Pittsfield Launches Campaign For New Trash, Collection System

10:40AM / Thursday, August 15, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Beginning early this fall, residential curbside trash and recycling will be picked up by an automated side-load truck.

Residences with four or less units will be receive one recycling cart (also known as toter) and one trash cart per household/unit. The recycling cart is expected to be delivered starting in mid- September to early October, one collection route at a time. The trash cart will then be delivered in mid-October to early November, one collection route at a time. A schedule with more information can be found on the city's website: Cart Delivery & Pickup (revize.com)

There is no need for residents to be home to receive their carts. As part of the delivery, carts will include additional instructions for placement as well as a calendar and frequently asked questions.

If you want to request an additional recycling cart for free or an additional trash cart for a fee of $40.00 per quarter, contact the Department of Public Utilities at (413) 499-9330. Delivery of additional carts will take approximately three weeks to arrive at your residence.

Residents may continue to use their small blue recycling bins for sorting recycling materials. However, any recyclables will need to be placed in the recycling cart at the curb each week for collection.

In preparation of this new collection system, city officials will be hosting several community meetings to provide an overview of the new system on the following dates:

Wednesday, August 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, 330 North Street
Monday, September 9 at 6:00 p.m. at Morningside Community School, Cafeteria, 100 Burbank Street
Thursday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Reid Middle School, Auditorium, 950 North Street
Monday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Berkshire Athenaeum, Auditorium, 1 Wendell Ave (Presentation provided in Spanish)

In addition to the community meetings, information will be shared through mailers directly to residents, the city's website, city's social media pages and to local media outlets during the upcoming weeks and months.

For more information, including answers to frequently asked questions, please visit: Trash and Recycling New Collection System (cityofpittsfield.org).

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Pittsfield Health Board Advises Outreach Program

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
10:20AM / Tuesday, February 10, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Board of Health is advising against a public camping ordinance.

Instead, it recommends an alternative community response program that connects unhoused individuals with resources.

On Wednesday, the board approved its recommendations for addressing housing insecurity in the city, which will go to the City Council on Tuesday. The controversial camping ordinance was sent to the health officials in September 2025, and they have determined it is not the best approach for Pittsfield.

After months of consideration and a visit to the Northampton Division of Community Care, they recommend piloting an alternative community response program with two new homeless service coordinators who would begin work in the spring.

"We believe that a public health and a continued thoughtful community outreach plan will provide the best chance at addressing the challenge of homelessness in our community," the plan reads.

"This effort must be driven by metrics, and anchored by strong partnerships with existing public and municipal service agencies. This also means that there will still be enforcement actions required for illegal behaviors, but our overall emphasis will be social action and follow-up support."

It comes with seven recommendations: Take the camping ordinance off the table; develop an alternative community response program within the Health Department; create and maintain a community resource asset map; drive the program and processes with data through a HIPAA Compliant data system; staff training; a focus on homelessness related issues in public spaces in the downtown area; and to strengthen the relationship with Pittsfield Police Department co-responders without a dispatch-based system.

Director of Public Health Andy Cambi reported that he has a budget available for these items, partially through a vacant social worker position that has been on hold, and he envisions the service coordinators starting in May.

Tuesday's agenda item will be brought forward by Mayor Peter Marchetti, who Cambi said is supportive of this conversation's outcome.