A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to proposed changes to the City's Zero Waste Master Plan.  TABLED IN COUNCIL JUNE 1, 2026

May 19, 2026 To the Honorable, the City Council: Re: Proposed changes to Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 8.24: REFUSE AND LITTER (“Chapter 8.24”), Chapter 8.68: Bring Your Own Bag (“Chapter 8.68”). The adoption of Chapter 8.72: Skip The Stuff (“Chapter 8.72”). In June 2025, Cambridge City Council adopted Zero Waste Master Plan (ZWMP) 2.0. To make progress towards the goals in ZWMP 2.0, the Department of Public Works (DPW) is requesting changes to Chapters 8.24 and 8.68 of the Municipal Code, as well as the adoption of a new Chapter 8.72. The amendments will help the City improve sanitation, reduce trash, and provide equitable and accessible programs to residents. As a brief history, Chapter 8.68 “Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance” was adopted in 2014. This Chapter bans thin plastic bags and requires retailers to charge $0.10 for each checkout bag regardless of whether it is a thick “reusable” 3 mil plastic bag, paper bag or compostable plastic bag. Several communities and states have assessed the outcome of allowing thick reusable plastic bags finding that the option of “reusable”1 likely increased the overall consumption of plastic in check-out lines. The proposed changes to Chapter 8.68 will now permit retailers to distribute a recyclable paper bag or a compostable plastic bag at checkout, while removing the option to offer a reusable plastic bag at checkout. Chapter 8.72, “Skip The Stuff Ordinance,” is proposed as a new Chapter. Under the Ordinance, it would require food-service retailers to allow customers to opt-in to single-use products (e.g. straws, condiments, napkins, etc.) rather than opting out. Single-use items may be left at a self-service counter for customers to choose what they want. Furthermore, there would be a provision to require recycling collection for front-of-house operations. A similar ordinance has been passed in communities throughout the United States including New York City, Chicago and Denver. The most substantial Ordinance changes would occur in Chapter 8.24. The purpose of updating Chapter 8.24 is several: first, the updates will help the City align internal policy with the ordinance to match the current state of waste management policies in Cambridge, such as the requirement for residents to use City-issued receptacles for collection. Second, several of the proposed changes are necessary to realize a future with less trash, more sanitary neighborhoods, and more equitable programs. Lastly, some of the proposed changes will improve the City's internal operations by being able to better manage the City’s inventory of 60,000 waste collection carts, increase compliance from property managers, and provide services to residents more quickly and equitably. 1 https://apnews.com/article/california-plastic-bag-ban-406dedf02b416ad2bb302f498c3bce58

Since 1991, when Chapter 8.24 was first ordained, the landscape for housing in Cambridge has undergone significant changes, including the addition of hundreds of large residential and commercial developments. Presently, the majority of residents reside in a building with greater than seven (7) households; many of these properties are operated by property management companies. Annually, approximately 20% of residents move out, to be replaced by new tenants. Lastly, Cambridge is the only City in Massachusetts to offer at least one waste service to buildings with more than 12 households. In fact, the City serves 20,150 households in 415 buildings (with 13 households or more) with at least one of the curbside collection programs. By updating Chapter 8.24, we can make significant strides in improving proper waste disposal practices. Updating 8.24 is imperative to bring the City’s Ordinance into the 21st century. See below for a compilation of the revisions and additions requested: • Updating and adding Chapter definitions to align with current waste programs. • Requirement for the separation of food waste, textiles and mattresses at all residential and commercial buildings. o The State has required that the following items be kept out of the trash: ▪ Yard waste and recyclables (1991) ▪ Textiles and mattresses (2022) • Owners must provide enough collection capacity to capture all recyclables and compostables generated on-site. • Property owners that utilize the City’s trash, recycling or food waste programs must: o Use City-issued trash, recycling and food waste receptacles, o Label their waste receptacles with their address, o Request replacement receptacles within 15 days if theirs are broken, and o Keep lids of trash carts closed. Owners may be charged a fee to replace receptacles due to owner’s neglect (i.e. overflowing trash carts resulting in rodents chewing through barrel). • The volume of trash allocated to households on the City’s trash program is decreasing from 150 gallons to 45 gallons per week per household, except bulky waste items (i.e. couches). o During the rollout of standard trash carts in 2022, buildings were given up to 45 gallons of trash capacity per household. o On average, Cambridge households that properly recycle and separate food waste from the trash generate approximately 23 gallons of trash per week. • Two changes to the rules on overflow trash bags. o Only one overflow trash bag per household per week is allowed. o The bag setout time is changing from midnight to 5:00 a.m. on collection day. The less time that trash is at the curb, the less chance there is for rodent activity. • Updating language to require annual Zero Waste Plans from owners of all commercial (25,000 sq ft or greater) and multifamily buildings (13 units or more). The Plans include: o How owners are informing new, ongoing, and departing tenants on proper waste management procedures, o Contact information for responsible parties for onsite waste management, o Information on the volume of trash, recycling, and food waste collected, and o Name of waste hauler. • Changing the name of the Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) to Waste Reduction Advisory Committee (WRAC) and updating the representatives to better reflect the stakeholders.

• Updating requirements of private haulers in Cambridge. The City will ask for an updated collection stop list to assist in Noise Ordinance complaints, to increase compliance with waste diversion requirements, and ensuring haulers assist in giving customers information on proper waste sorting. In conclusion, I recommend that the City Council consider these revisions to Chapter 8.24 and 8.68, and the adoption of Chapter 8.72 to allow the Department of Public Works to achieve our goals of reducing trash and improving sanitation in accordance with Zero Waste Master Plan 2.0. Very Truly Yours, Yi-An Huang City Manager