Portsmouth announces recycling events and updates on waste collection services

Under the bright lights of the Portsmouth Town Hall, community members gathered to hear about important upcoming events and initiatives aimed at enhancing local sustainability and waste management. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as officials outlined two significant recycling events designed to engage residents in responsible waste disposal.

The first event, a hard plastic collection, is set to take place at the transfer station on Saturday, June 14, from 8 AM until noon or until the container reaches capacity. This initiative is exclusively for current transfer station sticker holders, encouraging residents to responsibly dispose of hard plastics.

Following closely, an electronic waste collection event will occur on July 19 at Portsmouth High School, running from 9 AM to 12 PM. To facilitate this, a truck will be stationed at the Prudence Island Transfer Station one week prior, making it accessible to all residents. Town officials have coordinated with the school department to ensure that the event proceeds smoothly, even amidst ongoing roof construction at the school.

In addition to these recycling efforts, the Division of Statewide Planning is inviting public comments on the initial drafts of long-range transportation plan documents. Residents can access these documents through the town's website, with a deadline for feedback set for July 11. To foster community engagement, a series of public meetings will be held, offering both in-person and virtual opportunities for discussion.

As the meeting progressed, officials reminded residents that curbside waste collection services will commence in just three weeks. Current waste disposal carts are scheduled for pickup before June 30, and residents are urged to ensure their carts are empty to avoid any issues during collection. For those who signed up for the new service by June 4, trash pickup will begin the week of June 30, while later sign-ups will have staggered start dates throughout July.

With 2,584 curbside sign-ups already recorded, the town is gearing up for a significant shift in waste management practices. The new trash routes will be posted on the town website next week, with regular pickups scheduled from Monday through Friday, adjusted for holiday delays.

As the meeting concluded, the sense of community responsibility and proactive engagement in environmental issues was palpable, leaving residents eager to participate in the upcoming events and contribute to a cleaner Portsmouth.