Reading Rolls Out Automated Trash Program, Closes High Street for Repairs
READING — Reading is overhauling how it collects trash and recycling, Town Manager Jayne Wellman detailed changes to the program on the town's "Reading Between the Lines" podcast as High Street heads into a four-day repair closure this week.
TOWN HALL The town is rolling out changes to its trash and recycling collection services, according to Town Hall. Wellman walked through the new automated program on the latest episode of "Reading Between the Lines," the podcast produced by Town Hall and RCTV, though specifics of the new collection schedule and equipment were not detailed in the town's announcement.
High Street will close to through traffic from Monday, July 14, through Friday, July 17, for roadwork, the town said. Local businesses along the corridor will remain open and accessible during the closure.
Separately, the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project will run truck-mounted aerosol spraying in Reading over the coming weeks as part of its summer mosquito-control program; the town has posted the spraying schedule on its website.
COMMUNITY & ARTS The Let Grow Summer Independence Challenge, a free community program, is coming to Reading this summer, the town announced, encouraging families to give kids more unsupervised independence through a series of self-directed activities.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS "Patch AM: What zoning changes could reshape Reading's Eastern Gateway and ADU rules?" Reading Patch's morning briefing flagged upcoming zoning questions around the town's Eastern Gateway corridor and accessory-dwelling-unit rules, tied to this week's Eastern Gateway Steering Committee meeting, per Reading Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/reading).
"Fiscal Year 2027 State Budget Includes $50K for Reading Council on Aging Van." The office of House Minority Leader Brad Jones says the newly finalized state budget sets aside $50,000 for a Reading Council on Aging van and increases Chapter 70 and unrestricted local aid to the town, according to a post via Reading Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/reading).
"Senator Lewis and Mass. Senate Crack Down on Big Social Media Companies that Target Youth." State Senator Jason Lewis' office says the Senate passed a bill limiting autoplay, infinite scroll and other features on youth social media accounts, according to a post via Reading Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/reading).