March Focus: Talking Trash

It’s hard to grasp the numbers. The juice box, the broken table lamp, the paper coffee cup, the moldy orange — every item tossed out becomes part of a stream of municipal waste that, together with materials such as demolition/construction debris and contaminated soils, adds up to more than 6 million tons of solid waste generated each year in Massachusetts. In 2023, over 2.7 million tons of this trash was sent out of state for disposal.

This month, as we celebrate Green Needham’s twentieth anniversary, we focus on solid waste reduction — the opportunities, challenges, and future possibilities.

In the effort to reduce trash, the Needham Recycling and Transfer Station (RTS) is the star player. You can drop off your trash – of course! – but the RTS also provides many reuse and recycling services. Pick up a household item or a toy for your kids at the Swap Shop. Bring mercury batteries, electronics, scrap metal and much more to the RTS for proper recycling. Donate clothing and books. Drop off mattresses for recycling. Participate in collections for oil paint and wood stains on designated Saturdays. Even residents who have hired private trash collectors can take advantage of the special services at the RTS. (The required stickers are free for residents.) Checkout the RTS website for everything that is offered.

Over the years, Green Needham has strongly supported the mission of the RTS. We have used blog posts, social media, and public meetings to encourage proper recycling and to give tips on waste reduction, including avoiding single-use items, donating goods for reuse, and repairing rather than replacing.

Some highlights:

• Keep it out of the trash! In 2015, Green Needham created the Needham Recyclopedia, an alphabetical listing of many materials (everything from antifreeze to computers to yoga mats), with recycling and/or reuse options. What do you do with a used backpack? Old crayons? Vinyl records? Visit the Recyclopedia to find out.
• Feed a crowd with no waste! In 2018 Green Needham and the League of Women Voters of Needham cosponsored the Go Green Expo, which showcased local green initiatives and offered hands-on activities for all ages. The event was low-waste and practice-what-you-preach. Lunch offerings were sandwich wraps needing no utensils; desserts were finger food; food scraps, paper napkins, and certified compostable cups were picked up by Bootstrap Compost. For its own events, the League created a low-waste protocol for hosting members’ dinners and other gatherings with almost no waste.
• Holey Socks! I can donate torn jeans! The 2022 Solid Waste Forum, cosponsored with the RTS, presented information to a standing-room-only crowd on new developments, including the state’s ban on putting textiles in the trash. The ban includes clothing, shoes, belts, and textiles such as curtains, linens, and bedding, all of which can be donated instead.  Even clothes and shoes that are worn or torn (but not moldy or contaminated with toxic substances) may be included in the collection bins. (Unusable textiles can be made into insulation or recycled for other uses.)

What the future holds.  Massachusetts has an ambitious goal — by 2030, reduce solid waste by 30% compared to 2018, and by 2050, reduce it by 90%. This goal will be a challenge, since the amount of solid waste has actually increased since 2018. What can we do?

One solution is to start – literally — with the low-hanging fruit. It may surprise you that an estimated 22% of our municipal waste is discarded food! Clearly, keeping food out of the trash would significantly contribute to lowering Needham’s waste stream.  To this end, since 2022 the Needham RTS has been offering food scrap collection, including dairy and meat (and that “moldy orange” mentioned above). RTS Superintendent Matt DeMarrais is working with Needham’s Sustainability Manager Gabby Queenan to increase participation, estimated to be about 10% of Needham households.

You can do your part! See Green Needham’s tips on reducing food waste and, if you don’t already, keep food out of your trash by bringing it to the RTS, setting up a private compost pick-up subscription, and/or composting it at home. Check out tips for each of these strategies on the Town’s Food Waste Diversion webpage.

As the year unfolds, watch for other creative ideas to lower waste. The Town will offer its first-ever Fix-It Clinic on Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Community Room at the Needham Free Public Library. Volunteer Repair Coaches will work with you through diagnosing and repairing your item. By repairing instead of replacing, participants help reduce waste, save money that would otherwise be spent on replacements, and support the Town’s sustainability goals by conserving resources. Reserve a time slot based on the category of broken item: sewing and textiles, clocks, lamps, small household appliances, and houseplant triage. Sign up here. This event is a collaboration among the Needham Free Public Library, the Recycling & Solid Waste Division, and the Sustainability Department. Questions can be emailed to Sustainability Manager Gabby Queenan at gqueenan@needhamma.gov.