Before goods become waste, we pay a cost to materials, to production & to shipping. All the way consuming energy. We use them and then pay haul away remainders. Waste costs $$ and contributes to global warming. Reducing what comes into the home or business is the first step to waste reduction. Reusing is the next step, extending the life of products and avoiding unnecessary re-production. Recycling is the last step to recover savings from the loop.
What is the challenge for Belmont?
- Reduce its trash. 147 MA communities have adopted Pay As You Throw that reduces trash and saves money. Belmont decides whether to adopt PAYT in fall 2017.
- Recycling of waste in the municipal buildings needs improvement. School recycling rate is 2%, while community has 22% recycling rate!
What can you do?
- Email the Board of Selectmen about why you want the town to reduce its trash (and carbon footprint) by adopting Pay-As-You-Throw bags.
- Pack. Your. Lunch. With reusable containers. You can use a jar, a thermos, a washable bag…lots of options.
- Recycle. Every. Other. Week. Town Recycling Guidelines.
- Tell Your Neighbors.
- Compost your food scraps and you will reduce waste collected.
- Proper disposal of bad stuff i.e., mercury, lithium, pharmaceuticals is best for our water and food supply – for our health. Take pharmaceuticals to the Police Station for disposal.
- Join PTO/PTA Green Teams to encourage more recycling in schools
What is Sustainable Belmont doing?
- SB is advocating for Pay As You Throw bags, which should reduce waste 25% or the equivalent of 4.5% of Belmont’s home energy use. We recommend that bag fees be returned to households, so the average resident will pay nothing.
- Advocating putting recycling bins in all school cafeterias with good signage and training, still missing at our high school!
- Using “garden to plate” curriculum to help teach students about soils, plants, food and compost–the food cycle.