News from the offices of City Councilors Arroyo and Ross:
— Home Rule Petition will Regulate Commercial Trash Collection Timing—
The Boston City Council is considering a measure to restrict noisy trucks from collecting trash in the middle of the night. In response to complaints from residents, City Councilor At-Large Felix G. Arroyo and District City Councilor Michael Ross introduced a home rule petition to give the City of Boston authority to regulate commercial trash collection timing.
“Presently, trash may be collected in the middle of the night right outside the windows and doorsteps of residences without consideration to those who are living next door,” Councilor Arroyo stated at the last Boston City Council meeting.
Residents of neighborhoods including Back Bay, Beacon Hill, North End, Leather District and Chinatown are home to many restaurants located adjacent to residential neighborhoods. Many individual residents have contacted Councilor Arroyo’s office about noisy trash pick up taking place throughout the night.
Christopher Betke, Chair of the Leather District Neighborhood Association, stressed, “In the Leather District, many residents are disturbed quite literally in the middle of the night by trucks emptying dumpsters at 3 or 4 in the morning. That is just not right. The City of Boston should be able to set reasonable rules and limits on this type of activity.”
Although the City grants permits to haulers providing trash collections services, current state law prevents the City from restricting the hours of the day when garbage can be collected in business or commercial areas. The home rule petition would give the City authority to regulate when trash may be collected.
Councilor Michael Ross, whose district includes Back Bay, Beacon Hill, West End, and Fenway, explained, “I am pleased to join Councilor Arroyo to help improve the quality of Boston’s downtown residents with this sensible proposal. I look forward to participating in the public dialogue and bringing this new legislation to fruition.”
State Representative Marty Walz and fellow downtown State Representative Aaron Michlewitz are working on legislation at the State House that would enable all municipalities to regulate the timing of trash pick-up in commercial and business districts.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue. What we would like to ensure is that our residents and businesses are able to peacefully co-exist and thrive in our city,” stated Councilor Felix Arroyo.
Contact: Heather Perez, 617 635 4205, 617 304.9413 (cell), Heather.Perez@cityofboston.gov
Either middle of the night or more traffic on busy street during the day. Hanover St is packed all the way up to 11PM so I can live w/ trucks making noise at 3AM. It's city living.
@ Jimmy. If you lived on Salem St, Hanover St or near Regina's you might feel differently about it.
I live on Hanover…it is what it is.
If this goes into effect, does it mean there will be oodles of restaurant trash out on the sidewalk all night to feed the rats? That seems problematic.