Massachusetts Beautification Bulletin | June 19, 2025
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Most Americans have no idea what happens to their trash after it's collected and carted off. It simply "goes away." Out of sight—out of mind. But the true story is much more complex and expensive. Scroll down to learn more, along with actions you can take to reduce the volume of waste you generate each day.
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Where Does Trash Go? The Illusion of Throwing Stuff “Away”
In 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, households and businesses across Massachusetts disposed of 4.68 million tons of solid waste. That’s enough trash to fill 1,948 football fields end-zone-to-end-zone and all the way up to the goal-post crossbar.*
Coming face-to-face with the volume of waste in our society can be unsettling, but it also serves as a reminder that keeping items in use and recycling the right things matters. There’s a lot of valuable stuff ending up in the trash that could have been reused, repaired, donated or otherwise kept out of the waste stream.
During a recent visit to a municipal waste combustor, which burns trash to generate electricity, MassDEP officials saw all sorts of easily recyclable materials being discarded. Stuff like glass and plastic bottles, aluminum cans, milk jugs, and cardboard. Cardboard was, by far, the most common recyclable material seen in the trash.
That’s disappointing because not only is cardboard easily recyclable, it’s also valuable. Manufacturers want to buy cardboard and turn it into new boxes that could one day end up back on your doorstep. If it ends up in the trash, it’s missing a chance to live a second life. The same goes for aluminum cans. If they land in a recycling bin instead of the trash, they can become new aluminum cans and be back on store shelves in as little as 60 days!
So what can you do to reduce the volume of waste that ends up in incinerators or landfills? First, reduce what you consume. Make easy changes to your routines, such as:
• Switching from single-serve bottled water to refillable water bottles
• Bringing reusable shopping and produce bags to the market, rather than plastic or paper bags
• Shopping at consignment and thrift stores to reduce the volume of new textiles that often end up in the waste stream (despite the fact that textiles are banned from the trash in Massachusetts)
To learn more about this topic, read the full article that was recently published in the RecycleSmartMA newsletter or watch our Talking Trash & Recycling video.
*Source: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
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Join The Massachusetts Litter Cleanup Crew This Summer
Each litter cleanup kit includes a trash grabber tool, gloves, a reusable trash bag, a reusable automobile trash bag, and a B.A.A. branded volunteer tee shirt.
Participating in the Massachusetts Litter Cleanup Crew enables you to stay physically active while keeping your community’s streets and neighborhoods litter-free all year long. Take action to keep your community litter-free today!
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The KMB Blog:
No Virginia, There Is No Such Thing as a Dog Poop Fairy
Read Mike Morris's humorous examination of why some dog owners bag their pet's poop but then leave it behind. Research rules out stupidity or immorality, suggesting deeper causes like childhood abandonment, physical limitations, odd poop perceptions, or cognitive issues (like poor object permanence). Ultimately, it’s a mix of psychology, sociology, and satire—with a reminder to watch your step.
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Quotable: “The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”
— Pope John Paul II
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KMB Chapter News: Welcome to Keep Amesbury Beautiful!
We're pleased to announce the launch of Keep Amesbury Beautiful, our newest Keep Massachusetts Beautiful local chapter.
Keep Amesbury Beautiful is a volunteer-led organization committed to enhancing Amesbury’s aesthetics and environmental health in collaboration with Mayor Gove, municipal leaders, the Amesbury Department of Public Works, and local businesses.
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Enviro-Newsworthy Developments...
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Sincerely,
Neil Rhein, Founder & Executive Director
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