Go 'green' in 2012 by stepping up recycling efforts and reducing waste. Here are a few ideas.
Alkaline batteries - Bring to the Swampscott Health Department.
Building materials – Donate new/used materials to the Boston Building Resource co-op. Call 617-442-2262 for a pick-up.
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Carry In/Carry Out - A program for beaches, parks and day-use areas whereby visitors take their trash with them, eliminating the cost for trash removal. Danvers and Beverly have implemented CI/CO programs.
Donate children’s books - Drop off at the Lynn Community Health Center Reach Out and Read program, 269 Union Street, 781-581-3900.
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Environmentally preferable purchasing – Seek out post consumer recycle content when purchasing paper products.
Freecycle - An on-line grassroots movement to give (and get) stuff for free in your own town or nearby, keeping materials out of the landfill and the incinerator.
Gadgets – Producers will take back small and large electronics wherever purchased or bring to the Swampscott’s E-waste collection.
Household Hazardous Waste – Twice per year take advantage of the HHW collection by cleaning out pesticides, oil paints/varnishes and other hazardous chemicals from your home.
Incineration – Cost to incinerate our trash: $82/ton. Cost to recycle: free.
Jobs – For each job in waste management there are 13 jobs in the recycling sector.
Kicking the Can – A WSJ survey “Should those who throw out more trash pay higher disposal costs?” 84% yes.
Live greener - A resolution for the whole family in 2012!
Mercury recovery program – Bring switches, thermometers, thermostats, button batteries and CFL bulbs to the Swampscott Health Department.
North Shore Recycled Fibers – Offers a drop off area for recyclables and hard rigid plastics, 53 Jefferson Ave., Salem. Open M-F, 7 AM to 3 PM.
Opt Out of unwanted phone books and junk mail.
Plastic bags – Bring all plastic bags labeled #2 and #4, zip locks, dry cleaning bags, case wrap and bread bags to grocery store bag recycling containers.
Quit bottled water!
Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, refill, reformulate, refuse, recharge, RETHINK.
Shreddings - Paper shreddings can be recycled.
Textiles – Include torn and worn clothing, stuffed animals, old shoes and purses, sheets, stained neckties etc. with regular donations. These are sorted out and recycled into new materials such as rug pads and speaker insulation.
Use reusable shopping bags.
Vegetable scrap composting – Pilot programs for curbside kitchen scrap collection are gaining momentum on the North Shore.
Water – Recycle the rain water for the garden by using a rain barrel.
Xeriscape – Sustainable landscaping techniques that use native plants and natural materials which require little to no watering and no chemicals.
You can make a difference!
Zero waste – A strategy and set of principles to eliminate waste by promoting resource recovery and a more materials-efficient economy.
