PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council approved a couple of "green" items during its meeting last week. 

This includes more than $20,000 from the state for recycling initiatives, as well as cell phone recycling automated machines at Cumberland Farms on First Street and in Market 32 at 555 Hubbard Ave. 

Pittsfield received $21,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program, which reinvests a portion of Waste Energy Certificates into recycling programs. More than $4.2 million was distributed across the state this year. 

WECs are tradable, unit-specific certificates (1 per MWh) generated by qualified waste-to-energy facilities. 

"It's supposed to be this self-sustaining cycle of you bring money in, you can continue reducing trash, increasing recycling, increasing diversion from the landfill, and at the same time, you bring money in and support that effort," Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales explained. 

In the last two years, the city has seen a slight increase in funds because of its categorization as an environmental justice community, and Morales would like to increase that number even more.  Communities of Pittsfield’s size can see up to $50,000 based on a point system for recycling efforts. 

The city received points for bulky items, curbside recycling regulation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, organics, and waste prevention outreach and education. These funds are used to purchase products such as the composting bins that Pittsfield sells to residents for half the price. 

Morales reported that the city has been saving funds to start a recycling program staffed by a contractor, but that is not being presented "in any way" at this point.