DPW IN THE COMMUNITY…

DPW IN THE COMMUNITY…
Playing Field
Guidelines
Congratulations,
Dennis Fazio
Wakefield residents and teams are reminded that
several playing fields are made of synthetic turf
materials. Rules have been posted at each location
that provide details as to what materials and
activities are prohibited. The rules and regulations
are strictly enforced to avoid any damage.
Wakefield DPW Park/Forestry/Cemetery Supervisor Dennis
Fazio was recently selected as the 2014 Sports Turf
Manager of the Year by the New England Sports Turf
Managers Association (NESTMA). Dennis was recognized
at a recent meeting of NESTMA, the largest chapter in the
National Sports Turf Managers Association.
Although the new fields, track and tennis courts have
their own specific restrictions, some general rules
apply, including the prohibition of the following items
and activities:
The award recognizes a Sports Turf Manager who has
made a significant contribution to the sports turf industry.
“Dennis’ knowledge and innovation in the sports turf
industry, as well as his dedication and commitment to the
Town of Wakefield places him in an elite group of sports
turf professionals. The DPW and the Town of Wakefield
are fortunate to have such an outstanding professional as
part of the team,” DPW Director Richard Stinson said.
•bikes/baby carriages/skateboards/ rollerblades
•dogs & other animals
•tobacco products
•cleats/corner flags/stakes/track spikes
•food including sunflower seeds/gum/peanuts
•sports drinks/soda/alcohol/coffee/tea (water only)
•fires/grills
•motor vehicles
•bottles/glass containers
No unauthorized vehicles are allowed and only
approved athletic equipment are allowed on the fields.
Players, coaches and other team officials are the only
ones allowed on the field surface.
Reporting a Pothole
The winter weather has left its mark in
the form of potholes. While the DPW
has been fixing these potholes on
an as-needed basis, some additional
potholes may appear this spring. If you need to
report a pothole, please call the Wakefield DPW at
(781) 246-6301, extension 4120 or email the DPW
at [email protected].
Potholes, as well as other emergency road repairs,
are done on a priority basis and will be repaired as
quickly as possible.
Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle at an
early age
Each year, the Wakefield DPW sponsors a recycling
education program for third graders that teaches
them about saving the environment through recycling,
the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling,
and what can be recycled through the community’s
curbside recycling program. This important
information is blended with interactive musical
entertainment by Earth Tunes.
This year’s educational program will focus on the
new automated trash collection and single stream
recycling programs scheduled. Students will be
given informational materials that contain program
specifics. This informational material is available at
Town Hall.
Look for the recycling education program in Wakefield
schools sometime in May and June.
Avoid flooding conditions in your
neighborhood …..clear out catch
basins and streams
Clogged catch basins and streams can cause flooding conditions during heavy rainstorms and thawing
conditions. You can help keep your property safe by clearing obstructions from brooks and streams when
you’re doing your spring yard clean up.
QUICK FACTS:
• The FY 2016 refuse/recycling/household hazardous waste/yardwaste budget is $135,877 LESS than the FY 2014 budget.
• The FY 2016 budget is LESS than the FY2007 budget.
• Recycling has increased 38.4% since the beginning of the automated refuse collection – a five-month period – from
October 2014 through February 2015.
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• White Goods (refrigerators, stoves, dryers, etc.) will continue to be picked up the last full week of the
month. Stickers are required and can be obtained at Town Hall. The $20 fee remains unchanged. Checks
must be made payable to the Town of Wakefield.
• TV/CRT Monitors are no longer collected at the Yard Waste Site. TV/CRTs are picked up at curbside on the
last full week of the month. Stickers are required and can be obtained at Town Hall. The $20 fee remains
unchanged. Checks must be made payable to Russell Disposal, Inc.
• If you need a Sticker for a TV/CRT and White Goods Sticker at the same time, please bring two checks.
The automated process is a much safer operation that helps keep trash off the streets and out of the
neighborhoods.
Single Stream Manual Recycling
The single stream manual recycling program started in July and allows residents to place bottles, cans, paper,
plastics, magazines and cardboard in one container. This is a convenient way to recycle.
Single stream manual curbside recycling
•The manual curbside recycling program is mandatory for all residents who receive Town refuse collection.
