• No personal data was collected.
• The study used only samples taken from the trash facilities.
• All surveyed trash was then disposed of at the city's Waste-to-Energy facility.

WORCESTER — Your trash is safe.

At least according to City Manager Eric D. Batista, who at the April 29 City Council meeting reassured a concerned councilor about residents’ privacy concerns in relation to a study for which the city collected data through a random check of trash and recycling. 

A survey was undertaken for the Zero Waste Master Plan, which aims to limit litter on the streets and improve recycling and reuse among other initiatives.

“We’re trying to understand certain behaviors of our residents in the city when it comes to the use of trash,” Batista said. “We're working with these (trash and recycling) companies to understand what behaviors we’re seeing so we can offer new programs for residents.  

“For example, if we see that people are putting more and more textiles in their regular trash, then (we consider) what kind of new programs we can offer so people can dispose textiles in certain areas.” 

The conversation was dumped onto the councilors by District 3 Councilor George J. Russell, who requested a report assessing the approach to the protection of resident privacy when the city collected data for a Waste Characterization Study throughout April.   

The study looked at nearly 11 tons of waste from which they randomly took collections that they sorted and analyzed by expert consultants, according to the city. 

On its website, the city states that no personal or household data was collected and that the trash was then disposed of through the city’s usual process at the Waste-to-Energy facility in Millbury. 

Batista added at the April 29 meeting that the survey was conducted on samples taken from the trash facilities and not directly from sidewalks where residents and businesses place their trash for pickup.

Russell made reference at the meeting to a photo published by the city of “expert consultants” sorting through the trash on a table. 

“I understand what they’re doing,” Russell said. “But I know I wouldn’t want my bag of trash to be one of those bags of trash on that table. 

“If there’s a possibility of somebody’s trash bag to be open to be looked at, we need to tell the public that that’s a possibility.” 

Councilors didn't shy away from further trash talk at the April 29 meeting. 

A report announcing the start of the program that looks to install 150 bins on various Worcester streets by the end of June was also adopted. 

Batista says in a report that beginning the week of April 28, the city will install 18 bins in the Green Island area and 11 bins on Grafton Street. Trash at those locations will be picked up by the city’s recycling service provider Casella Waste Systems.