Massachusetts city offers relief on trash payments

The city of Springfield, Massachusetts, will offer an extension of time for residents to pay the annual trash fee, among other relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, MassLive reports. 

The city charges a $90 fee annually to homeowners for trash pickup per barrel. The fee is designed to help pay for trash pickup operations paid under the city budget and tax revenues. The due date for the city’s trash fee has been pushed back to May 11, instead of the original date of April 10.

“During these challenging and extraordinary times, my administration is committed to trying to provide any relief and assistance possible to our taxpayers while following local and state legal statutes to maintain our city services and operations,” says Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, in a statement. 

City Councilor Orlando Ramos thanked Sarno and his administration “for acting in the best interest of our residents during this tough time.”

“People everywhere are being financially impacted by COVID-19, and it only makes sense to for us as a municipality to give homeowners some relief,” Ramos said. "We will continue to work collaboratively, and make the necessary adjustments in order to help everyone get through this.”