SUSTAINABLE WELLESLEY
  • About
    • Our Mission and Who We Are
  • Take Action
    • So Much You Can Do
    • Buildings (Home/Office)
    • Donate
    • Food
    • Gas Leaks- Get off of Gas
    • IdleFree
    • Land Care
    • Run For Office
    • Solar
    • Transportation
    • Volunteer
    • Vote!
    • Waste >
      • Alternatives to Plastic
      • Gift Wrap
      • Reduce Plastic
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Green Schools
    • Mission and Who We Are
    • Green Team Representatives >
      • Food Waste Diversion
      • Environmental Education
      • Smart Event Guide
      • Borrow Free Supplies for Your Event!
    • Families >
      • End of year Locker Cleanout Tips
      • School Supply list

Artist Talk with Rebecca McGee Tuck: From Art to Activism

9/10/2024

 
Picture
It all started when sculptor Rebecca Tuck began collecting debris. This sparked her passion for environmental protection. She will share about her transformative personal journey from creator to activist on October 9th at 7pm in the Wakelin Room at the Wellesley Free Library.

From picking up the traces of human made pollution, to the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. Rebecca's jouney will inspire you. This gifted artist -- and now change agent -- will encourage you to explore your own potential for personal change and offer ways your individual actions can have an impact on our shared environment.

This talk is not just a narrative, it's an invitation for you to explore your own potential for positive change.  

The event is free and is co-sponsored with Sustainable Wellesley and Art Wellesley.
​
Please register in advance here.  

REusables Area Now Open!

4/18/2024

 
Picture
The Reusables Area at the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF) is open for the 2024 season. 
The hours of operation are: 
  • 7:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday
  • 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday
  • CLOSED on Sunday through Tuesday 
The Reusables Area closes 30 minutes before the rest of the RDF to allow staff to properly secure the area. Please note: Hours are subject to change.
Volunteers are always needed for the Reusables Area. Please contact the RDF Office for information. 
When using the Reusables Area, please remember that decisions to accept/reject large items are made on a case-by-case basis. Please be considerate of other users. 
Questions? Email [email protected] 

Johnny’s Luncheonette offers a reusable takeout container program

10/10/2023

 
Picture
Thank you to Recyclingworks for this information from their website. RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts is a recycling assistance program funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and delivered under contract by the Center for EcoTechnology that helps businesses and institutions reduce waste and maximize recycling, reuse, and food recovery opportunities.

Johnny’s Luncheonette, an iconic Newton diner with robust recycling and food waste diversion programs, continues to push the envelope in sustainability.

The diner now offers a reusable takeout container program! Customers who choose to join the program can order menu items for takeout in containers that won’t end up in any waste, recycling, or composting bins, but rather be returned, thoroughly sanitized, and re-used in a continuous cycle.
Through a collaboration with Recirclable, Johnny’s Luncheonette now provides a selection of its breakfast and lunch menu items in easily recognizable green-hued reusable to-go containers. The containers are manufactured by Preserve and Ozzi, and are composed of readily available and recyclable BPA-free polypropylene (#5 Plastic). These containers can be used up to 1,000 times, and at their end-of-life, Preserve and Ozzi take the containers back to have them recycled. As evidenced, this initiative is helping to reduce both the disposal and purchasing of single-use takeout items.

Johnny’s Luncheonette remains committed to actively participating in and promoting eco-friendly practices. In addition to their commendable composting program, they are now part of a network of local restaurants with reusable takeout container programs, further enhancing their positive impact within the Newton community.

Here are extra details on how the program works in real-time, adapted from Green Newton’s recent article:
  1. Download the free Recirclable app and create an account.
  2. To order online: Open the Recirclable app on your phone, choose Johnny’s, and select Order. When placing your food order, choose reusables for each meal item. Recirclable bowls will then be automatically checked out to your account.
  3. To order in person: Scan the Recirclable borrow QR code at the restaurant.
  4. Restaurant staff will pack food in Recirclable containers.
  5. At pickup: Confirm your Recirclable borrow account with the cashier and collect your order.
  6. To return: Rinse and return your containers (within two weeks) to any participating Recirclable restaurant. Upon return, scan the Return QR code to confirm your return. Restaurants then clean and sanitize containers before reusing them.

