The price you're paying to haul away your trash may be going up soon.
That's because Maine Gov. Janet Mills has just signed legislation prohibiting the importation of out-of-state trash and construction debris.
Each year we send about 2 million of the 5.5 million tons of trash generated in Massachusetts on a one way trip to Vacationland, writes the Eagle-Tribune's Christian Wade.
New Hampshire is looking to tighten its laws restricting out-of-state garbage too.
That means many Bay State waste haulers are looking for a new place to dispose of our rubbish, leading to likely cost increases as Massachusetts trash exports will need to be hauled further away.
Massachusetts banned disposal of most construction and demolition debris more than a decade ago, forcing contractors to look to other states to get rid of waste from building renovations and other projects, Wade adds.
The amount of trash going into Massachusetts landfills must decrease as well under the state's new 10-year solid waste reduction plan, which calls for cutting the amount of solid waste going into landfills and bans the disposal of mattresses and textile products.
So, we should recycle more, right?
Yes, we should. Better yet, use less. And reuse more.
But have you noticed how hard and confusing recycling has become?
As this interactive articlein the New York Times last week pointed out, recycling rules can be infuriating. Even if you do it correctly – and every community seem to do it differently – there's no certainty that the items we toss into blue bins are actually recycled.
And the fact that most municipalities don’t allow businesses to participate in their recycling programs makes it even harder and are counterproductive.
Watertown city manager search down to three finalists
Watertown just narrowed its search for its next city manager to three men with local municipal management experience. They are:
John Curran, currently town manager in Billerica and former mayor of Woburn.
Norman Khumalo, currently town manager in Hopkinton whose career began as a senior town planner in Zimbabwe.
George Proakis, currently executive director of strategic planning and community development for the Somerville who previously worked for the City of Lowell.
Also in Watertown: Police Chief Michael Lawn will be retiring in June after six years leading the department and 32 years working for the department. Caitlin Browne is the new director of the Watertown Free Public Library. She's been assistant director for 10 years.
Auchincloss likely to win two more years of shuttle rides to D.C.
Two years ago, then Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss was one of nine names on the ballot in the Democratic primary to succeed Rep. Joe Kennedy for the 4th Congressional District seat.
But this fall the former Republican turned Democrat appears to be running in both the primary and general election unopposed, writes Tom Reilly at the Sun Chronicle.
Jesse Mermell, who placed second in the primary last time has dropped plans to run, citing her father’s recent death and the need to care for her mother. And the two Republicans candidates who had planned to run have withdrawn.
The deadline for a primary challenger to submit nomination papers is May 10.
Other need to knows
Newton will spend more than $16.6 million to replace every water meter in the city starting this summer. That includes meters and transponders for 125 commercial customers, according to the Globe’s John Hilliard.
The chamber’s annual golf tournament, returning Aug. 1 at Woodland Golf Club, provides an excellent opportunity to mix and mingle with local business leaders while your colleagues are back in the office stuck on Zoom. If that’s not enough motivation to register ASAP, note that (a) it always sell out and (b) our early bird discount expires this week. Details.
The Carroll Center for the Blind is looking for walkers to participate in its 10th Annual 5K and Walk for Independence on the morning of May 14 at 8 a.m. Attendees can participate in a professionally timed 5K or a one mile walk around the Mount Ida Campus. Funds support the Carroll Center’s work to empower those of all ages and all stages of vision loss to lead independent, fulfilling lives.Details
Needham is making an additional $200,000 available to help small businesses and non-profits who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the Small Business Recovery Grant Program are due May 13
Ride away to Boston, ride away to Pittsfield
Federal and state officials announced a deal this week that could allow East-West rail to move forward.
The project would extend the network which runs from Boston (through Newton and Wellesley) to Worcester onto Springfield and Pittsfield.
Many details need to worked out but the plan would create a new rail authority funded with a dedicated state revenue stream and federal transportation funds, according to Michael Norton at State House News.
No, the state isn’t 'forcing massive developments' down anyone’s throat
The Globe says more than “five dozen communities are balking” at legislation that requires 175 cities and towns in the MBTA’s service area to loosen the zoning rules that too many communities have used for decades to keep out diverse populations, hold back economic growth, and stop even small multi-family housing projects from being built.
And there are many misconceptions about what law does, or doesn’t, do.
For example, the law does not force communities to build massive apartment complexes. It doesn’t allow developers to build whatever they want. And it does not require building homes on environmentally sensitive land.
