Collapsible containers: New pilot program to solve South End trash troubles

BOSTON — There may be a potential solution to the trash troubles in many Boston neighborhoods.

The city credits a group of residents in the South End for crafting a new idea that’s just about the hit the street.

A new pilot program is being rolled out in the quest to solve the issue.

Hours after Tuesday trash pickup in Boston’s South End, a feast fit for a flock of seagulls was served up on city sidewalks littered with remnants of trash.

"Several times a day, every time I come down, it seems there’s a new hole in the bag or something." said South End resident Justin Lee.

>>PREVIOUS: South End residents fed up with trash protocol

Lee says he doesn’t take his trash out until the morning, before work on the neighborhood’s two weekly trash pickup days.

But he said that still leaves a window of opportunity for people to dig through it., sometimes leaving him with a mess and a ticket.

"If you want to fight it, you have to take a day off work," Lee said.

As a Boston 25 News crew drove around, we saw others apparently dealing with that same problem.

"I think the frustrating part is I can’t be around to police it all day," Lee said. "I get fined for it. What am I supposed to do, sit outside and watch the trash all day?"

In the midst of the complaints and the photo evidence illustrating their frustrations, a group of neighbors here has been working with the city to craft a solution that could one day help solve the issue across this community, and potentially others in the city.

"I saw a Facebook post and didn’t like the trash problem on my street and asked how I could get involved," said Dan Riviello.

Riviello is now one of the first who will be testing out a new pilot program using collapsible containers.

The two different versions, both easy to store in apartment buildings, will be tested out on East Brookline Street starting new week.

"If we’re successful, hopefully we’ll be able to pass on the lessons that we’ve learned to other streets in the neighborhood," Riviello said.

Brian Coughlin, a superintendent with Boston Public Works waste reduction, says the city will be closely monitoring how often the collapsible containers are being used and how well they work to see if this could be the answer to keeping trash in check.

"We want to be able to expand this but we first we need results, proof," Coughlin said.

He said use of the containers "is the key."

"I think we will find there is less litter and trash blowing down the streets creating a lot of that mess," he said.

The pilot program is set to last from 6 to 8 weeks.

While next Tuesday is the first day, beginning with 20 of the collapsible containers, the city says it is already hearing from a growing number of others expressing interest.

The Beacon Hill Association has already said they want to get involved, and a street in that neighborhood will also be tested out in the near future.

Cox Media Group