Opinion: Could Pittsfield Waste Reduction Contract Be a Model for Amherst?

Local and Green

The following column appeared previously in the Amherst Bulletin.

As the need for climate action is challenged on the national stage, there is much we can do on a local level to proudly take a stand in addition to our calls to legislators and protests. 

Pittsfield, Massacusetts recently took a bold step in waste reduction, which could serve as an example for Amherst and other municipalities. Amherst is currently moving a proposal forward that would reform our waste hauling system to one that would significantly reduce our waste. The town is considering changing our current system where one hauler provides subscription service to residents, to a system that requires a town contract with one or more haulers, obtained through a competitive bidding process. The proposal, sponsored by Town Councilors Jennifer Taub, Andy Steinberg and Ellisha Walker, and by community sponsor Zero Waste Amherst, requires that the contract provide both a pay-as-you-throw fee structure, and universal curbside compost pick up as means of reducing our waste. Looking at Pittsfield’s innovations should be instructive to Amherst.

Pittsfield’s New Automated Dual sSream Recycling System Reduces Waste and Saves Money
Under the leadership of two climate champions who were concerned about Pittsfield continuing to produce unlimited waste, Mayor Peter Marchete and DPW Commissioner Ricardo Morales, Pittsfield made several changes in their waste hauling system. Previously, Pittsfield provided manual, unlimited trash and recycling collection with no financial incentive to reduce trash, under contract with waste hauler Casella. In 2024, the city’s contract, still with Casella, changed from manual curbside collection to fully automated collection using a side loaded truck equipped with arms to pick up specially provided carts. 

Most haulers who provide automated service provide only single stream recycling. Casella agreed to continue providing dual stream recycling even though it would be providing it with automated trucks. East Longmeadow has also recently changed to automated dual stream recycling.

Although single stream recycling provides more recycling content, there is much more contamination with single stream than dual stream. According to the Institute for Local Self Reliance, “Support for dual stream is important because it results in cleaner materials, produces less residue and contamination and therefore generates more actual recyclables, and can cost less than single stream. The markets are telling us that dual stream is a key to a struggling recycling sector.”

According to a 2023 Zero Waste Amherst survey of Amherst residents of trash, recycling and compost services, 62% of the respondents who use the transfer station say they chose to do so because it provides dual stream recycling and 18% of respondents who use both the hauler and the transfer station say they prefer dual stream recycling. A change to dual stream recycling by the hauler would mean collection of paper on one week and mixed recyclables on the alternate week, as done by our previous small, local haulers.

Pittsfield’s New Pay-as-You-Throw System Incentivizes Waste Reduction
In its new contract, Pittsfield has incorporated a best waste reduction practice by implementing pick up of both trash and recycling in 48 gallon carts. Residents can request more carts if needed. Additional recycling carts are free and additional trash carts are available for a fee of $40 per quarter. Pay as you throw systems, where residents have a financial incentive to use a smaller cart or fewer bags, have been shown to reduce waste by 35%. 

Louisville, CO is Zero Waste Amherst’s model city for using cart size to incentivize waste reduction. It provides three sizes of carts,  35 gallon, 65 gallon and 95 gallon with the 65 gallon about $15/mo more costly than 35 gallon and 95 gallon about $15/mo more costly than the 65 gallon. Trash is picked up biweekly, though weekly service can be purchased. Our current Amherst residential hauler provides a $2/mo difference between the small, medium and large cart costs, not enough to incentivize waste reduction.

Pittsfield hasn’t yet added a curbside compost pick up in its contract. Diverting compostable materials from the waste stream holds the promise of reducing waste another 40%.

I hope Amherst can stand up for the climate and against air pollution by speeding the adoption and implementation of a new waste reduction proposal that we can all be proud of. Let’s not continue down the road of unlimited waste. Please contact the Town Manager and Town Council here to urge that the waste reduction proposal be fast tracked for implementation in 2026 – after you make that call to your congressional delegation.

Darcy DuMont is a former town councilor and sponsor of the legislation creating the Amherst Energy and Climate Action Committee. She is a founding member of Zero Waste Amherst, Local Energy Advocates of Western MA, and a non-voting member of Valley Green Energy Working Group. She can be contacted at dumint140@gmail.com