Pittsfield Council Advances Toter Contract to Final VoteThe City Council has taken a move toward toters, preliminarily approving a five-year contract with Casella Waste Management. Berkshire Athenaeum Computer Recycling CollectionAccepted items include monitors, scanners, computer mice, printers, keyboards, laptop batteries, ink and toner cartridges, computers, hard drives, speakers, cords, and cables. No television sets will be accepted. Pittsfield, North Adams Support Paint Stewardship ProgramPittsfield's City Council last week voted unanimously to support a resolution requesting the Legislature act favorably on the bill before the House Ways & Means Committee. The North Adams City Council did the same. Composting Company Talks Bettering Municipal Waste at BEAT's Green DrinksSecond Chance Composting picks up food scraps and other organic matter and processes it into compost, covering the Berkshires and parts of Southern Vermont. Child Care of the Berkshires Youths Add Recycling Bins to North Adams ParkAaron Willis' class at Child Care of the Berkshires showed off a series of four recycling bins adorned by original art the youngsters created to encourage people to use the receptacles in the Noel Field complex that abuts the State Street early care and education program. Solid Waste Forum Urges Support for Mattress Recycling BillThe International Sleep Products Association works with states during the legislative process and once the law passes, MRC develops plans and implements programs. Solid Waste Forum Set WednesdayA solid waste forum this Wednesday at the Berkshire Innovation Center will focus on legislation regarding mattress and pain recycling. Berkshire Athenaeum Celebrates Earth Day with Computer Recycling CollectionThe event is made possible through a partnership with the Dell-Reconnect residential recycling program. Accepted items include monitors, scanners, computer mice, printers, keyboards, laptop batteries, ink and toner cartridges, computers, hard drives, speakers, cords, and cables. North Adams' Apkins Scrapyard to Close Dec. 23After nearly seven decades in operation, George Apkin & Sons scrapyard on State Street will close on Dec. 23. North Adams, Pittsfield Receive Recycling GrantsThe grants, made available through the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), will help communities maximize their recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs. New Waste Disposal Ban Regulations Take EffectThe new regulations will ban the disposal of mattresses and textiles in the trash, as well as decrease food waste from businesses and institutions. Pittsfield's New Mattress Recycling Program Mirrors State Efforts for Decreased WasteThey will now schedule a pickup with a Fitchburg-based recycling company and pay a service fee of $55. The process will replace Pittsfield's bulky waste sticker program that costs $20 per item. Pittsfield Announces New Partnership for Mattress RecyclingUnder the new system, residents can schedule a pickup appointment through the company's online scheduling system. Old Stone Mill Center Working on Waste-reducing InitiativesLeni Fried and Mike Augspurger have turned the Old Stone Mill Center into a "Zero Waste" maker space. |