We’re proud of Needham’s sustainability achievements and amenities. Green Needham played an leading role in many of these projects. We work collaboratively the Town government and with grassroots organizations such as the Needham League of Women Voters. Other grassroots organizations, mentioned below, played important roles in initiating, suggesting, or directing various projects. Support from Needham residents is key to the success of these initiatives and those yet to come.
Here’s a partial list of what makes Needham “green”:
Climate Action Roadmap: In 2022 the Town established a Climate Action Planning Committee (CAPC) to guide the Town in developing a plan that meets or exceeds the State’s climate mitigation and resilience goals, including a commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Sustainable Needham Climate Action Roadmap, completed in early 2024, provides a plan for the Town, residents, community organizations, and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resiliency in an equitable way. Green Needham, joined by the Needham League of Women Voters and Mothers Out Front Needham, developed the proposal to the Select Board that resulted in the establishment of the CAPC, and members of Green Needham are participants and contributors to its work. Read more.
Needham Power Choice: The Needham Climate Action Plan Committee identified pursuing an electricity aggregation program as the most impactful action that the Town can take in the immediate term to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In March 2025 the Town announced the launch of Needham Power Choice, which is a kind of group electricity buying program for a city or town, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and stabilizing electricity costs. Green Needham, working with the Needham League of Women Voters and Mothers Out Front Needham, spearheaded the effort to bring Electricity Aggregation to Needham. Read more.
Go to Green Needham’s Needham Power Choice Project page
Solar Array at the RTS: Producing energy since 2016, Needham’s 12-acre solar array (11, 870 panels) sits atop the closed landfill at the Recycling and Transfer Station (RTS). The project produces between 3 and 4 million kilowatt hours per year and has generated millions of dollars of revenue for the Town. As of July 2023 it has produced nearly 29 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity! The project was conceived by Green Needham and came to fruition through the collaborative efforts of the Town’s elected leadership and staff, Town Meeting, Green Needham, and an appointed citizens’ advisory committee. Read more.
Town Meeting Support for Green Initiatives: In October, 2021, Town Meeting passed A Resolution Concerning Declaration of Climate and Ecological Emergency. Beginning in 2023, Green Needham’s Plastics Waste Reduction team focused on efforts to reduce the use of single-use plastics. In 2023, in considering a Citizens’ Petition submitted by the Green Needham Team, Town Meeting passed a Plastic Bag Ban, which became effective in 2024. At the May 2024 Town Meeting, members considered another Citizens’ Petition submitted by Team and overwhelmingly passed a ban on specific single-use plastic items, including Styrofoam. The May 2025 Town Meeting Meeting again considered Green Needham initiatives and acted to reduce use of single-use plastics by adopting a Skip the Stuff policy, requiring Needham restaurants to stop the practice of automatically including plastic utensils/plates with all take-out orders. A ban of black plastics was also passed, although without an enforcement mechanism. Both measures are effective as of January 1, 2026.
Opt-in Specialized Energy Code: Needham has taken an important step forward in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector, ensuring that new construction is built for the net zero energy future. As explained on the Town website, “Needham voted to adopt the Specialized Code during Special Town Meeting on October 30, 2023. All compliance pathways under the Specialized Code are designed to ensure that new construction is consistent with Massachusetts’ net-zero by 2050 goals, primarily through a combination of energy efficiency, which enables reduced heating loads, and efficient electrification. . . In Needham, the Specialized Code took effect July 1, 2024.” Read more.
Recycling and Transfer Station: Serving Needham residents, the RTS is a collection center for recyclables and many other items, including books, CDs, clothing, shoes, tires, car batteries, food scraps and more. The RTS also provides residents with the opportunities to safely dispose of a variety of hazardous materials that cannot be safely disposed of in regular trash. See more about April to October Paint Collection Days and the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day (as well as reciprocal agreements with other local towns for Household Hazardous Waste collections). Needham residents may get a free sticker at the Treasurer’s office in Needham Town Hall.
Solarize Needham, 2014 and 2019. Partnering with the Town, Green Needham organized and executed two successful Solarize initiatives, facilitated by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The program offered discounted solar panel installations to Needham homeowners and businesses. Solar power has gained in popularity in Needham. As of 2021 Needham had 674 residential systems.
Green Community Status: In February 2020 Needham officially became a Green Community, making the Town eligible to obtain grant funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Green Needham first brought this proposal to Town leadership, who embraced it, creating a plan to reduce municipal energy use and making zoning changes to encourage renewable energy development. The final required component, adoption of the Stretch Energy Code, a building code with more stringent energy efficiency requirements than the Base Building Code, was then passed by Town Meeting.
Needham Rail Trail. Part of a projected 7-mile trail, through Newton, Needham, Dover, Medfield and Newton, the Needham section is a flat, mostly wooded, 1.7 mile walking, running, and biking trail along an unused section of MBTA-owned railroad Right-of-Way. The project, a grassroots effort, is coordinated by the non-profit Bay Colony Rail Trail Association.
Local Produce: The Needham Community Farm and the Needham Farmers Market were developed through grassroots efforts. Needham’s Volante Farms, a popular greenhouse, farmstand and cafe, is owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Volante family.
