PUPW - 11-16-22 HHW Collection Updates (with 22-1705) — File 22-1705

CITY HALL ANNEX● 50 EVERGREEN AVENUE ● SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS 02145 [phone removed] ● www.somervillema.gov/OSE EMAIL: OSE@somervillema.gov CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT KATJANA BALLANTYNE MAYOR To: Public Utilities Public Works Committee Members: Chair Clingan, Councilor Gomez Mouakad and Councilor Kelly From: Vithal Deshpande Date: November 14, 2022 Re: Household Hazardous Waste collection update Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, Somerville offered an annual household hazardous waste program (HHW) for its residents, which used to be held on the second Saturday of each month from April-November as a drop-off program at DPW yard. During COVID-19 restrictions, the City offered residents a collection program from their residences during designated Wednesdays (for a total 9 times per year). In 2022, the contractor could offer neither collection program nor a Saturday drop-off program. No other HHW contractor was offering Saturday events or collection events. After exploring several possibilities and seeking advice from Mass DEP, and securing a new contractor, OSE developed a temporary offering for this calendar year, where residents can drop-off their HHW at DPW in the evenings of Thursdays of November (except on Thanksgiving) and the first two Thursdays of December, weather permitting. An official press release (shorturl.at/fisQ8) was released as well as having the information shared on social media and WasteWizard. Residents dropped off over 100 carloads over the past two Thursdays. OSE has also confirmed that the contractor will be available for the next year from April to November for regular drop-off events. A detailed program for CY 2023 will be declared in January 2023 and will be shared via Press Release, Environmental Service Guide, Social Media, and WasteWizard.