•The curbside program remains on an every-other week basis and residents are able to use their existing
recycling containers.
•The recycling program allows all materials to be placed in the same container; residents will not need to
separate cans, bottles, plastics and paper. This helps increase recycling at curbside.
• Newspapers, magazines and cardboard must be placed inside the recycling container.
•Residents can use their old trash barrels or recycling bins for their recycling. Recycling stickers are available
at the Town Hall and at the Beebe Library. There is no limit as to the number of recycling barrels/containers a
resident can use.
Please do not hesitate to contact the DPW at 781-246-6301 if you have any questions.
W
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i
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Wak
WORKS
Help Keep Wakefield Clean
What A Winter It Was!
As of March 23rd, the Town of Wakefield received a
whopping 114.25 inches of snow! In a 23 day period
alone, (January 24th to February 16th), Wakefield
received a total of 92 inches of snow, 30 inches
more than an average winter season, based on
snowfall records from the past five years.
In less than two months, the DPW responded to 25
snow events and cleared snow from the downtown
and business area of Greenwood on three separate
occasions, in addition to plowing, sanding, salting
and clearing more than 550 roads, representing
105 miles and 250 lane miles throughout the Town
during every storm. The large amount of the snow
required the removal of snow and widening of
streets, as well as the clearing of sidewalks leading
to schools on numerous occasions.
Department of Public Works
Spring 2015
AUTOMATED REFUSE COLLECTION
AND SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING
ARE OFF TO A GOOD START!
The automated refuse collection and manual single stream curbside recycling program has been a great success,
with recycling rates increasing 38.4% during the first five months of automated refuse collection!
The Town changed from a conventional collection method to an automated system that uses a special truck,
equipped with a mechanical/robotic arm that automatically lifts and empties special trash containers.
As Wakefield residents continue to get more familiar
with the program, the following are reminders for the
automated refuse collection program:
• All regular trash must be placed in the automated
trash carts or special overflow bags. Household
trash not placed in the automated container or Town
overflow bag will not be picked up.
This winter posed additional challenges, created by
the wind-driven snow and the large amount of snow
and ice dams on Town buildings. During an 8 day
period, the DPW cleared numerous public building
roofs.
• Place trash carts at the curb no later than 7:00
am. If the trash is not out when the truck is at your
residence, you will need to hold the material for the
following week.
“Dealing with extreme weather events in all
seasons has become common for public works,”
DPW Director Richard Stinson said. “Snow and ice
operations require that staff in all 10 DPW divisions
take part in snow removal and cleanup operations
to ensure we have roads, schools, town buildings
and parking lots clear and usable as quickly and
efficiently as possible.”
“The Wakefield Public Works staff and our
contractors did an outstanding job keeping
Wakefield streets safe and passable. In a 10-day
period alone, from January 24th to February 2nd,
this group of committed and dedicated public
servants worked as many as 163 hours. They had
little rest, no days off, and sacrificed their families
for the benefit of Wakefield. They take their jobs
as emergency first responders seriously and are
committed to making sure that Wakefield is safe for
residents and visitors.”
“They are the ‘silent arm’ of public safety,” the
Director added. “I cannot think of a better group of
professionals to be associated with.”
In addition, Director Stinson thanked Wakefield
residents and businesses for their patience and
cooperation, for helping to keep the roadways clear
by keeping cars off the streets during periods of
snow and ice, and for clearing sidewalks and catch
basins in front of their homes and businesses.
• Leave adequate space (3 feet) around the trash cart
to allow room for the automated collection arm. The
handles and wheels must face away from the street.
The cart lid must be closed. The cart should be no
more than three (3) feet from the curb or road edge
and the arrows on the lid must point towards the
street. Do not place carts below low hanging wires
or tree branches.
• Do not overfill the trash cart. Lids must be closed.
• Ordinary household rubbish is the only trash that should go into the trash cart. Recycling, hazardous waste,
construction debris and yard waste should not be put in the automated container. The refuse contractor is
instructed to not collect automated containers with inappropriate materials.
• Construction debris, household hazardous waste and yard waste are prohibited from the waste stream and
must be properly disposed of.
