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E.L. Harvey tells council its pest control plan reduced rat activity after May fire; board of health concurs
Summary
E.L. Harvey representatives and the New Bedford Board of Health described steps taken after a May 14 fire at the Shawmut Avenue facility that led to rat burrows appearing in nearby streets. The company said it expanded pest control to 110 bait stations, conducted frequent monitoring with Flint Pest Control, and coordinated with MassDEP and the city
Representatives of E.L. Harvey Trash and Recycling and the New Bedford Board of Health told the City Council Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods on Aug. 19 that measures taken after a May 14 fire at the company’s Shawmut Avenue facility have reduced rodent activity in nearby neighborhoods.
Cliff Bassett, district manager for E.L. Harvey in New Bedford, said the company had engaged Flint Pest Control (referred to in testimony) before and after the fire to monitor and bait the site. Bassett said the company increased bait stations from 45 to 110, conducted multiple daily checks in the immediate aftermath, and coordinated with the Board of Health and MassDEP while the facility was emptied and assessed for damage. “We have not seen any activity on our sites in, probably about a good month now,” he told the committee.
Bassett described how the suspension of daily municipal solid‑waste deliveries during the shutdown removed a steady food source; as the facility was emptied and work continued, vermin moved into nearby streets and the company and pest control firm increased monitoring and treatment. He said destruction efforts and daily monitoring led to a “drastic decrease in the activity” within roughly two weeks.
The Board of Health and city inspectors reported that airport park and surrounding streets had been inspected and showed little or no activity, and the health department reopened the park after confirming monitoring results. “We’re definitely moving in the right direction,” Stephanie from the Board of Health said, adding that the company has been cooperative and that the city continues to monitor complaints.
The company submitted a written rat‑control plan to MassDEP and the Board of Health that includes continued monitoring, monthly floor cleaning of the facility to prevent buildup of food sources, training for employees, and a map of bait‑station placements (outside and inside). Bassett said that as operations resume under a limited DEP permit the company will continue daily checks and maintain at least 75 bait stations (50 outside and 25 inside) as it scales tonnage up in a controlled way.
Committee action: the committee received the communication and placed it on file. Committee members thanked E.L. Harvey, Flint Pest Control and Board of Health staff for the response and asked officials to continue monitoring until the city and health officials are satisfied the issue will not reoccur.
Ending: Board of Health officials said they will continue to accept and respond to resident complaints and coordinate with the company and MassDEP. E.L. Harvey said it will keep the city informed and continue its stepped‑up pest‑control regimen while the facility resumes limited operations under DEP oversight.
