioner. The operating hours are:

         Monday through Friday 7:30 am. to 3:30 p.m.
         Saturdays 8:00 am. to 2:00 p.m.
         Closed Sundays, Holidays and Half Holidays

5.4 Compost Area

1. All vehicles shall come to a full stop at the weigh scale to be
2. properly weighed and recorded.
3. Only Compostable Material shall be delivered to the Compost  Area. No plastic bags, barrels, solid waste or other material shall be left in the Compost Area.
4. Smoking is prohibited in the Compost Area.
5. Access to the Compost Area shall be during operating hours only, unless authorized by the Commissioner. The operating hours are:

Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 3:30 p.m.
Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays, Holidays and Half Holidays

SOLID WASTE DIVISION
(508) 991-6156

Printable Pamphlet

Revised: January 2008