• Trash carts are assigned to a specific address by serial number. Carts remain the property of the Town of
Wakefield.
• Overflow Bags (for excessive trash weeks) are available for purchase and can be obtained at the Town Hall
and at the following business locations in Wakefield: Farmland, 415 Main Street; Hart’s ACE Hardware, 442
Main Street; Shaw’s, 134 Water Street; Walgreens, 572 Main Street; and CVS, 465 Main Street. One free
overflow bag has been provided to each residence.
• Bulky Items (chairs, couches, tables, etc.) will be picked up on Fridays. You must call the DPW at (781)
246-6301, extension 4120 or email [email protected] by 12 noon on Thursday to arrange for bulky item
pickup. There is a limit of two items per week. There is no cost for bulky item pickup.
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Wakefield Department of Public Works • 1 Lafayette Street • Wakefield, MA 01880 • 781-246-6301
YARD CLEAN UP
Solutions to
Stormwater
Pollution
Easy Things You Can Do Every
Day to Protect Our Water
What is stormwater runoff?
Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation
from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground.
Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks,
and streets prevent stormwater from naturally
soaking into the ground.
Stormwater pollution is one of Massachusetts’
greatest threats to clean and plentiful water,
and that’s why we’re all doing something about
it. Pollution on streets, parking lots and lawns is
washed by rain into storm drains, then directly
to our drinking water supplies and the ocean and
lakes our children play in.
By sharing the responsibility and making small,
easy changes in our daily lives, we can keep
common pollutants out of stormwater:
•Do not pour any hazardous products down
a storm drain. Storm drains are usually
connected to local waterbodies.
•Compost or recycle yard waste, keep leaves
and grass out of storm drains.
•Recycle used oil and other automotive fluids at
participating service stations.
Pet Waste Management
Do not dispose of pet
waste near storm drains,
culverts, ditches or
waterbodies. Animal
waste contains a
high concentration of
nutrients as well as
bacteria and diseasecausing microorganisms
that can cause problems.
Most of Wakefield’s
storm drains do not
provide any significant
treatment for the
removal of pollutants.
Anything dumped into
the stormwater system
flows directly to our local
waterways.
Field crews will be out surveying and sampling the
Town’s stormwater structures during the summer
and fall.
Please feel free to report all issues, concerns and
violations to the DPW at 781-246-6301.
2015 Nahant Street
Yard Waste Site
schedule
Yard Waste
Permits
Permits are required to
obtain access to the Nahant
Street Yard Waste Site and
are available to Wakefield
residents only. Permits can be
obtained at the DPW Business
Office at the Town Hall during
regular business hours (Monday
through Wednesday 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m. to 7
p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 12:30
p.m.) or on Saturday, April 18th
from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Proof of Wakefield residency
is required at the time of
purchase.
Permits must be renewed
annually at a cost of $25 per
permit. All permits are effective
from January 1st to December
31st of each calendar year.
Saturdays (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
April 18 and 25, May 9 and 23, June 6, 13, 20 and 27
July 11 and 25, August 8 and 29, September 5 and 19
October 10, 24 and 31, November 14 and 28
December 5 (weather permitting)
Sundays (11:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
April 26 August 16
May 17
September 13
June 28
October 18
July 12
November 15
Wednesdays (7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
The Nahant Street pit is open every Wednesday beginning
April 15th through December 3rd.
The Nahant Street Yard Waste Site is only open on the
days listed during the specified hours. Residents who use
the site are reminded that all yard waste transported to the
Nahant Street Yard Waste Site must be covered.
Wakefield Water Department
Cross Connection Program
Information for residential users…
What is a cross-connection?
A cross connection is any temporary or permanent connection between a public water system or
consumer’s potable (i.e. drinking) water system and any source or system containing non-potable water
or other substances. An example is the piping between a public water system or a consumer’s potable
water system and an auxiliary water system, cooling system, or irrigation system.
What is backflow?
Backflow is the undesirable reversal of flow of non-potable water or other substances through a crossconnection and into the piping of a public water system or consumer’s potable water system. There are
two types of backflow – backpressure backflow and backsiphonage.
