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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS


Steven Williams, Director of Public Works
290 Jackson Street, P.O Box 306
Belchertown, MA 01007

Telephone:  (413) 323-0415 

                                      Household Hazardous Waste Day   

                                                             Town of Belchertown –To Be Announced

Several of these Towns have expressed interest and willingness to accept HHW materials from other communities.  Permission and arrangements MUST be made in advance with each town. Please call the appropriate contacts provided below.

Date of Event:

To Be Announced

    9/4/2010 Or 9/11/2010

Longmeadow/East Longmeadow, Hampden/Ludlow and Wilbraham

Contact Person: Ms Arlene Miller

567-5027

Date of Event: 9/25/2009

 FCSWMD-Franklin County Solid Waste Management (Franklin, MA.)    

Contact Person: Jan Ameen

772-2438

Date of Event:

To Be Announced

5/22/2010 Or 11/6/2010

         South Hadley

Contact Person: Veronique Blanchard

538-5033

Date of Event: 10/2/2010

             Chicopee

Contact Person: Barry Brouillard

594-3557

Date of Event: 10/2/2010

             Agawam

Contact person: Tracy Demaio

821-0624

 


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Highway Division
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Maintenance Division
Solid Waste/Transfer Station and Recycling Center
Tree Division



The Department of Public Works consists of the following divisions:

Highway

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Maintenance

Cemetery

Solid Waste

 Trees

**The Belchertown Water District is a separate entity.

 

   Highway Division- Walter Bosworth, Supervisor

The Highway Division is staffed by eight full-time employees. In addition to those persons, it relies heavily on a broad range of contract services to provide service to the community. Belchertown, being one of the largest towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in area (57.5 square miles), contains approximately 185 miles of roadway. That is nearly double the amount of any of our neighboring communities. The Highway Division is responsible for paving, drainage, signage, guardrails and posts, crosswalks, ice and snow removal, and any other function associated with road maintenance.

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Rollin DeWitt, Operation’s Supervisor

The Wastewater Treatment Plant Division is currently staffed by four full-time employees and one part-time employee. Their responsibilities include operation and maintenance of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the entire collection and transfer system. Our system currently serves the needs of 750 users generating flows up to 500,000 gallons per day. As environmental regulations continue to tighten, this Division will continue to be challenged to meet the needs of our community.

Buildings & Grounds Maintenance Department- Max Bock, Supervisor of Maintenance

The Maintenance Division is nine members strong. This Division is responsible for alterations and maintenance of all twenty-four Town-owned buildings and property, excluding the schools, and anything is to be expected. Routine duties include such items as daily maintenance at Lawrence Memorial Hall, the Police and Fire Stations and Highway Garage and the Division is deeply involved with the Recreation Department. Due to the nature of their work, the various seasons frequently require changes in their routine activity. Upon Spring arrival, the Towns various fields, tennis courts and Town Beach must be made ready for use and requires work consisting of mowing over 200+ acres weekly, along with the maintenance of 2 football fields, 10 soccer fields, 10 baseball fields, and 10 cemeteries. This work continues through the soccer and football seasons, and ends at the arrival of winter.

   Solid Waste/Transfer Station and Recycling Center The Solid Waste Division operates with two members. Their responsibilities include the day-to-day operations of the town-owned transfer station. These folks provide a valuable service to the community.

The Transfer Station and Recycling Center is a "one stop" operation where town residents with valid Transfer Station permits may find solutions to their waste disposal needs. Items accepted include household trash, all recyclables; yard waste, waste motor oil, tires, appliances and bulky items such as furniture and mattresses. For a complete description of our service and fees, please contact the Public Works Department at 323-0415.

 

TOWN OF BELCHERTOWN

 

 

                Solid Waste Transfer Station & Recycling Center

Rules and Regulations

Approved by the Board of Selectmen:  01/89

                                    Amended: 12/30/08

            Amended: 12/7/2009 for 2010

 

                                                                                                                                    Page 1

 

 

PURPOSE

 

These Rules and Regulations are intended to facilitate the orderly use and management of the Belchertown Solid Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Center.

 

 

AUTHORITY

 

The Board of Selectmen, as operators of the Solid Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Center hereby adopts and orders to be posted in accordance with 310 CMR/19.00 Section 19.10 the following Rules and Regulations.

 

The Director of Public Works and/or designee will enforce these Rules & Regulations.  The maximum fine shall be $25.00 for each violation.

