Berkshire Athenaeum Celebrates Earth Day with Computer Recycling

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In observance of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, is collaborating with Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont by hosting a computer recycling collection starting Tuesday, April 21, and continuing through Saturday, April 25.
 
The event is made possible through a partnership with the Dell-Reconnect residential recycling program.
 
Accepted items include monitors, scanners, computer mice, printers, keyboards, laptop batteries, ink and toner cartridges, computers, hard drives, speakers, cords, and cables. No television sets will be accepted.
 
Data provided by Maryam Kamangar, Goodwill's Manager of Community Development, shows that from July 2018 to June 2025 the Dell-Reconnect partnership with four Berkshire County Goodwill Stores has recycled 230,243 pounds of computer equipment.
 
"The Berkshire Athenaeum is thrilled to partner with Goodwill on this collection for another year," states Adult Services and Programming Supervisor, Olivia Bowers. "Not only does this work strengthen the library's connections with our community, it also is a great way to celebrate Earth Day and do our part in protecting the environment."
 
Recycled items will be accepted during regular library hours in the designated bins. Personal data should be removed from any computers or hard drives that are being recycled as part of this program. Neither Dell nor the Berkshire Athenaeum is liable for data removal or protection.
 
The Dell-Reconnect program was created in 2004. Trained staff in 44 states sort and process collected equipment to be picked up and recycled by Dell. Revenue from the program gives back to Dell-Reconnect to support Goodwill's employment placement and job training services.
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive. 

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour. 

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.  

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children.  The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation.  One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue. 

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out. 

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release. 

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