NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The average city family can expect to pay about $22 more a year to get rid of their trash.
The Public Services Committee is recommending new rates for the transfer station of $133.45 per ton, or $0.0667 per pound. The old rate was $126.59 with an average yearly cost of $469.38; this will now be $491.57.
"We have a built in contingency to cover all the things, such as we pick up our trash at city parks, Main Street, any illegal dumping," Administrative Officer Michael Canales told a recent committee meeting. "We give out two bags per resident. And then we also cover recycling costs, and any environmental or fuel costs that we pick up during the year, which brings our total to $94.45 per ton."
Most of the cost of the transfer station is tied up in hauling away trash. The new contract that goes into effect July 1 with Casella Waste Systems will be $78.71 a ton.
At an estimated 4,000 tons, the cost for waste disposal is $377,789.65, or 71 percent of the proposed $533,806.07 budget for fiscal 2021.
The balance of $151,016.42 is for salaries, utilities, fuel, supplies, health insurance, engineering and repairs.
All other fees will remain the same as well as the current hours and days the transfer station is open.
The sales of resident ($60), non-resident ($80) and commercial ($85) stickers is expected to bring in $92,500 in capital income, about a $20,000 drop from this year.
The transfer station no longer accepts large haulers, and is considered a small-scale operation. It expects to sell about 100 commercial permits for small haulers and commercial-plate vehicles. In contrast, residential stickers are expected to be at 1,000 and non-resident at 300.
Canales said the average family generates about 4.43 pounds of trash a day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This means it will cost $22.19 more for a residential family in fiscal 2021 to get rid of their trash.
"If you're really strict on recycling, that's the number one thing you can do to lower your costs per ton," he said.
Canales said the approximation of 4,000 tons is very close since the transfer station is currently on track at 3,890 tons.
All other fees will remain the same and we will be maintaining the current operational hours and days at the transfer station.
"This year, we're kind of about $30,000 over because of some other costs that we've incurred up there," he said. "But we ended up about $50,000 in revenue higher, so it is covering its costs. ...
"So in the end, the transfer station is able to cover itself."
The transfer station had been better at generating revenue but changes in the recycling market has reduced that ability. A load of recyclables could fetch $120-$130 but it costs $577 to ship. It also used to take in upwards of 14,000 tons but no longer does as it can no longer compete with larger disposal sites.
Questions had been raised about the $25,000 line item for miscellaneous. Canales said the line covers the cost of equipment maintenance and odds and ends like pest control. Tires for the backhoe are $4,000 a piece and fixing a broken scale can cost thousands, he said.
The city had looked into joining the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste District but it does not seem to be a good financial move as this point, Canales said, but the city is looking to partner with the waste district on some initiatives.
"One of the things is we want to get a Green Team started at our schools and begin the educational outreach in order to improve our efficiency," he said. In turn, the waste district needs a site for bulky and electronics waste.
Canales said he would like another Public Services meeting to go over some of the benefits of working with the waste district.
Residents can currently get their stickers at the skating rink since City Hall is still closed. They are available on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Canales said this set up has worked out well compared to purchases at the transfer station, which can get chaotic.
"I think this is something we should continue to do even into next year because the rink is closed at this time," he said. "And because there's a cash register and everything right there. ... This is a much more controlled environment."
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Colegrove Park Recognized as Top 10 School Statewide in Attendance
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Superintendent Barbara Malkas, left, Colegrove Principal Amy Meehan, Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Dean of Students Jonathan Slocum pose with the Celtics basketball award on Friday.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year.
Tim Connor, assistant director for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's west and central district, arrived with a gold basketball signed by the champion team to reward the students for their achievement.
"An award like this doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of work from all of you, the students, the parents, and especially Ms. Meehan and her wonderful staff, so a big round of applause," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, after leading the assembly in the gym to chants of "Colegrove rocks!" "I am so proud of this school and the community that all of you have built. So everyone should be really excited about today, and this is an excellent way to start your school."
Superintendent Barbara Malkas asked last year's fifth-graders at Colegrove to join her at the front of the gym for a special applause.
"When we track attendance of all the students in the whole district, these students have the highest attendance rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the entire district," Malkas said. "While all Colegrove students have been recognized as attendance all-stars, these students led the way in being attendance all-stars, so let's give them one more round of applause."
Colegrove switched this year to house Grades 3 to 6, so some of the younger students who helped earn the award are now at Brayton Elementary. However, all three elementary schools open last year saw improvement in attendance.
Schools statewide have been working to reduce chronic absenteeism — the percentage of students missing 10 percent of the school year, or 18 days — which peaked during the pandemic.
Last week, the nonprofit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 900-square-foot wooden structure with a full foundation and a composting toilet. The excavation process began this week, and completion is expected in 2026.
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The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year. click for more