In an effort to further boost recycling rates and reduce costs associated with disposal, the Springfield DPW will make available to households in Springfield an additional 95 gallon blue recycling barrel. The City has approximately 2,000 recycling barrels available for distribution. Residents can contact the City’s 3-1-1 call center to schedule one for delivery. The barrels were purchased with a grant from the Massachusetts DEP that was received in April of this year.
The Solid Waste Division of the DPW has reduced the amount of rubbish the city disposes of continually for the past 5 years. At the same time recycling has increased year over year. This is saving the City over $300,000 on its annual trash disposal bill.
The past 5 years are as follows;
Fiscal year tonnage Trash Recycling
2007 49,863 4,377
2008 48,788 4,095
2009 45,966 4,600
2010 45,067 5,281
2011 42,207 7,545
Mayor Sarno stated that “the City initiated and undertook a cutting edge and aggressive recycling program because it was the right thing to do environmentally and it creates increased savings for Springfield taxpayers. I want to thank the residents of Springfield for their ongoing cooperation with the recycling program and I remain confident that residents will continue to appreciate the convenience of single stream recycling.”
The Solid Waste Division continually examines new ideas and market trends to provide the best possible service and value for the residents of Springfield. As a reminder, the Solid Waste Division asks that all trash, recycling and yard waste be placed curbside by 6:30 a.m. All yard waste bags and yard waste barrels must not exceed 40 pounds in weight. Brush cannot be longer than two (2) feet in length and one-half (1/2) inch in diameter and must be loosely bundled together. The Bondi’s Island Landfill accepts yard waste for resident drop-off between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays.