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Dave Moran, BCC's director of facilities, and Laura Saldarini, director of Academic Operations and chair of the Green Team, traveled to the Massachusetts State House to represent BCC at the Leading By Example Awards.

Berkshire Community College Wins Prestigious Sustainability Award

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College was one of eight state organizations that was recognized at the 13th annual Leading by Example awards for clean energy initiatives in public higher education in the commonwealth by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

The Leading by Example program is administered by the Department of Energy Resources and works collaboratively with state agencies and public colleges and universities to advance clean energy and sustainable practices that reduce the environmental impacts of state government operations. The awards were presented at a State House ceremony by DOER Commissioner Judith Judson and Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Commissioner Carol Gladstone.

"What an exciting day today," said Ellen Kennedy, BCC's president. "Our efforts with renewable energy, composting, recycling and, frankly, our culture of commitment to sustainability through sustainable practices and a sustainability mindset are reflected in the decision to recognize the College for this prestigious honor."

BCC received a recognition award for clean energy, waste reduction and additional sustainability initiatives, including the installation of solar PV that generates the equivalent of 20 percent of campus electricity consumption, achieving an 81 percent waste diversion rate, and second place nationwide in the Recyclemania program through significant composting and recycling programs, a deep retrofit of the Hawthorne/Melville to meet LEED Silver standards, and more.


Much of this work couldn't have been done without the collaborative effort of the Green Team, the group on campus dedicated to reducing the college's carbon footprint, improve sustainable practices, and collaborate with other colleges and institutions.

"Since joining the Green Team, I have already been able to make a difference on my campus," said Brennah Brickle, freshman environmental science major at BCC. "I had the idea to start a work-study program where I assist and educate students and staff on how to properly dispose of their waste into the correct bins in the cafeteria. The Green Team was receptive of the idea and I went to work from there, seeing a significant change in our waste diversion immediately."

These efforts have not been for nothing. According to the facilities department, the day Brennah began working in the cafeteria, they saw a notable increase in the amount of correctly composted and recycled materials and decrease in the amount of waste going to landfills. This effort in conjunction with other initiatives on campus should put BCC on track to reach the goal of a 90 percent waste diversion rate and become number one in the country in the RecylceMania competition this year.

"At BCC we understand that is necessary to make changes in our daily routine so that we reduce our waste output and energy usage. The Green Team meets regularly to discuss and implement ideas and strategies across campus. Students, administration, faculty and staff all work together on green-minded actions and in doing so we set an example for our students and community members. We are very proud of our composting, recycling and energy reduction efforts," said Travis Costello, Green Team member and liberal arts major, class of 2020.


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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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