Household Hazardous Waste Collection Planned for Pittsfield

07:35AM / Friday, October 17, 2025Print Story | Email Story

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.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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