The City of Boston is undertaking a series of new initiatives to
improve the cleanliness and appearance of East Boston, including
increased enforcement of sanitation laws.
All residents of the City of Boston have the responsibility to
properly dispose of their trash and to keep the sidewalk in front of
their residence or business clean and free of obstruction. To ensure
residents meet those responsibilities, the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts has empowered the City of Boston to pass ordinances
that encourage compliance.
Up to this date, these laws have been enforced in a targeted
fashion. Going forward, the laws governing trash disposal will be
enforced throughout Boston and residents will be held responsible.
Boston Police and the Inspectional Services Department (“ISD”) are
empowered to enforce these laws.
LITTERING: you are not allowed to dispose of trash on the street or
sidewalk. You must store your trash in a proper receptacle on your
own property or dispose of it in a public barrel. Failure to comply
will result in a fine of $25. If a police officer or ISD officer
sees you throwing an empty can or cigarette butt on the sidewalk,
they can stop you, ask for your identification, and issue you a
fine. An empty can or cigarette butt is not worth $25.
DISPOSING OF YOUR TRASH: you must put out your trash in either a
barrel with a closable lid or in a standard, heavy-duty, two-ply
trash bag. You cannot put out trash in grocery/CVS bags or in boxes.
Unsecured trash can blow into the street or become food for rodents.
Failure to comply will result in a fine of $25. You are also
responsible for putting out your trash neatly at the curb by 7AM on
your trash day or after 5PM the night before. Failure to do so will
result in a fine of $25.
KEEPING YOUR SIDEWALK CLEAN: you are responsible for sweeping in
front of your home or business at least once a week. If you live in
a building with multiple residents, you must make arrangements to
take turns sweeping and cleaning gutters.
HOMEOWNERS & LANDLORDS: thanks to the new Green Ticket law, unpaid
fines will be added to your property taxes. Failure to pay the fines
will result in the fines being converted into a tax lien on your
property. If you are a landlord, you are responsible for your
tenants and should inform them of the information in this letter.
In these difficult economic times, no one needs the burden of a
fine. So please fulfill your responsibility as a resident of Boston
and properly dispose of your trash.
If you have any questions, call Ernani DeAraujo, the Mayor’s
Neighborhood Coordinator for East Boston, at 617- 635 - 3485.
