Hadley Board of Health to Begin Permitting Garbage Haulers Under State Law

HADLEY -- March 20, 2025, Hadley Board of Health moves to permit garbage haulers for the first time. Health agent Ben and administrative staffer Peter told the board at the March 20 meeting that Hadley will begin requiring private trash collectors to hold town permits under existing Massachusetts General Law authority, no board vote needed. The $100 permit fee, the same charged to septage haulers, will apply to trash haulers; a fee review for fiscal year 2026 or 2027 is possible. Peter briefed the board on a tight fiscal year 2026 budget driven in part by a large unanticipated health insurance premium increase affecting Hadley and other Western Massachusetts towns in a pooled municipal insurance program, with a May 1 town meeting expected to take up capital spending questions and a possible Proposition 2½ override. Two food establishments, Friendly's on Route 9 and a Hadley Mall restaurant, have closed in recent weeks, while a new TownePlace Suites by Marriott on Route 9 passed its pool inspection the day before the meeting and is nearing its opening.