Don’t miss the RecyclingWorks case study report and video featuring Johnny’s Luncheonette.
If you are a business rethinking your waste and recycling practices, give RecyclingWorks a call at 888-254-5525 or email them at [email protected]. They are here to help you reach your goals.

Thinking About or Doing A Renovation?

9/26/2023

 
Picture
If you are embarking on a renovation and have building materials to donate, please contact the non profit organization, Boston Building Resources (BBR). Their home improvement store, called the Reuse Center (think: thrift store), sells lightly used and overstock donated materials.  

The organization focuses on using principles of a circular economy to create long-term generational wealth. They are committed to providing low-cost solutions that improve a living environment for individuals and keeping building materials out of landfills.

Plus, they offer workshops that show individuals how to repair things around the home.

Check out bostonbuildingresources.com for information about their co-op products, and keep up with their events at 
bbrboston.eventbrite.com.

Too Much Stuff?

2/14/2022

 
Picture
Thanks to Susan Z for the green tips!
Have the holidays left you bursting at the seams with more "stuff' than you need? With the RDF Take It Or Leave It/Reusables Area closed for the season, it can be hard to find homes for items you no longer need but are too good to throw in a landfill.

Among many, three phenomenal Facebook sites have become sustainable superheroes:
 Buy Nothing Wellesley, Wellesley Give & Take, and Greater Boston Give & Take. The first two are restricted to Wellesley neighbors, while the last group comprises nearby suburbs.

Expect fun, generous, and caring folks that delight in offering items they no longer need and seeing these items appreciated and re-homed. In search of something – a folding table or the 
Magic Tree House books? Post an “In Search Of” (ISO) request -- you might be surprised to see what the community comes up with! You no longer need that vintage bed, holiday décor, or SAT review books? Post an “Offer”.

You don't have to do anything else on FB if you don't want to, but joining these groups is worth the cyber trip! Similar off-Facebook groups, such as 
Freecycle, exist as well. These “gifting” groups build community and help us lean towards being green!

​When picking up your "gift," consider planning errands around that area, as well! The 
State of Massachusetts gives a thorough list of entities that will gladly take and reuse furniture, building materials, and much more that go to the needy — and organizations will pick up! And next time you think about buying something, ask yourself, “Do I/we truly need this?”, “Is this sustainably made?” and “Can I find one for FREE on one of the gifting groups?” It’s easy being GREEN! ​

“Greener” Giving is Easier Than Ever

12/7/2021

 
Picture

Make Your List and Check it Twice


Written by: Eliza Letteney

‘Tis the season. Homes are trimmed with candles and boughs. While Chanukah is behind us, many are looking for Christmas and Kwanzaa gifts, hostess presents and “thank you” treats for teachers and others who have made the year brighter for our families. 

This year, instead of letting the shopping rush make you feel like a frenzied consumer, discover ways to shrink your ecological footprint and calmly prepare for remaining festivities. Here are a few tips for locating and wrapping gifts in a stress-free and sustainable way. 

  • First, do a little brand research. Identify items that will last, are produced and packaged sustainably, that offer refills and are made out of reused materials so that when you are out shopping you can locate them. 

  • Gently used is au courant. Consider a vintage or pristine second-hand item. Wellesley has a number of Facebook groups including Give & Take that post some extraordinary finds for free. Sometimes the best gift is something practical that a sibling or friend really needs. There are a range of home furnishing and clothing consignment shops in and around town.

  • Avoid products that have to travel far by air, sea or highway. Pollution generated by that voyage should be factored into a gift’s footprint. If you order from a distance, consider buying in bulk. A favorite bath salt packaged in pretty cardboard containers may be the perfect present for a number of people on your list. 

  • Shop local to not only support Wellesley area businesses but also to save on the packaging and carbon emissions to ship. In addition to the usual retail offerings, Wellesley has several holiday-specific pop-up stores worth browsing. Remember that locally made specialty food items like jams, maple syrup, cheeses, homemade crafts, candles, soaps, and art make terrific gifts. 

  • Better yet, make your own. A tin of cookies or handmade candies, apple butter, pickles, a simple hand-knit hat, tie-dyed cotton socks,  a bulb planted in a reused planter, or a gift certificate to offer a helping hand on a  project  are heartfelt gifts and sure to be well-received.

  • Experiences, like a cooking class or a gift certificate for a massage, make wonderful gifts. Many nonprofits also offer opportunities to give in someone’s name to plant trees, fund a shoreline cleanup or support efforts to speak out on environmental justice issues. 