Cross Connection Control
The Cross Connection Control program continues to test backflow devices and conduct building
surveys of internal plumbing systems. This is a DEP mandated program designed to protect the water
distribution system from contamination. Department personnel will also visit local businesses to
expedite the program.
For additional information, questions, or concerns regarding cross connections and backflow, please
contact the Wakefield Water Department at (781) 246-6318.
REMEMBER:
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Please help us make a great
community even better!
Wakefield residents and business proprietors can and should do their part to help us keep Wakefield
clean by regularly sweeping the areas in front of their business or home and refraining from sweeping
the debris into the gutters.
Helping to keep Wakefield a beautiful town is not just a job for the merchants and business owners.
It’s also a job for Wakefield residents in all areas of town, both on the main thoroughfares and side
streets. Residents can help by maintaining and weeding the grassy areas in front of their homes and by
sweeping their sidewalks regularly.
The DPW conducts a street sweeping program throughout the town during the spring and fall, and
trash barrels are in place in the downtown areas and Greenwood. During the mild weather, a DPW
employee works in the downtown area to physically sweep up any debris on the streets.
Every little bit helps make a great community even better!
CARRY OUT WHAT YOU CARRY IN
This is the 10th year that the DPW has instituted an informal ‘Carry Out What You Carry In’
trash program at local playing fields and recreational areas. This program was created to
encourage everyone to remove the trash they generate while at a town facility.
All plastic water bottles, coffee cups and other trash should be taken away at the end of the
game, activity or other use of an area, and disposed of properly. Your assistance and cooperation
is greatly appreciated and allows DPW crews to focus on infrastructure maintenance needs.
White Goods and
CRT/TV Recycling
Weeks
White goods (stoves, refrigerators with
doors removed, dryers, hot water heaters,
dishwashers, air conditioners, trash
compactors, dehumidifiers) are collected at
curbside on the last full work week of each
month on the regular trash day.
Each white good must have a pre-purchased
sticker affixed in a visible location so that it can
be seen from the street; otherwise the item will
not be picked up.
White goods stickers can be purchased at a
cost of $20 per item at the DPW Office at the
Wakefield Town Hall during regular business
hours. Checks should be made payable to the
Town of Wakefield. The white good item must
be placed at the curb the night before the
designated pickup. The item should not be out
more than 24 hours prior to pick up.
CRT/TV stickers are required and can be
obtained at the DPW Office at the Town Hall at
a cost of $20 per item. CRT/TV checks must be
made payable to Russell Disposal, Inc.
White goods and CRT/TVs will be collected
during the following weeks in 2015:
April 20 - 24, May 25 - 29, June 22 - 26,
July 27 - 31, August 24 - 28,
September 21 - 25, October 26 - 30,
November 23 - 28, and December 21 - 26.
RECYCLING
Household Hazardous Waste collection
The Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program, co-sponsored by the Reading and
Wakefield DPWs, will be held on Saturday, May 30th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Reading DPW,
75 New Crossing Rd., Reading.
This collection is open to Wakefield and Reading residents only and proof of residency is required.
A driver’s license must be shown. Residents are reminded that this is always a popular and well-attended
event.
Accepted items include drain cleaners, furniture polish, window cleaners, oven cleaners, pesticides, insect
sprays, pool chemicals, no-pest strips, wood preservatives, solvents, paint thinners, car and truck tires,
wax polishes, antifreeze, gasoline, used motor oil, propane tanks, and car batteries, among others.
Unacceptable items include latex paint, lithium
batteries, asbestos, septage, ammunition,
biologically active, radioactive, or explosive
materials.
For a complete list of materials that will, or will not
be accepted, call the Reading DPW
at (781) 942-9077 or visit the website at www.
ci.reading.ma.us.
The Fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection will
be held in Wakefield on Saturday, September 12th
from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Wakefield High
School, 60 Farm Street.
Mercury compact
fluorescent bulb
collection dates
The DPW will collect used compact fluorescent
bulbs and Mercury thermometers at the Nahant
Street Yard Waste Site on the following
Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.:
April 8th
June 10th
August 12th
October 14th
The collection is available to Wakefield
residents and businesses for the disposal
of compact fluorescent and Mercury
thermometers. You do not need to purchase a
sticker to dispose of your CFL.
Please do not bring broken bulbs to the
collection.