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Pittsfield Schools Praised for Recycling

By Joe DurwinSpecial to iBerkshires
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Mayor Daniel Bianchi congratulates the Pittsfield schools for their recycling efforts that have saved the city thousands of dollars. Pittsfield High Principal Tracey Benson joined him at the steps of PHS on Monday.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Daniel Bianchi and other city officials on Monday hailed successes of recycling efforts in city public schools that they say have saved local taxpayers as much as $30,000 annually.

At a press conference on the steps of Pittsfield High School, the mayor presented commendations to representatives from each public school in acknowlegdement of their achievements implementing aggressive recycling in recent years.

Pittsfield residents dispose of about 16,800 tons of solid waste each year, or about 1 ton per household, Bianchi said in his proclamation from the high school steps. Through increased efforts in recent years, Pittsfield schools have achieved a recycling rate of about 30 percent, resulting in an estimated municipal savings of around $30,000 per year.

Bianchi praised both students and staff, from administrators to custodial staff, for their diligence in these efforts.

"Pittsfield schools' recycling program got very serious about its mission a few years ago," said Bianchi, "and like all missions that are successful, it had some excellent leaders."

"Doing well by the environment is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing, from an ecological standpoint," the mayor told the assembled crowd of students and staff. "Whereas the 20th century was a century that unfortunately polluted a lot of our world, I am so positive that the 21st century is going to be noted as a century where we took back control of protecting our environment, and you kids are going to be the leaders of doing that."

The Center for Environmental Technologies was recognized for its help in coordinating and supporting this effort.

John Majercak, director of CET, said the difference between now and when the center began 15 years ago "is that this is really becoming the regular way that we do things."

"Thank you so much for being part of it," Majercak said, "and for making our job easier by doing all that you are."

In acknowledgement of their success in increasing recycling to its current level, the city presented each school with a "2012 Green Ribbon Certificate of Recognition."

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EPA Lays Out Draft Plan for PCB Remediation in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Ward 4 Councilor James Conant requested the meeting be held at Herberg Middle School as his ward will be most affected. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency and General Electric have a preliminary plan to remediate polychlorinated biphenyls from the city's Rest of River stretch by 2032.

"We're going to implement the remedy, move on, and in five years we can be done with the majority of the issues in Pittsfield," Project Manager Dean Tagliaferro said during a hearing on Wednesday.

"The goal is to restore the (Housatonic) river, make the river an asset. Right now, it's a liability."

The PCB-polluted "Rest of River" stretches nearly 125 miles from the confluence of the East and West Branches of the river in Pittsfield to the end of Reach 16 just before Long Island Sound in Connecticut.  The city's five-mile reach, 5A, goes from the confluence to the wastewater treatment plant and includes river channels, banks, backwaters, and 325 acres of floodplains.

The event was held at Herberg Middle School, as Ward 4 Councilor James Conant wanted to ensure that the residents who will be most affected by the cleanup didn't have to travel far.

Conant emphasized that "nothing is set in actual stone" and it will not be solidified for many months.

In February 2020, the Rest of River settlement agreement that outlines the continued cleanup was signed by the U.S. EPA, GE, the state, the city of Pittsfield, the towns of Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield, and other interested parties.

Remediation has been in progress since the 1970s, including 27 cleanups. The remedy settled in 2020 includes the removal of one million cubic yards of contaminated sediment and floodplain soils, an 89 percent reduction of downstream transport of PCBs, an upland disposal facility located near Woods Pond (which has been contested by Southern Berkshire residents) as well as offsite disposal, and the removal of two dams.

The estimated cost is about $576 million and will take about 13 years to complete once construction begins.

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