Household Hazardous Waste Collection Planned for Pittsfield

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A household hazardous waste collection, organized by the City of Pittsfield, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
 
Those interested must pre-register to drop off designated household hazardous waste items. No walk-ins will be allowed.
 
The collection, held at a new location this year, will take place at the Casella Transfer Station located
at 500 Hubbard Avenue in Pittsfield.
 
Online pre-registration is required by midnight on October 24 and can be accessed through this link: https://rebrand.ly/hhwd-pitt. Review the complete list of accepted and unaccepted items prior to registering.
 
As space is limited, participants will select a 30-minute appointment window for drop-off. Patrons are asked to place materials in the trunk of their vehicles. Additionally, for safety purposes, participants are asked to remain in their vehicles and refrain from smoking for the duration of the visit.
 
Additional instructions will be provided for registered participants.
 
A wide range of unwanted household products with labels indicating the need for special handling or disposal will be accepted, as well as rechargeable button and other non-alkaline batteries, and mercury-bearing thermostats and thermometers.
 
Residents without computer access may call the Department of Public Utilities at (413) 499-9330 for registration assistance.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
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