HOLYOKE — Starting September 18, the Department of Public Works will distribute new, 96-gallon trash
carts to city residents.
Effective the week of September 25, bags of garbage left in front of homes will no longer be picked up.
Garbage placed in cans, containers, or carts other than the city-issued models also will not be picked up.
Only trash in the new carts will be collected. All trash must be bagged before being placed in the cart.
On Friday, September 1, postcards in English and Spanish announcing the distribution of the new carts
will be mailed to all Holyoke residents. There is no charge for the new trash carts. Single-family homes
will receive one trash cart. Two-family, three-family, and four-family homes will receive one trash cart
per family. Residents must start using the new trash carts the week of September 25. Residents’
collection day will remain the same.
Also, Holyoke is recommitting to dual-stream recycling, which had been suspended during Covid
because of the deluge of cardboard brought on by online shopping.
All recyclables must be separated into two bins — one for paper and cardboard and a separate one for
glass, metal, and plastics. Residents can obtain additional recycling bins at the Department of Public
Works office, 63 North Canal Street, for $10 each. Residents with their own trash cans can use them for
recycling, as well as for leaves and yard waste.
The city plans to roll out recycling carts in the future. An announcement will be made when this comes
about.
To dispose of an old trash can, label it in large letters “TRASH” and place it beside the new cart on your
collection day for disposal.
Items and materials that cannot be placed in trash carts include yard waste, recyclables, hazardous
materials, paint, appliances, televisions, and demolition waste. If these or similar materials are found in
a trash cart, the cart will not be picked up that day.
Information: Department of Public Works, 413-322-5645.
