The Board of Public Works has completed a comprehensive review of the proposed “Regulations for Refuse and Recycling Collection” (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”), and we recommend the adoption of these Regulations by the Board of Health.

1. CITY OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
125 Locust Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-1570
Fax 413-587-1576
Edward S. Huntley, P.E.
Director
To: Northampton Board of Health
From: Northampton Board of Public Works
Terry Culhane (Chair), Rosemary Schmidt (Vice Chair),
M.J. Adams, Jim Dostal, Gary Hartwell, Mike Parsons and David Shearer
Re: Proposed “Mandatory Recycling” Regulations
Date: July 22, 2010
The Board of Public Works has completed a comprehensive review of the proposed “Regulations for Refuse and
Recycling Collection” (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”), and we recommend the adoption of these
Regulations by the Board of Health. A copy is attached to this memorandum.
As you may know, the City has had a mandatory recycling ordinance in place since 1989. However, the existing
ordinance lacks specific standards for compliance and enforcement. The current ordinance states:
There is hereby established in the City of Northampton a program for the mandatory separation of Recyclable
Materials from garbage or rubbish by anyone who lives or works in Northampton, including residents (including
but not limited to inhabitants of single-family units, multifamily units, condominiums, boarding houses, schools,
assisted living facilities, etc.), businesses (including but limited to offices and retail establishments), institutions
and industries located in the City of Northampton. (Ord. of 4-5-90).
With technical assistance provided by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the proposed
Regulations were developed to increase the diversion of recyclable materials and materials banned from disposal
by state regulation. These Regulations focus on waste haulers, and require that all collection services be provided
at a single price (i.e., integrated waste management services). This approach requires that all haulers provide
both waste collection and recyclable collection to every customer, and anyone who lives or works in
Northampton will receive the benefits.
An important feature of the proposed Regulations are the reporting requirements. As the City transitions from
having a local disposal facility to exporting our waste, it will be necessary to have new tools for obtaining
information from waste haulers to ensure that they are in compliance with local and State waste diversion
requirements. Currently, all of the DPW’s enforcement activities related to DEP’s waste disposal bans occur at the
Northampton Landfill.
The purpose of the proposed Regulations is to “provide for the systematic collection of refuse and recyclables in
order to promote recycling, to comply with state-and locally mandated waste disposal bans and for the protection
of public health and the environment.” Towards these ends, the Board of Public Works recommends the
adoption of these Regulations subsequent to a public hearing.
Attachments: Regulations for Refuse and Recycling Collection
Waste hauling permit application documents