Around Town

Free Watertown Compost Collection Beginning in August

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is excited to announce a new partnership with Black Earth Compost. Watertown residents can sign up for free weekly curbside collection of compostable materials and receive a complimentary 13 gallon bin. Meat, Bones, Dairy, Fruit, Vegetables, Leftovers, Napkins, Coffee Grounds & Filters, and More… ALL COLLECTED FOR FREE CURBSIDE PICKUP

COMPOSTING MADE EASY

Program begins August 2022

To learn more and sign up, visit: blackearthcompost.com/watertown

For additional questions, please email: recycle@watertown-ma.gov 

** This program is currently only open to residents that receive city-provided trash and recycling pickup.*

Around Town

Catch Basin Cleaning in Watertown; Rain Barrels Available from DPW

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The Watertown Department of Public Works provided the following information:

Beginning the week of May 9, 2022, the City will be cleaning stormwater catch basins throughout the City, utilizing a contractor, BMC Corp. There are about 3,600 catch basins in the City and it will take about a month to clean them all. Catch basins carry stormwater off the streets and into the City’s drainage system, which ultimately flows to the Charles River. The purpose of this work is to remove sediment and oils that accumulate in the catch basins to reduce the risk of flooding and so that these pollutants don’t go into the river. Rain Barrels

DPW has partnered with the Great American Rain Barrel Company in Hyde Park, MA to offerrecycled rain barrels at a discounted price to residents as part of its water conservation and stormwater management programs.

“We are thrilled to be offering this simple and inexpensive device to our residents to bring down their water costs and help us protect the Charles River,” says Matthew Shuman, P.E., Watertown City Engineer.

Government

Council Approves $2.5 Million for Road Projects, See Which Roads Are on the List

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Funds to repair road in 2022 were approved by the City Council this week. The $2.5 million will go toward reconstructing four roadways in Watertown. Department of Public Works Superintendent Greg St. Louis said the streets on the list for repairs this year are: Boylston Street (from Fairfield Street to Porter Street), Chester Street, Locke Street, and Chapman Street (from Main Street to Highland Avenue). The work will include fully replacing the roadway surface, installing granite curbing and replacing sidewalks.

ARPA

Congresswoman Visits Watertown, Touts Impact of Federal Funds on City’s Water Infrastructure

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Charlie BreitroseCongresswoman Katherine Clark speaks about how American Rescue Plan funds will improve water infrastructure in Watertown. Behind her is State Sen. Will Brownsberger

Congresswoman Katherine Clark visited the Watertown Department of Public Works Facility Tuesday to talk about how the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) benefits local communities. Some of the money sent to Massachusetts will pay for replacing lead pipes and improving drainage in an area of Watertown prone to flooding during major rain storms.

The City will receive $400,000 in ARPA funds allocated by the State Legislature, in addition to its share that came directly from the Federal level. Providing safer drinking water is one of the goals of ARPA and another major spending bill passed by Congress. “The American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act eliminates lead pipes across America and ensures that every household, school, and childcare center has clean, safe drinking water,” Clark said.

Around Town

Group Collects Over 4,000 Pounds of Clothing at Watertown Recycling Event

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HelpsyPartnering with Helpsy, the northeast’s largest clothing collector, the Watertown Department Public Works collected over 4,000 pounds of textiles at a recent Recycling Event. The following announcement was provided by Helpsy:

The clothing drive, held as part of a Watertown Recycling Event on Saturday, June 12th, was a huge success! HELPSY, the northeast’s largest clothing collector, was on hand to help with the collection of textiles and welcomed a steady flow of cars that resulted in 4,393 pounds of textiles being diverted from the local landfill. For ongoing textile recycling, new collection bins have been placed at the Watertown Recycling Center at 76 Stanley Ave. Contracted by the town, HELPSY will service the bins on a regular basis.

Around Town

Watertown DPW Hosting Styrofoam, Textile Recycling Event with Paper Shredding

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Recycle your Styrofoam at the special DPW event. The following information came from the Watertown Department of Public Works:

There will also be Textiles, Paper Shredding and Styrofoam Recycling for Watertown Residents only on Saturday, June 12, 2021 from 10AM-2PM. Please enter at Stanley Ave. These items can be dropped off at the Jewish Day School parking lot at the entrance of Stanley Avenue. 

This is a free event for Town residents only – please bring an ID with you. For all standard recycling, please enter on Green River Way.

Environment

Tree Planted for Arbor Day First of 100 Planned Around Watertown in 2021

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Trees for WatertownTeam members from Hartley Greymont tree service company and Watertown Department of Public
Works help to install the new Dawn Redwood tree planted at the Lowell School on Arbor Day, 2021. The following piece was written and submitted by James Briand of Trees for Watertown Watertown:

Tree Warden Gregory Mosman celebrated Arbor Day last week with the planting of a magnificent Dawn Redwood at the Lowell School, assisted by Steven Kendall representative of tree service provider Hartney Greymont and former Deputy Tree Warden for the City of Boston. Joining Mosman and Kendall were volunteers Marbin Sanchez and Jon Quinn, and David Andrad of the Watertown Department of Public Works. The tree planting was recorded by Trees for Watertown board member Jessica Grimsby, who is preparing a short how-to video to encourage residents to plant trees on their own property. Next year Arbor Day will turn 150 years old.

Around Town

DPW Recommends Seven Watertown Roads to be Repaved in 2021

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The roads in Watertown proposed to be repaired in 2021. The Department of Public Works recommended that seven roads around Watertown be reconstructed during the 2021 construction season. The list of roads to undergo full reconstruction, including sidewalks, was presented to the Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee on Sept. 24. The roads that made the list are:

Alden Road Sheldon RoadHazel Street (Quimby Street to Dexter Avenue) Gertrude StreetGoldie StreetElmwood AvenueGrandview Avenue (Chapman Street to Copeland Street)

Town Engineer Matt Shuman explained that the roads were chosen were in the greatest state of disrepair.