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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Free Vaccinations Available Throughout Berkshire County

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
10:30AM / Saturday, October 10, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fall season is also the flu season, which means vaccine clinics are now available.

The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative will provide public vaccination clinics in Berkshire communities this fall, including the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. There are about 49 clinics.

The collaborative began during COVID-19 to help vaccinate people across Berkshire County. Berkshire Health Systems started the Get Vaccinated Berkshires website and still manages it. The group works with the Pittsfield Public Health Department, Community Health Programs, and the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative.

"The majority of people will always get the flu [vaccine] because, as I said, if you've ever gotten the flu, you will always get a flu vaccine because it's so bad. And just so you know, the flu is already in Berkshire County. It's an early season this year," said Leslie Drager, who is the senior public health nurse at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

Drager said last year they issued 2,705 vaccines, with more than 1,100 of them being for COVID-19 and more than 1,500 being flu. In total, they were able to vaccinate 1,669 people in Central and North County, in addition to Pittsfield.

Drager also said she will be carrying three types of COVID vaccines this year, which is in high demand.

"We have a high demand of COVID vaccine, which is awesome," she said. "So we're doing a lot of COVID vaccines. Also, I provide Pfizer, and this year I have Moderna and the Novavax, which I think is real important to get out there because the Novavax, a lot of people want, people with long COVID. So I'm carrying all three vaccines this year, which I normally only carry the Pfizer."

Public health departments also can help people access other vaccines such as for measles or meningitis when they cannot get them through a pediatrician, she added.

Using the website, people are able to get vaccines even if they are homebound by filling out a form.

All public Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative clinics are free of charge, but registrants are asked to provide insurance information, when available, in order to defray costs. The clinics are open to anyone 6 months of age or older, the age group recommended to receive an annual flu vaccine and the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

"I always encourage everybody to wear a short sleeve shirt because it makes it a heck of a lot easier to get at," Drager said. "And children, we do carry the nasal flu, the live virus of nasal flu for kids that are afraid to get needles."

Registration is highly recommended for the clinics. Walk-ins may be accepted depending on the number of vaccine doses available at each clinic, with preference given to those who are registered.

"It's really important. I'm really encouraging vaccinations for the schools, because not only you know if the kids are vaccinated and the teachers are vaccinated, the schools won't have the flu go wild right through it," Drager said. "And of course, the best way to prevent infections: washing your hands. So don't touch your face, and wash your hands."

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