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WESTFORD — Welcome to the Nov. 6 edition of Weekend Wrap-Up. Here, we highlight the most important news you may have missed this week in Westford.
Textiles, mattresses can no longer be thrown away starting Tuesday
New solid waste bans are coming to Massachusetts.
Starting Nov. 1 textiles and mattresses can no longer be disposed of. Instead, people will have to recycle or donate their unwanted items. Bulk stickers will no longer be accepted on mattresses and box springs.
According to Department of Environmental Protection data, more than 600,000 mattresses and box springs are discarded annually in Massachusetts.
“They are expensive to transport, hard to compact, take up lots of landfill space, and can damage incinerator processing equipment,” MassDEP says. “Once disassembled, more than 75 percent of their components can be reused. This is better for the environment, the economy, and municipal waste management budgets.”
For textiles, MassDEP says 85% of material could be reused, recycled or donated. According to DEP data, residents dispose of 230,000 tons of textiles annually.
DEP says the textile waste ban includes “clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabric, and similar products, except for textiles that are contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil, or hazardous substances.”
PHOTOS: Westford Academy honors senior Ghosts
Senior Westford Academy Ghosts. (Photo/Ben Domaingue)
Area Dunkin’ management company facing $145K fine for child labor law violations
A company that manages multiple Dunkin’ locations in the Merrimack Valley and Central Massachusetts is facing $145,000 in fines over state child labor law violations.
Concord-based Westford Group, Inc., and its president and treasurer, Michael and Brian Mariano are facing five citations across 14 Dunkin’ stores, including stores in Lowell, Leominster, Grafton, Worcester and Westborough. The group does not operate any of the five locations in Westford.
According to the Attorney General’s office, the company was cited for over 1,200 violations over the course of a year and a half. Issues included a failure to obtain work permits for minor workers, failing to supervise minors after 8 p.m. and having minors work too early or too late in the day.
The investigation began after a minor employee reported they were made to work over 10 hours in one day. The violations impact 50 employees, according to the Attorney General’s office.
“Companies that employ young workers have a responsibility to provide a safe and productive work environment,” said AG Healey. “We are committed to protecting the rights of young workers in Massachusetts and ensuring that employers understand and comply with our labor laws.”
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