Waste on MV

• Each year the Vineyard ships off approximately 33,500 tons of trash to the mainland — that’s roughly 15% of the freight volume of the Steamship Authority, or about one in every seven freight trips. 

• Waste generation on the island is growing faster than our year-round population. 

• Four of the six towns (Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown and West Tisbury) are members of the regional refuse district; the other two (Oak Bluffs and Tisbury) manage their wastes together and provide curbside collection. 

• The island currently lacks a community‐scale composting facility, and our recycling and reuse programs are more limited compared to many other regions. 

Challenges and Considerations

Nearly all of the Vineyard’s waste is shipped off-Island, often at rising costs and with increasing uncertainty about where it goes. Hauling waste farther away, rising disposal fees, and industry consolidation threaten local control and affordability. Meanwhile, our limited land base makes it difficult to manage materials locally. With 20,000 year-round residents and more than four times that number in the summer, we need solutions that reduce costs, cut truck traffic, protect our environment, and build community resilience.

Areas of Focus

The newly formed MV Trash Task Force is exploring practical strategies and emerging technologies to:

• Reduce waste at the source by encouraging reuse, repair, and smarter consumption.

• Expand composting to keep food waste out of the trash while supporting Island farms and landscapers.

• Improve recycling and diversion so more materials stay in circulation.

• Plan for hazardous and construction waste through safer, more efficient local systems.

• Promote regional collaboration with Cape towns and Nantucket where shared solutions make sense.

• Engage the public through education, outreach, and a new online platform to keep residents involved.