Berkshire Communities Awarded Recycling, Waste Reduction Grants

10:40AM / Tuesday, December 31, 2024Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $4 million in Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) grants to 285 municipalities and regional solid waste districts, that will help communities maximize their recycling, composting and waste reduction programs.

"Every day, communities across Massachusetts are taking important steps towards environmental protection and sustainability through waste reduction," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "This funding will further empower municipalities to implement innovative programs and policies that are proven to maximize reuse, recycling, and composting."

In Berkshire County:

Pay-As-You-Throw Program Start-up Funds

Monterey $ 2,700.00

Recycling Dividends Program

Adams $ 4,550.00
Cheshire $ 4,200.00
Dalton $ 4,900.00
Egremont $ 4,550.00
Florida $ 1,960.00
Great Barrington $ 1,225.00
Hancock $ 1,470.00
Hinsdale $ 4,550.00
Lee $ 1,960.00
Monterey $ 1,225.00
New Marlborough $ 1,470.00
Otis $ 1,225.00
Peru $ 4,200.00
Pittsfield $ 17,500.00
Sandisfield $ 1,225.00
Savoy $ 5,250.00
Sheffield $ 4,550.00
Stockbridge $ 1,470.00
Washington $ 735.00
Williamstown $ 4,900.00

Regional Small-Scale Initiatives

Northern Berkshires Solid Waste Management District (NBSWMD) $ 1,500.00

Shed or Equipment for Reuse Swap Shop

Dalton $ 6,000.00
New Marlborough $ 6,000.00
Peru $ 6,000.00
Savoy $ 6,000.00

Shed for Universal Waste

Stockbridge $ 5,000.00

MassDEP's SMRP Program provides funding for recycling, composting, reuse, and source reduction activities that will reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills and incinerators. Waste prevention and recycling reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing the embodied energy in everyday products and packaging waste and converting it into new products. More than $60 million has been awarded through the program since 2010.

This year, 278 communities qualified for the Recycling Dividends Program and will receive funding totaling more than $3 million. This program recognizes municipalities that have implemented policies and programs proven to maximize materials reuse and recycling, as well as waste reduction. Communities receiving funding must reinvest in their own municipal recycling efforts. Under the program, 12 municipalities are being awarded grants of more than $50,000: Attleboro, Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Lowell, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester.

Additional grant funds are being awarded to support start-up incentives for Pay-As-You-Throw programs, containers to direct mattresses to recycling facilities, wheeled carts for curbside collection of food waste, equipment for the collection of mercury-bearing items, and regional small-scale initiatives.

Tags: recycling,

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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