DALTON, Mass.— As of July 1, the town has officially joined the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District (NBSWMD) and has become the group's 14th member

 

"I am very excited to have a new member town," NBSWMD Program Manager Linda Cernik said. "...Sharing Services has been our best practice for many years since the District was established in 1988. Since its inception we have grown in size, generated more grant revenue for small rural towns, and expanded services with very little increase in the towns' yearly assessments."

 

Dalton first started the process of joining the district in 2019.

 

Cernik said conversations petered out and once the pandemic started, the process completely halted.

 

Conversations reignited when Cernik was approached by the town's DPW in 2023

 

"From day one the Town of Dalton wanted to join, since meetings started in 2023," she said. "I have had several meetings over the past six months or so, a few site inspections of the transfer station… All good has come from our meetings."

 

She said she has worked closely with DPW Director Bud Hall,  DPW assistant Jess Suleski, and Town Manager Thomas Hutchinson, and after a town meeting vote in June, Dalton was approved to join.

 

Bud Hall said the town opted to join for multiple reasons including better hauling rates.

 

"Bargaining with haulers is tough alone, but with the district, there are thirteen other towns included in the contract which gives much better bargaining power," he said. 

 

He added that joining the district also expands the transfer station's capabilities.

 

"Also there are many different recycling opportunities for things that the Dalton Transfer station does not accept," he said. "The District will also help with grant opportunities for improvements to our transfer station. I am excited to move forward at our transfer station and start to do some updating."

 

The town's assessment is $21,574.70. This is a calculation based on the town's population.

 

Cernik said other services include compliance inspections, MassDEP Waste ban compliance reports, grants, and solid waste and recycling reporting.

 

She added that Dalton can now utilize new recycling opportunities through the NBSWMD's partnerships with different recycling vendors. Dalton will be able to recycle mattresses, tires, lightbulbs, and batteries among other things.

 

They will also be able to join in on special hazardous waste collections, e-waste collections, Shred Fest, and bulky items collection among other special events.

 

Cernik said Dalton could possibly set up a swap shop.