Toward Zero Waste – Green Needham

No one aspires to waste anything – we all want to make the best use of what we have. Waste is regret – think of “wasted time”, “a waste of potential”, “a life wasted”. Most tangibly, though, waste is anything we throw away – and waste is costly:

First we pay for something we don’t use.
Then we pay a second time to have it disposed of.
We often pay a third time – without realizing it – through environmental damage and adverse health impacts.
Resources – natural and manufactured – are finite, and many are scarce. Scarce resources increase in cost.

Green Needham’s “Toward Zero Waste” initiative aims to use the four R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink – to address problems of waste. We are focused initially on three areas we believe can have the greatest impact and benefit locally – food, community-wide recycling and reduce/reuse.

Recycling

Needham has been a state-wide leader in residential recycling rates and reducing material sent to landfills. Green Needham aims to increase awareness, access and use of recycling by the Needham community...

Reduce/Reuse

Why aim to reduce your waste? The EPA estimates that we use 380 billion plastic bags/wraps each year. Plastic is now everywhere, including in our seafood and drinking water. The junk mail that we receive destroys 100 million trees a year ......

Recycling Tips - Best Practices

This page lists "best practices" for recycling at the Needham RTS. Following these ensures that Needham's recyclables will command the highest possible price in the market.

Ask the Recycler

Have a Recycling Question? Consult the RTS website, with its many details about what can and cannot be recycled, and check out our FAQs...

Food Waste

Over 40% of the food produced in the United States - and the energy, water and money used to produce it - is never used to feed someone - it is wasted somewhere between farm and table. Green Needham's food waste project aims at the parts of that chain ...

Resources

Documents

Resources on the Web

	Bay State Recycling Recycles worn, ripped and stained textiles into insulation, carpet padding, soundproofing material, and industrial wiping cloths.
	Beyond Plastics Their mission is to end plastic pollution everywhere
	Beyond Plastics Beyond Plastics - Plastic Free/Zero Waste Holiday Gift Guide
	Green Needham 2017-11-29 Event Video: Toward a Zero Waste Future Watch Green Needham's "Toward a Zero Waste Future" program with several speakers and a Q&A period.
	Green Needham Recyclopedia
	Needham High School Environmental Action Club - Awareness through Action Needham High School Environmental Action Club Interview with The Needham Channel Feb. 23, 2023
	Needham Recycling and Transfer Station
	Needham RTS/Green Needham Recycling & Solid Waste Forum 11/2/22 - Needham Channel video recording Needham RTS/Green Needham Recycling & Solid Waste Forum 11/2/22 - Needham Channel video recording
	RecyclingWorks Massachusetts RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts is a recycling assistance program designed to help businesses and institutions maximize recycling, reuse, and composting opportunities.
	South Shore Recycling Cooperative Provides support and education for correct recycling and waste minimization practices
	The Problem with Plastic Bags PSA from Green Needham's Plastic Waste Reduction Team
	WasteWise Wellesley Town of Wellesley’s 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Working Group's information on food waste reduction projects.