 

 

SECTION 1 - OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

 

Operation and maintenance of the Solid Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Center shall at all times comply with the Department of Environmental Protection Regulation 310 CMR/19.00 and any other regulation or order that the Board of Health from time to time adopts or issues under MGL Chapter 111, Section 150A.

 

 

SECTION 2 - OPERATING HOURS AND LOCATION

 

·        OPEN:  Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.

 

·        CLOSED:  Sunday and Monday, and the following days and holidays: the day before Christmas, Christmas, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, Fourth of July and Veteran’s Day, Tuesdays Following: Martin-Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Patriots Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day & Columbus Day.

           

·        LOCATION:  135 Hamilton Street, 323-0416

 

 

SECTION 3 - ACCESS

 

Belchertown residents only and those licensed by the Board of Health under MGL, Chapter 111, Section 31A are allowed access to the Transfer Station in accordance with the following provisions:

 

Resident Household Permit:

 

1.      Upon presentation of a valid motor vehicle registration and/or proof of residency and payment of fee as required in Section 4, a permit shall be issued through the Board of Selectmen’s Office and the Department of Public Works, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

2.      Permits are valid from March 1st (or time of purchase) through February 28th.

Page 2

 

3.      Permit must be affixed to the back of the inside rear view mirror.  This will be enforced and those not complying will not be allowed to enter the Transfer Station.  Failure to comply with these Rules and Regulations shall result in a fine of $25.00 per violation.

 

 

SECTION 4 - USER FEES

 

1.  Town Trash Bags:

 

All unrecyclable trash is to be disposed of in “Town of Belchertown” trash bags as defined herein.  These bags are available for purchase at the Transfer Station, the Selectmen’s Office and the Department of Public Works during regular business hours.  Some businesses in Town sell the bags in bundles of 10 bags.  Trash bags can only be used once, therefore you are not to empty trash from the bags into the compactor.  Failure to comply with these Rules and Regulations shall result in a fine of $25.00 per violation.

 

Cost:                30 Gallon Bag:  $1.45 ea. or 10 bags in a bundle for $14.50

                        16 Gallon Bag:  $1.10 ea. or 10 bags in a bundle for $11.00

 

Bags are available at the following locations (this list is subject to change without notice):

 


                         

 

2.  Transfer Station Permit Fees: NEW

                                                                                                       

a.      Permit for vehicles up to and including 3/4 ton pick-up trucks:             NEW

effective March 1st –August 31st                                                 $100.00                                            

  effective September 1st – February 28th/29th                           $50.00

                                                                                   

b.      For second vehicles registered at the same address:                            New Date/Same $     

effective March 1st – August 31st                                                 $10.00                                    

 effective September 1st – February 28th/29th                                      $5.00   

                                                                          

c. For senior citizens 65 years of age and over (proof of age required):    NEW

                effective March 1st- August 31st                                                                   $80.00

                effective September 1st -  February 28th/29th                                         $40.00

 

                                                                                                                                    NEW

d. One time access permit (All regulations apply)                                       $5.00

 

 

                                 

Page 3

 

3.  Special Purpose Permits:

 

a.                  Residents can purchase a permit to dispose of tires at the Selectmen’s Office, the Department of Public Works or at the Belchertown Transfer Station. Tires must be delivered to the designated area at the Transfer Station.

 

           

Tire Fees:       $2.50 per automobile tire

                        $3.00 per automobile tire on a rim

                        $4.00 per light truck tire

                        $15.00 per heavy truck tire

                        $20.00 per tractor tire

 

 

b.                  Residents can purchase a permit at the Selectmen’s Office, Department of Public Works, or at the Belchertown Transfer Station to dispose of “white goods” (refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers and hot water heaters and microwave ovens).

 

 

White Goods Fees: White goods containing refrigerants                                        $50.00 each

(refrigerator, air-conditioner, freezer, dehumidifier)

                                    White goods not containing refrigerants                               $25.00 each

                                    (stove, dishwasher, hot water heater, washer, dryer)

 

 

c.                   Residents can purchase a permit at the Selectmen’s Office, Department of Public Works, or at the Belchertown Transfer Station to dispose of miscellaneous items:

 

 

Miscellaneous Items:

Computer monitors, CRT monitor, televisions, microwaves           $10.00 each

                                    Box springs                                                                                        $10.00 each

                                    Large upholstered furniture, rugs (sleeper sofa-remove     

                                    bedframe/separate fabric from metal)                                              $20.00 each

                                    Small upholstered furniture                                                                $10.00 each

Mattresses                                                                                         $35.00 each

 

                                    Building Materials/demolition debris:

                                    Car Load                                                                                            $5.00 each

                                    Pickup Truck Load                                                                            $40.00 each

(level with body - any material above body will beconsidered as a second load and will require a second permit - no commercial loads)   

 

Page 4

 

No Charge Items with a valid landfill permit:  used motor oil, brush/yard waste/fluorescent bulbs & mercury bearing devices, unupholstered furniture, small scrap metal items, including lawnmowers and bicycles.

