Tri-Town Health Department to Host Household Hazardous Waste Day in October

LEE, Mass. — The Tri-Town Health Department will host a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Lee Water Treatment Plant, located at 379 Pleasant St.

The collection event is available to residents of Alford, Becket, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and West Stockbridge. Pre-registration is required to participate.

Accepted materials include various household, yard, workbench, and automotive chemical products:

• Yard and Garden: Pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, insect sprays, rodent killers, flea powder, no-pest strips, chemical fertilizers, mothballs, lighter fluid, pool chemicals, and cesspool cleaners.
• Workbench: Rust preventers, wood preservatives, wood strippers, stains, paint thinners, muriatic acid, lead- and oil-based paint, varnish, full aerosol cans, sealants, adhesives, solvents, and creosote.
• House: Drain cleaners, oven cleaners, floor cleaners, metal polish, arts and craft supplies, photo chemicals, chemistry kits, rechargeable batteries, button batteries, fluorescent bulbs, thermometers, and thermostats.
• Garage: Gasoline, kerosene, brake and transmission fluids, car wax and polish, engine degreaser, motor oil, swimming pool chemicals, driveway sealer, antifreeze, and lead-acid car batteries.

Certain items will not be accepted, including commercial waste, latex paint, standard batteries, asbestos, fireworks or explosives, ammunition, construction debris, smoke detectors, propane or gas cylinders, radioactive material, PCBs, fire extinguishers, electronics, medical sharps, and medications.

Organizers instruct attendees to transport items in their original containers with caps and lids tightened, packed upright in sturdy boxes. Mixing chemicals, smoking near waste materials, and making intermediate stops after loading items into vehicles are strictly prohibited.

Registration links, additional details, and contact information are available at www.tritownhealth.org or by calling (413) 243-5540.

Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

 

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building. 

 

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

 

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

 

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

 

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

 

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.