Amherst Board of Health Still Waiting for Waste Hauler Reform

Local and Green

This column appeared previously in the Amherst Bulletin.

At the May Board of Health meeting, member Premila Nair, requested the board to seek information on the progress of the current waste reduction proposal previously referred and supported by the Board of Health. For nearly four years, the town of Amherst has been circling the issue of waste reform — an issue that affects every resident, our environment, and our collective future. Yet, despite broad community support and repeated calls to action, meaningful progress appears to be stalled. As a member of a community that prides itself on progressive values and environmental stewardship, I believe it’s time to take decisive action.

The conversation began in earnest in October 2021, when Zero Waste Amherst (ZWA) presented a bold proposal to the Board of Health: overhaul our fragmented waste collection system and replace it with a town-contracted service awarded through a competitive bidding process. The plan included a “pay-as-you-throw” (PAYT) fee structure and curbside compost pickup — two proven strategies that could cut Amherst’s landfill-bound trash by as much as 80%.

The Board of Health recognized the potential of the proposal. By November 2021, they requested a working group to review existing regulations and design a pilot program. But progress hit a wall when the Town Manager cited staffing shortages. Still desiring a solution, the Board of Health sent the proposal on to the Town Council asking how it could be moved forward. In August of 2022, the council referred it to one of its standing committees, the Town Services and Outreach Committee.

In May 2023, the Board of Health followed up by sending a letter to the Town Council and Town Manager, urging immediate action. Their message was clear: adopt the waste reform proposal by early summer, so it could be implemented by January 2024. That deadline has come and gone.

This is not a fringe idea. The proposal enjoys support from a broad coalition, including the Amherst Board of Health, the Energy and Climate Action Committee, the League of Women Voters, UMass Student Farming Enterprise, the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, the Common Share Food Coop, Mothers Out Front, the Sierra Club, and many more. These groups understand that waste reform is not just about trash — it’s about climate action, public health, and fiscal responsibility.

It is a proposal that could provide a huge amount of bang for the buck in that it pays for itself, requires very few staff, and is likely to save money for residents who are currently using a hauling service.

The Board of Health, as a state-mandated authority, has jurisdiction over waste hauler regulations. They have repeatedly signaled their willingness to act. In November 2024, the Town Council did take a step forward, voting to fund a consultant to help draft a request for proposals to local haulers. But the Town Manager has yet to find the consultant.

Amherst has recently been designated a Climate Leader Community. If that title is to mean anything, we must act like leaders. Implementing a town-contracted, pay-as-you-throw system with curbside composting is a concrete step toward reducing emissions, cutting costs, and setting an example for other communities.

Darcy DuMont is a former town councilor and sponsor of the legislation creating the Amherst Energy and Climate Action Committee. She is a founding member of Zero Waste Amherst, Local Energy Advocates of Western MA, and a non-voting member of Valley Green Energy Working Group. She can be contacted at dumint140@gmail.com