Pittsfield Announces Trash/Recycling Bin Disposal Opportunities

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:31PM / Sunday, November 03, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Residents will have two opportunities to dispose of their old trash and recycling containers as the new toter system rolls out.

This includes a drop-off at Casella Waste Systems' transfer station, located at 500 Hubbard Ave., and a residential pickup within the next few weeks.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, residents can drop them off at the transfer station from 8 a.m. to noon. During the week of Nov. 11-15, old trash and recycling containers will be picked up curbside on the same day of scheduled collection.

"Casella will pick up any old trash and recycling containers, left at the curbside, by a separate truck and not by the trash or recycling truck," the city recently wrote in a press release.

"For residents who have backyard pickups, unless you indicate that you are keeping the old
container with a note, Casella will pick up your old container(s) the week of November 11."

The city encouraged residents to repurpose the containers if possible. This can mean selling or donating, using them for storage or yard waste, and using them as a compost bin.

The delivery of recycling toters began on Sept. 10 and trash toters began rolling out last week.

In June, the council approved draft five-year contracts with Casella Waste Management for a new trash system that uses 48-gallon toters for recycling and trash.

The administration reached constituents through nine community meetings, mailers, print and digital media, radio, public access, and social media so they were informed about the new system.

During the meetings, attendees expressed concern about disposing of their old containers. While this had not been considered early on in the process, the city made a plan.

Officials say Pittsfield's nearly 17,400 households produce about 1,800 pounds of trash each annually, generating close to 20 tons as a community. The system aims to reduce each household's waste to 1,370 pounds annually.

There is a potential for more than $500,000 in cost savings through the program, Mayor Peter Marchetti said, and most is through recyclables. Automation saves the city $80,000 per year and the city can see much larger savings if it steps up on recycling.

Additional resources for the new trash and collection system can be found on the toter program page on the city's website.

Tags: trash,

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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.