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Casella demolished the former Eco Power building for redevelopment into a waste transfer station.

Pittsfield ZBA Grants Casella Permit for Waste Transfer Facility

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Zoning Board of Appeals calls Casella's planned redevelopment of the former trash incinerator an improvement to the site.

Last week, the panel approved a special permit to allow a waste transfer facility at the site on 500 Hubbard Ave. Casella Waste Management purchased the waste transfer facility on Hubbard Avenue from Community Eco Power LLC, which filed for bankruptcy in 2021 and has demolished it for redevelopment into a waste transfer station.

The owners say the trash will be brought to the facility and transferred away daily. Concerns that were voiced about the project include odor and impacts to the surrounding area but Casella says the new operation will be less of an impact than the former.

"I think this is going to be a vast improvement based upon the facility that was there previously. I know that sometimes you would get a sight of the other one, they used to dump the waste and it was laying like a floating pond," board member John Fitzgerald said.

"And since the trash is not going to be there, it's going to be in and out, I think the odor will be reduced and I think the vermin will be reduced."

It was also pointed out that the site has handled trash for 40 years.

"I think a lot of the odor before was related to burning," board member Esther Anderson "And there's not going to be burning so it it's going to be greatly reducing the amount of odor and if it's not sitting there is no place for vermin to be."

The former incinerator, including a 118-foot tall stack, has already been demolished a fabric structure is being used temporarily for waste handling.

"The new facility is considerably different in its characteristics than the previous facility and it's much more neighbor friendly and environmentally compliant than an incinerator facility. For example, the incinerator facility had a pit that would hold waste temporarily but the waste will often stay there for a period of time. That can act as an attractant to vectors, vermin, or insects," Jack O'Leary of Green Seal Environmental, LCC explained on behalf of Casella.

"The new facility will have a building where the waste is handled entirely inside and it will have equipment such as a misting system and then doors that are closed when the facility is not being operated, which will help keep the vectors outside and keep all of the dust and odor inside. Another factor is that it being a modern transfer station facility, the municipal waste, the material will not remain in the facility for very long. It's removed every day and it leaves the site going to his destination so the attractant that can cause a nuisance doesn't remain except during the workday."

The fabric structure will be used for municipal solid waste drop-off after the new building is constructed.  There will also be a new stormwater system that meets Department of Environmental Protection requirements and all discharge will be routed through a water quality system.



"From a bulk standpoint the new building that's being constructed is considerably smaller than the previous incinerator building and related structures," O'Leary added. "It has a smaller footprint and has increased setback so we less use of the site because of that."

Manager Killian Flynn reported that drop-off services are guaranteed to resume for Pittsfield residents.  Due to the demolition on the site, the public has not been able to drop off waste as a safety precaution.

Flynn wants the building done as soon as possible.

"I was hoping the fourth quarter of this year," he said. "I'm hoping to get the concrete in. If we can get the concrete in before it freezes then we can we can start putting the shell together on that."

The ZBA also approved a special permit for a cannabis dispensary in the Allendale Shopping Center at 5 Cheshire Road. Cloud 9 is planned to be located next to Wood Bros. music store, Vivaldi's Pizza, and Lucky Nails.

"It's in the mall so we don't have any exterior changes other than anything regarding security and surveillance or anything like that," owner Edward Salzman said.

"So we'll just put up our signage which will be consistent with what the Allendale shopping mall and Zoning Board and the city of Pittsfield regulations for signage, we will meet all that and comply with every other state, local, and federal regulation."

The special permit was unanimously approved but Anderson expressed concern for the location of the facility because children would be nearby.

"There could also be a bar there, which there are children walking by," Fitzgerald said.

"This is not an establishment where a kid is gonna go walking in. Most of them, the clientele is screened or scanned before they go in so it's not that. Most of them have the windows block so the kids can't see what's going on and in this day and age, I think the kids are more informed than we are."

Salzman explained that there will be somewhat of a lobby at the entrance without branding or products where clients will be screened to ensure that they are of age before entering the dispensary.


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State Fire Marshal: Fall Back Safely

STOW, Mass.—With the end of daylight savings time coming on Nov. 3, Massachusetts fire officials issued a seasonal reminder to check smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and change the batteries when changing clocks.

"Working smoke and CO alarms are vital to your safety at home," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "As we 'fall back' this weekend, protect yourself and the people you care for by putting fresh alkaline batteries in alarms that use them and replacing alarms that are out of date."

Today's smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have the manufacturing date printed on the back of the device. Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and CO alarms should be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions – usually 5, 7, or 10 years, depending on the model. Unless you have newer alarms with 10-year sealed batteries, this is also a good time to replace the alkaline batteries in all your alarms. And remember to test your smoke and CO alarms once a month to be sure they're working properly.

Heating Season Brings Carbon Monoxide Hazards

Foxborough Fire Chief Michael Kelleher, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, emphasized the importance of working carbon monoxide alarms as we enter the colder months.

"Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States, and heating equipment is the main source of carbon monoxide in the home," Chief Kelleher said. "We can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. Working CO alarms are the only way to detect this invisible killer."

Replacement Alarms Should Have Sealed, Long-Life Batteries and a Hush Feature

Replacing your old single-station smoke alarm? Choose alarms that have sealed, long-life batteries and a hush feature. This makes it less likely that someone in the home will use the batteries for another device, forget to change them twice a year, or remove them when cooking causes smoke in the kitchen.

"Disabling a smoke alarm puts you, your loved ones, and everyone in the building at risk," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "Never remove batteries from a smoke alarm except when putting fresh ones in."

Alarms Should Be Listed by an Independent Lab

Massachusetts requires that all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Listed devices will have the laboratory's mark on the back. In recent years, fire officials have seen numerous smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that were purchased online and either have counterfeit marks or no mark at all.

"Smoke and CO alarms can be the difference between life and death, but only if they work properly." said Chief Kelleher. "When you purchase a new alarm, choose one from a well-known, national brand. We've seen many alarms that were purchased online and don't meet the safety requirements of our State Fire Code. If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is."

Create & Practice a Home Escape Plan

"Changes to building construction and furnishings mean we have less time to escape a fire at home than ever before," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "You could have just three minutes to get out safely."

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