Bunker Hill Waste & Recycling Containerization Pilot, Boston Housing Authority
The Housing Authority
Boston Housing Authority (BHA) is the largest public housing provider in the city, with over 8,000 affordable housing units across Boston. They offer homes to low and moderate income households. Established in 1935, during the depths of the Great Depression, public housing was seen as a progressive way to address urban poverty in Boston and across the country. BHA has long-since been committed to providing safe, sustainable and well-maintained housing and improving living standards for residents across the city.
The Public Housing Development
Bunker Hill, built in 1940 and situated in the historic Charlestown neighbourhood, is the largest public housing community in Boston, home to 1,100 households. Over the years the development has suffered decades of underfunding, leading to deteriorating buildings and infrastructure challenges. In response, BHA launched the Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment Project, a large-scale revitalisation effort to replace the outdated buildings with modern, mixed-income housing, green spaces and community areas.
The Challenges
Like many large housing developments, Bunker Hill faced significant issues related to waste management. These included severe rat infestations due to exposed waste and food scraps, illegal dumping which created unsanitary and unsightly conditions and low recycling participation, with most recyclable materials ending up in general waste bins.
Despite previous efforts, these challenges persisted, impacting resident satisfaction and environmental sustainability. BHA sought an innovative solution to transform waste management practices at Bunker Hill.
The Solution
Understanding the complexity of waste management in large housing developments, metroSTOR collaborated with BHA, RRS consultants and city officials to design a pilot program. The goal was to implement a carefully structured waste and recycling system that would improve cleanliness, encourage responsible disposal and create a healthier living environment for the entire Bunker Hill community.
Initial discussions with BHA began in February 2023 to explore containerization solutions. In October 2023, an order was placed following extensive design development and by May 2024, installation was completed. The system incorporated metroSTOR‘s user-friendly enclosures for general waste, recycling and organic waste collection.
The pilot locations were strategically chosen for accessibility and resident convenience. Each waste station included secure, rodent-proof enclosures to prevent pest access. The bins were clearly labelled for general waste, recyclables and food scraps. Color-coded, multilingual signage is clearly displayed on each unit to reduce contamination and improve user experience.
The Outcomes
Since the installation, BHA has observed significant improvements. The surroundings are noticeably cleaner, with a reduction in illegal dumping. Rat populations have declined due to the rodent-proof organic waste bins. Recycling and food scrap diversion have increased, with data from July 2024 showing a 22% diversion rate. Resident feedback has been positive, with more households actively participating in waste separation. Given the pilot’s success, BHA is now working on securing funding and planning proposals to expand the system across all 8,000 BHA properties, marking a significant step towards sustainable waste management citywide.
Bobby Bell, Green Infrastructure Deployment ManagerThe metroSTOR enclosures system has been great for us at BHA and a critical component toward our goals around zero waste and improving the quality of life of our residents and staff.
Your innovative system has been a valuable asset in: empowering our community to reimagine ‘waste;’ helping residents become more intentional about their resources and where they deposit them; capturing food scraps for composting in your rodent-proof organics bins to mitigate rats and, ultimately, feed farms instead of incinerators/landfills; and creating overall healthier, safer, and engaging spaces.
We are excited to collaborate with you!
Looking Ahead
The Bunker Hill pilot has demonstrated the effectiveness of well-designed waste infrastructure in improving community cleanliness and sustainability. As BHA continues its redevelopment efforts, integrating these waste management solutions into future housing projects will play a crucial role in fostering long-term environmental and social benefits for Boston’s residents.
