Greenovate

DON’T WASTE SEPTEMBER! TURNING TRASH TO TREASURE

By October 20, 2019 No Comments

It’s back to school and back to work time. It’s definitely not back-to-throwing-everything-in-your-dumpster time. At least we hope not.

Every year, the typical American generates over 1,600 pounds in waste – that throwing out more than 10 of you in the trash. In Boston, a lot waste happens in September as people move in and move out.

 

(Allston on Move-out Day: Don’t Be These Guys)

It’s one thing to not throw away waste. But it’s another to think about the entire chain of companies and people that turn your waste into something valuable? One of those mechanisms might just be a simple community yard sale – a way of earning extra cash and sharing the use value of your old beanbag chair to another person, as opposed to sending it to an incinerator. Entrepreneurs in Boston are taking it the next level – some of our panelists later this month are turning old, rusted shipping containers into hydroponic farms, or finding value in all those old “Star Wars” t-shirts from middle-school (listen to this NPR podcast to find out!).

We’re hosting a whole series of events on waste and reuse this month on rethinking waste. We hope you can join us.

WASTE DISPOSAL CHECKLIST: THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF DEALING WITH WASTE

First, whether you are new to town or a long-time resident, we encourage all Bostonians to know the do’s and don’ts of disposing waste in Boston. Here’s the rundown:

 

First, whether you are new to town or a long-time resident, we encourage all Bostonians to know the do’s and don’ts of disposing waste in Boston. Here’s the rundown:

Do:

  • Know what can and can’t be recycled in Boston. The City has a guide of what you can do here.
  • If you live in a house or apartment, know which days of the week are your pick-up days: http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=10637
  • Recycle your electronic waste in responsible ways. Massachusetts State Department of Environmental Protection has a list of options. If you can’t make it to one of these locations, you can help raise funds for a Boston-based charity by getting a free shipping label here.
  • Use your garbage disposal a.k.a. Insinkerator for food scraps. When food waste goes down the garbage disposal, it’s sent to the wastewater treatment facility on Deer Island and generates renewable energy to power the facility. The more food you send through your garbage disposal, the more renewable energy you can help create!

And some don’ts:

  • Don’t litter. C’mon. What would your mother think? Sometimes, you might litter by accident when you don’t tie your trash and recycling bags tight and put it in a secured place. Let’s keep our streets clean.
  • Don’t put oils, fats, and grease down the sink. This is the leading cause of sewer overflow. Find out more and learn how to properly dispose of oils, fats, and grease:  http://www.bwsc.org/COMMUNITY/prevention/fog.asp
  • Don’t use your neighbor’s waste bins because your apartment doesn’t have any. If your building doesn’t have recycling bins, contact your landlord or property manager and politely ask them to obtain bins – it’s the law! Find out more