The Board of Health wants to hear from residents, as the town chooses a new trash and recycling vendor.
At an Oct. 15 meeting, Public Health Director Andrew Petty said the town is considering three main options for curbside collection: continuing the current system with residents using their own barrels and limited recycling; switching to automated pickup with barrels provided by the town; or automated pickup with recycling every other week, which could reduce costs.
He noted that all options would result in higher expenses.
“[The cost increase] is going to be close to 100%… for the processing cost,” Petty said. “Right now there is no processing cost. We don’t have to pay for any kind of disposal of recycling.”
The board discussed how limiting curbside recycling would not necessarily reduce the total amount collected, as residents could still bring recycling to the transfer station. Revenue from facility sticker sales, which Petty said could reach about $600,000 this year, helps offset some of the town’s residential disposal costs.
He also noted potential savings if the town purchased standardized barrels in bulk as part of automated collection, which could lower the price per container to $55 to $65 compared with roughly $110 for individual purchases.
Petty said he plans to hold a public information session later this month, likely at the Council on Aging, to give residents a chance to learn more about the options and provide feedback before issuing a new request for proposals.
“I’ll go back and forth with people as much as they need so they can ask their questions and I can provide the answers,” he said.
Community wellness and autism research
Earlier in the meeting, Chair Dr. Tom Massaro reported that the town’s CAHM survey is underway. The project, he said, will help guide future mental health prevention efforts.
He noted that while chronic diseases such as cardiac, pulmonary and cancer illnesses tend to peak later in life, mental health challenges often emerge earlier.
“If we invest a little bit of resources, effort and time,” he said, “we will get a much longer period of payment from that investment.”
Massaro said the board wants to focus on social factors that influence well-being and to work more closely with schools and other town departments. He also suggested creating a nonprofit to raise small grants for preventive programs.
The board’s public health outreach has continued through recent newspaper columns, including one addressing the connection between acetaminophen and autism. Massaro discussed new genetic studies that challenge earlier claims about Tylenol’s risks and said the board will continue using local news columns to raise “health literacy” in town.
Local tragedy sparks call for parental responsibility
Board of Health member Tom McMahon said school and town officials are exploring stronger parental education measures after recent teen tragedies, including mandatory “pre-prom” meetings and stricter athletic penalties for students caught drinking.
“The worst offenders, I’d say, are not even the kids, it’s the parents,” McMahon said, criticizing adults who host underage parties, drink at high school games, or pressure schools to overlook consequences for their children.
He said changing that culture will require parents to “step up to other parents” and call out unsafe or illegal behavior.
Flu season outlook
Board member Dr. Amanda Ritvo gave an early warning about this year’s flu season, describing last year’s outbreak was “severe.” She cited preliminary data showing nearly 47 million illnesses and about 40,000 deaths nationwide, with hospitalizations across all age groups nearly double the 15-year average.
Ritvo urged residents not to underestimate influenza, which can be especially dangerous for young children, older adults and people with chronic health conditions who face higher risks of pneumonia, respiratory failure and death.
“Flu may feel familiar, but it continues to pose serious risks every year,” she said.
She encouraged people to get vaccinated in October to ensure protection through the winter months, noting that immunity takes about two weeks to develop and lasts roughly six months.
Ritvo said residents have several vaccine options this year: the standard flu shot, a high-dose version for older adults, and a nasal spray for children and adults ages 2 through 49. For the first time, the nasal spray can even be ordered and administered at home.
“The influenza vaccine is incredibly safe, with benefits far outweighing the risks,” Ritvo said, adding that most side effects like soreness, fatigue, or a low fever are mild and temporary. She also addressed a common misconception about the vaccine.
“It’s physically impossible to make you sick with the flu, because it is a dead virus,” she said. “What you’re experiencing are more side effects.”
The vaccine, she explained, can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death and often results in milder symptoms for those who do get sick. People with egg allergies can safely receive any of the available vaccines, she noted, and last year’s vaccines reduced the risk of doctor visits or hospitalizations by 40 to 60 percent.
Transfer station work and new wellness app
Petty reported that construction is underway at the Transfer Station, with work continuing through the winter and paving likely to be completed in spring. Operations for residents are expected to continue during the project.
He also announced that the town has joined Bloom, a mental health app that connects residents to 24/7 telehealth, recovery and wellness resources. The program, free for Marblehead residents, will be rolled out in the next couple of weeks.
