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Date: 5/16/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Litter in the city of Springfield — particularly in the Forest Park area — is a major issue that Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davila and his appointed Advisory Litter Committee are working to address and will not stop until it is.
The Advisory Litter Committee — made up of residents of Springfield’s Forest Park neighborhood — along with community members and city representatives, met in the beginning of 2023 to develop ideas for litter solutions. Their recommendations were put into a final report and presented to the City Council on March 21, along with Mayor Domenic Sarno.
The committee is chaired by Forest Park resident Erica Swallow, who also serves as a board member of the Forest Park Civic Association and president of the Springfield Preservation Trust. Swallow was responsible for putting the report together.
On May 8, the committee called a meeting with state delegation to discuss the report and its recommendations.
Legislative aides from state Sen. Jake Oliveira’s (D-Ludlow) office, state Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), state Rep. Bud Williams (D-Springfield) and state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield), were in attendance to hear an overview of the report and its proposals.
Before the meeting began, Davila shared that they would be asking the state delegates for help with the upkeep of the highways, off-ramps and on-ramps.
“It’s the gateway to our city,” said Davila.
He noted that committee members are also looking for a commitment for regular scheduled maintenance.
To start the meeting, Davila said, “People have been expressing a lot of concern about litter not only in the city but [in] Forest Park.” While litter is an issue year-round, Davila said it worsens in the summer.
He informed participants that Sarno is open to some of the recommendations laid out in the report.
Davila went on to say that the school department has created a curriculum to teach elementary-level students about litter. While this will not be implemented until the next school year, a “shorter version” will be implemented this year.
To make a change, he believes it needs to start with the youngest generation.
The report
Of the 38-page report full of pictures and 12 recommendations, Davila turned everyone’s focus to the eighth recommendation as it applies to the state. More specifically, the report says, “The advisory committee’s eighth recommendation is that the city of Springfield obtain a commitment from our state delegation to increase the [Massachusetts Department of Transportation] budget to curb litter on highways in Springfield.”
According to the report, the problem is that MassDOT is responsible for mowing and cleaning all highways — including Interstates 90, 91 and 291 — and state-owned lands that abut city properties. “[Springfield] DPW does not have the authority to clean these areas and cities issues getting MassDOT to take action for litter and brush cleanup. As a result, litter and overgrowth are rampant,” it states.
Davila shared that the solution is for MassDOT to commit to doing its part. “Our state delegation must work to increase MassDOT’s budget for highway cleanup in Springfield,” the report says. “A transparent highway cleanup plan, schedule and reporting process must be communicated. We recommend MassDOT commit to brush and trash cleanup at least twice per month.”
The report states that the committee recommends all members of Springfield’s State House of Representatives and Senators — Gonzalez, state Rep. Angelo Puppolo Jr. (D-Springfield), state Rep. Orlando Ramos (D-Springfield), Williams, state Rep. Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow), Gomez and Oliveira — come together to demand state-level commitment and appropriate budgeting.
“The advisory committee also recommends that MassDOT promote the Adopt-A-Highway Program in Springfield, for businesses to adopt the highway mileage in this region,” the report continued.
As the report has been out some time, Swallow said she would like input from the state delegation to see what they are doing and what responses — if any — they are receiving from MassDOT.
“It’s not acceptable that we pay taxes to have our city treated the way it is by the state,” Swallow said.
Jennifer Pickering, legislative aide for Oliveira, said, “They [MassDOT] are doing a lot of spring cleanup right now so they are sort of overburdened in their world.”
Pickering noted that there has been cleanup progress in the fenced area between I-90 and 91.
Angelica Core, legislative aide for Gonzalez, shared that Gonzalez’s idea is for MassDOT to dedicate a crew specifically to Springfield as it has the most highways.
Swallow explained that if litter is on the grass or in a park, the Springfield Parks Department is responsible for picking it up. If it is on sidewalks or in the streets, the DPW is responsible for it.
Pickering said MassDOT, the city’s DPW and Parks Department, and the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs all work together in many ways, “but there’s not an easy intersection for them to operate in this particular initiative.”
Davila expressed his understanding of Pickering’s point, while noting the importance of recommendation No. 1 — hiring a full-time director with support staff to monitor and manage all litter.
Some of the other preventive ideas participants shared around the issue include placing QR codes throughout the city for people to scan and upload photos of litter to, putting a 5-cent return fee on alcohol nips, businesses providing an incentive to people picking up trash and so on.
Several participants expressed issues with the 311 call center that is designed to assist Springfield residents in various ways. Some suggested that the call center be more user friendly — specifically for those who are not tech savvy.
Davila asked for the state delegates to whisper in Sarno’s ear to not forget about litter. Davila said, “I know I do when I see him.”
Additionally, Davila said he is looking for some sort of feedback on the eighth recommendation and wants to meet with the appropriate person from MassDOT, the Advisory Litter Committee and others. He shared that he plans to host a follow up meeting in about two months.
Davila said he will be drafting a resolution he intends to file soon for a City Council vote, and go before MassDOT.
“We are not going to let this report go. This is not going to go on the shelves … We will see changes one way or the other.”
To view the full report created by the Advisory Litter Committee, visit bit.ly/CurbLitter.