 

 

 

SECTION 5 - GENERAL REGULATIONS

 

1.      All refuse is to be placed at the Transfer Station as directed by the attendant.

2.      Smoking is prohibited within the Transfer Station area.

3.      Scavenging or salvaging is prohibited.

4.      Only two (2) motor vehicles stickers shall be issued for each household. 

5.      No refuse generated from outside Belchertown shall be disposed of by residents or haulers at the Transfer Station.

6.      No large mechanical equipment such as a motor vehicle may be disposed of at the Transfer Station.

7.      Stumps are not accepted.

8.      Leaves and Brush may be brought in to the composting area, any day of the week.

9.      Used motor oil may be disposed of at the Transfer Station Tuesday through Friday, BUT NOT ON              SATURDAY.  Oil must be in small containers and not contaminated with any other substances.  Oil from commercial garages, shops will not be accepted and/or bulk quantities.

10.  Roofing materials only accepted with laboratory certification stating, “free of asbestos.”  Roofing materials are considered demolition waste; therefore, a special permit is required.

11.  The disposal of needles, syringes and lancets (sharps) is strictly prohibited at the Transfer Station. Improper disposal of infectious or physically dangerous medical or biological waste may result in penalties pursuant to the state sanitary code. (M.G.L. Chapter 111, Section 127A). Sharps containers for disposal can obtained at: Medasend – 1-800-200-3581 or Stericycle – 1-800-355-8773.

12.  Smoke Detectors are prohibited and should be sent back to the manufacturer. The vast majority of smoke detectors are made by First Alert Corporation. Send old detectors to First Alert, Radioactive Waste Disposal, 780 McClure Rd., Aurora, IL 60504-2495, 1-800-323-9005. Others are made by a Canadian firm called American Sensors, dial 1-800-387-4219 for information. The companies sell detectors under many different brand names, and can dispose of any of them. Send detectors by surface mail or UPS Ground so they don’t end up in an airplane.

 

SECTION 6 – RECYCLING

 

A Special Town Meeting vote on May 14, 1990 made recycling mandatory in Belchertown.

 

DEFINITION:  Recyclables are hereby defined as clean discarded materials which may be reclaimed and which are considered potentially salable and recyclable by the Town of Belchertown.  For the purpose of these Rules and Regulations, they are defined as follows:

 

·        Aluminum:  Cans made from aluminum, aluminum foil and wrappers, aluminum trays (tins) or containers used in packaging or food preparation.

 

 

Page 5

 

·        Glass Bottles:  All unbroken bottles or jars made from standard bottle glass.  Glass bottle colors may be clear, green or brown.  No drinking glasses or light bulbs.

 

·        Ferrous Metal Cans:  This category includes both “tin” and bimetal” cans.  Cans commonly used for all types of household food packaging (including coffee, soup, pet foods and other various types of kitchen cans).  No aerosol or paint cans of any type are acceptable.

 

·        Newspaper and Mixed Paper:  All types of newspaper, supplements, advertisements, magazines, soft cover books, office paper, computer paper, envelopes (windows must be removed).  Paper must be non-soiled and will be considered non-contaminated if it has not been exposed to substances which render it unrecyclable (paint, oil, soiled by food).

 

·        Corrugated Paper:  All forms of corrugated boxes used in packaging, small cardboard cartons and brown paper bags.  Cardboard is subject to the same contamination provisions as paper (see above).  No waxed cardboard containers from frozen food or liquid items.

 

·        Plastic Items:  All plastic bottles, jars, tubs (less than 2 gallons in size) and microwave trays/containers are accepted, including anti-freeze bottles). NO motor oil or other chemical bottles are accepted.  The following items are not accepted:  containers greater than 2 gallons in size, plastic bags, foam containers, flower pots, caps, lids, pumps or wraps.

 

·        Glass and Tin Items are to be placed in the same container at the Transfer Station.  Milk, juice and drink box cartons are recyclable and are to be placed with the glass and tin items.

 

·        Unfortunately, polystyrene and Styrofoam is not collected as a recyclable at this time.  You should place these items in with your household waste.

 

SEPARATION AND PREPARATION OF RECYCLABLES:

 

 

·        All bottles, cans and other containers (all types of metal, glass and plastic) must be rinsed, labels are acceptable, lids and caps must be removed.

