Dive Brief:
- The six-member Amherst, MA Refuse and Recycling Committee will present a solid waste master plan to officials that recommends reducing the amount of trash thrown away and moving toward a zero waste philosophy.
- Currently, residents can hire one of three haulers for curbside waste and recycling pickup, or they can buy a sticker that entitles them to use the transfer station on Belchertown Road for disposal. The draft report recommends reviewing this system of disposal, which Committee Chairman John Root says is inefficient. He also says it's unclear to determine how much waste is generated.
- The new plan suggests that the health board requires haulers to measure the trash being picked up. The plan also aims to limit the disposal of organics, and hire a full-time waste reduction manager to replace the town's recycling coordinator — a position that is currently vacant.
Dive Insight:
"Zero waste is about more than increasing recycling rates," Root told the Gazette. "It’s a very effective way of focusing public attention on lightening our carbon footprint."
The town is on the right track to achieve its goals. By aiming to identify the amount of waste generated and how it's handled, Amherst can move forward in becoming another city that strives for zero waste. Many other cities have adopted initiatives to become zero waste, including Minneapolis and San Francisco.