EASTHAMPTON — Trash overflowing from bins and rotting in the summer heat, sometimes a week behind the scheduled pickup, led the Easthampton Board of Health on Monday to find County Waste and Recycling in violation of state law.
The health board gave the company based in Clifton Park, New York, three months to make improvements in order for its permit to be renewed.
The board ruled neglected trash is a nuisance under state law that could be a threat to public health.
Health Agent Jackie Duda suggested guidelines that the company must meet, including picking up trash within 24 hours of the scheduled time, picking up empty containers within one week of a customer’s call, notifying customers of any delay in trash pickup and improving responses to calls.
The board will meet in December to determine if County Waste met the guidelines and vote on whether to reissue the company’s permit for 2017.
Problems with County Waste’s services are due to a shortage of staff and mechanical problems, according to County Waste regional general manager Steven LaFollette.
“We lost a manager and we lost a driver,” he said. “We have five people right now and we are looking for a sixth.”
LaFollette plans to get supervisors to go on routes and talk to customers.
County Waste, serves about 5,700 people in western Massachusetts, according to LaFollette.
The Easthampton health board received about 17 complaints in person as well as by email and social media.
“I think the main thing is people just want their trash picked up,” board member Norman Roy said.
Bonnie Harrison of Easthampton said she has dealt with customer service problems as well as neglected trash pickup.
Harrison said when she called the company, she was told there were mechanical problems with the truck or someone was out sick.
Harrison said one time she saw County Waste pick up her neighbor’s trash, but ignore her bin.
In June, she changed her service from a 65-gallon trash bin to a 35-gallon. Harrison said she was told to leave her bin outside her home, but it was not changed until months later.
Joshua Vogel rents a duplex in Easthampton and said his landlord contracts with County Waste. Vogel said the company has neglected his trash as well as his neighbors’ trash.
Vogel said he does not have a traditional front yard and the sidewalk is close to his home’s window. When the company does not pick up the trash, Vogel can smell it.
“You can’t get away from the stench,” Vogel said.
One customer who does not have any complaints also spoke at Monday’s meeting. Suzanne Davis of Easthampton said she often travels to Florida, and calls County Waste when she is back and is promptly serviced that week.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.