As the City of Chicopee continues to prepare for the transition to an automated trash collecting system beginning in May 2017, the City Council Tuesday approved two orders from Mayor Kos totaling $510,000 for the purchase of one automated side loader trash packer and three lease-to-own rear load packers to coincide with the implementation of the semi-automated curbside pickup system for trash, recycling, and yard waste. The system requires new equipment to update the City’s existing truck fleet.

The new rear load packers in addition to the City’s existing fleet will be used for trash pickups until the landfill that the City uses closes. The automate side loaders are not able to safely-dump inside the landfill because the vehicles are too low to the ground. The side loaders will be used only for recycling pick up until the landfill closes, at which point they will have a dual use for both trash and recycling.

“Adding these trucks will allow us to address both current and future needs,” said DPW Superintendent Jeff Neece. “The lease-purchase option is being utilized to bring the fleet up to required numbers as soon as possible and maximize the use of available funding.”

“I thank the City Council for their continued support as we work to address current needs while preparing for the future,” said Mayor Kos. “We are able to update our fleet of trucks for our current collection system while also adding ones that we can use with our new toter system.”

The City’s new curbside trash pick-up program known as Pay-As-You-Throw/Save-Money-And-Reduction-Trash (PAYT/SMART) will go into effect on or about May 1, 2017.