Mashpee is updating town recycling regulations to ensure that residents are separating waste from recycling. The updated regulations will include what it considered 鈥渕andatory recycling,鈥� a measure intended to reinforce compliance with statewide waste bans at the local level. Mashpee Health Agent Zackary Seabury reported the development to the Mashpee Board of Health at its meeting on March 5. 鈥淭he state is pushing for mandatory recycling. I have been working with Director Catherine Laurent at the DPW and our liaison from the state that works with towns to make mandatory recycling successful,鈥� Mr. Seabury said. 鈥淥ur old regulations were small. It pretty much said, 鈥榊ou have to recycle.鈥欌��
Waste bans are intended to eliminate certain hazardous and recyclable materials from landfills or incinerators. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), mandatory recycling guidelines focus on the recyclable materials that the state has already banned from waste disposal, including plastic, cardboard, paper, metal and glass containers. Additional bans on materials include textiles, bulky items, mattresses and large appliances, none of which are disposable via curbside services.