 

·        All metal and plastic containers should be rinsed, and flattened (if possible) to conserve space in the hauling container.  Labels may be left on, but caps and lids should be discarded.

 

·        Glass bottles must be placed in the hauling container whole.  Breakage which occurs during placement in the hauling container is acceptable, but residents must not pre-break or crush the glass beforehand.

 

·        All paper and cardboard must be flat when placed in the proper container.

 

·        All material when brought to the Transfer Station must be correctly placed in the properly marked container.

 

·        All users of the Belchertown Transfer Station must separate and prepare their recyclables in the fashion prescribed above.

 

 

SECTION 7 - ENFORCEMENT

 

The Director of Public Works and/or designee shall be responsible, as agents for the Board of Selectmen, for enforcing these Rules and Regulations.  Failure to comply with these Rules and Regulations shall result in a fine of $25.00 per violation.

 

 

SECTION 8 - PENALTIES

 

Any person who violates any provision of these Rules and Regulations shall be fined $25.00 and/or subject to revocation of the Transfer Station Permit(s) and/or subject to court action at the violator’s expense.

 

 

 

SECTION 9 - HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

 

COMMERCIAL AND HAZARDOUS WASTES ARE PROHIBITED FROM THE TRANSFER STATION.  These wastes should be saved for Household Hazardous Waste Collections.  Commercial quantities are regulated by State Law.

 

This includes, but is not limited to the following:

 

·        Paint Products:  Oil based paints, lead paints, wood stains, varnishes, oils, wood preservatives, wood putty.

 

·        Solvents:  Paint strippers, thinners, turpentine alcohols, degreasers, nail polish removers, metal polish, waterproofers.

 

·        Automotive:  Engine cleaners, radiator flushes, batteries, gasoline’s, anti-freeze, rust proofing, car wax.

 

·        Pesticides:  Silvex, DDT, Chlordane, Mirex, Aldrin (all banned), bug sprays, no-pest strips, flea powders, flea collars, shampoos, houseplant insecticides, mothballs and flakes, weed killers, fungicides.

 

·        Cleaners:  Oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, floor cleaners, floor polish, spot removers, upholstery cleaners, furniture polish, ammonia, bleach.

 

·        Hobby Supplies:  Dyes, glazes, ink, glue.

 

Page 7

 

·        Miscellaneous:  Chemistry sets, roofing tar, outdated medicine, asbestos, aerosol cans, explosives, radioactive wastes.

 

·        Used motor oil MAY be disposed of at the Transfer Station Tuesday through Friday, but NOT ON SATURDAY.  Oil must be in small containers and not contaminated with other substances.

 

 

SECTION 10

 

The Board of Selectmen reserves the right to modify these Rules & Regulations at any time.

 

 

 

 

 ITEMS TO RECYCLE

   

                                      PAPER

 

·        Advertisement inserts, newspapers, magazines, phone books, miscellaneous paper and junk mail (please remove plastic windows from envelopes).

 

·        Please do not tie paper in bundles!

 

·        No brown paper bags, as they are considered cardboard.

 

CARDBOARD

 

·        Corrugated cardboard, brown paper bags.   Please flatten!

 

·        No waxed (i.e. milk and drink cartons) or foiled lined boxes.

 

GLASS/CANS

 

·        Unbroken bottles and jars.  No window glass, drinking glasses or light bulbs.  Cans, aluminum food trays and foil must be rinsed clean and flattened.  No aerosol cans.

 

·        Milk, juice and drink cartons are to be placed in this bin also.

 

     Page 8

 

                                                 PLASTICS

 

·        Plastic Items:  All plastic bottles, jars, tubs and microwave trays/containers are accepted, including anti-freeze bottles.  No motor oil or other chemical bottles are accepted.  The following items are not accepted:  containers greater than 2 gallons in size, plastic bags, foam containers, flower pot, caps, lids, pumps or wraps.

 

·        Unfortunately, at this time all other plastics, including Polystyrene and Styrofoam, are not collected as a recyclable item at the Transfer Station and must be disposed of with household waste.

 

   Tree Division- Steve Williams, Tree Warden  

The Tree Division is staffed partially with Highway and Maintenance personnel, however this depends on the service needed. Due to Belchertown’s size and rural character, trees are plentiful. At the present time, removals account for most of our activity; however, a more comprehensive pruning and planting program is scheduled to begin in the foreseeable future.

It is the goal of the Department of Public Works to provide a high level of service to the Town’s residents.

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