Recycling and Waste Reduction Initiative

 

The Recycling and Waste Reduction Initiative is primarily aimed at raising awareness in the community of the importance of recycling and reducing the amount of garbage we create. This is a tall order. Just drive around any neighborhood on garbage day. See what we toss out, to be taken and dumped into a landfill. That mattress, TV set, or torn up carpet, when not properly recycled, is costly to dispose of and, to make matters worse, will be with us for generations to come. It doesn’t have to be that way. The Environmental Commission is trying to introduce changes to policies and procedures to the Borough Recycling Program by doing such things as establishing “anything with a plug” (like a computer, cell phone, etc.) recycling and refrigerant-based appliance recycling, both located at the Recycling Center. See recycling guidelines. We have also concerned ourselves with the desirability of reducing pesticide use in the town, particularly on our playgrounds. An important initiative is to improve recycling opportunities and practices in the schools by making sure that the schools have the needed materials and to also encourage through education an appreciation of the value of recycling and reducing our production of garbage.

 

Activities: Policy reviews, public education and school education projects.  We would like to hold and a town-wide garage sale next spring, but there is only so much we as volunteers can do. Anyone interested in helping out should contact us. Karen Garceau is spearheading our work with the schools and Jon Berry manages our general recycling efforts.