As seasonal shopping began in downtown Wellesley, a store associate at Beauty and Main noted an increasing number of people asking for natural products that are environmentally lower impact, adding that companies are also responding to the demand for products made without chemicals that are “paraben-free, dye-free, and scent-free.” Cashiers at Paper Source and Wellesley Books, both of which offer gifts made from natural or recycled materials, noted similar trends. 

And broader trends affirm what is happening here. The global consulting firm Accenture’s 2021 giving survey found that 58% want to support local and independent retailers. Additionally, 60% of respondents reported making more sustainable and ethical purchases, and 9 out of 10 of those said they planned to continue doing so this season. 

A survey by the research firm WeThrift found that nearly 40% of shoppers were likely to focus on eco-friendly products during this holiday season and over 60% claimed that they would likely use reused or recycled materials to box and wrap presents.

If you’re interested in doing the same, reused paper, magazines, and newspapers are creative choices tied with some festive reused ribbon, raffia or yarn, and with a small pine branch or holly sprig tucked beneath the bow. Sustainable Wellesley shares easy steps to create beautiful - reusable- cloth gift wrapping here. Glass jars and other reusable containers can be festive with a bright gift tag and colorful twine. These sweet options yield a charming presentation without creating waste.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, good luck and enjoy the holidays!

Thanks for The Inspiration, Education & :-)

6/14/2021

 
Picture
If you missed the Sustainable Wellesley/Wellesley Books discussion with author Paul Greenberg about his inspiring, accessible book, the Climate Diet last week, you can watch it here.

What a treat for our group to hear directly from the author! "Naked food" and "shipped vs. flown" were just a few of the inspirational stories he shared on ways we can address our own household carbon footprints. As Paul says, "everyone can and should do something," and this book offers a wide array of things you can do.

He calls this book a "peace offering," for adults and teens/millennials that shares ideas that are not only good for the planet, but good for your health and wallet too.

Take some time to read The Climate Diet this summer. Its short, informative and available at the library and the local book store! Then share the book; we all have something to learn.

RDF Reusables Area IS OPENING

5/4/2021

 
Picture
The RDF Reusables Area has revised hours and instructions for the Drop-Off and Pick-Up/Shopping for items.  

Reusables Area Hours
7:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thursday - DROP OFF ITEMS ONLY
Friday - PICK UP (shopping) ITEMS ONLY
Saturday- BOTH DROP OFF AND PICK UP (shopping)
10 minute area limit - No gatheringWhen using the Reusables Area... 
  • Face coverings must be worn at all times.
  • 20 person maximum.
  • New foot traffic patterns will be in effect.
  • The decision to accept/reject large items will be made on a case-by-case basis. 
  • No shopping allowed on drop-off days and no drop-off allowed on shopping days. 
  • All items subject to change without notice.
Questions? Email [email protected] .

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    11th Hour
    2022
    350.org
    5 Minutes
    Action
    #ActioninWellesley
    Actions
    Add To Your Resume
    Air Conditioning
    Air Quality
    Air Source Heat Pumps
    All Ages
    Apartment
    Appliances
    Art
    Attorney General
    Author
    Award
    Babson
    Banking
    Banks
    Beacon Hill
    Becca Rausch
    Bike
    Bikes
    Biking
    Bill McKibben
    Biodegradable
    Boards And Committees
    Book
    Book Club
    Book Group
    Books
    Borrow
    Boston
    Build
    Builders
    Building
    Buildings
    Bus
    Business
    Buy Nothing
    Cabell Eames
    Call
    Cancer Causing
    Candidate
    Candidates
    Car
    Car Free
    Car Line
    Cars
    Catalog
    Catch Connect
    Children
    Christmas Tree
    Clean
    Clean Energy
    Clean Heat
    Clean Heating And Cooling
    Clean Up
    Climate Actin
    Climate Action
    Climate Action Committee
    Climate Action MA
    Climate Action Plan
    Climate Angst
    Climate Bill
    #climatechange
    Climate Distress
    CLimate Justice
    Climate Matters
    Clothing
    Coach
    Cold
    Comfort
    Commonwealth
    Community Service
    Commute
    Compost
    Composting
    Conservation
    Conservation Land Trust
    Conserve
    Construction
    Conversation
    Cook
    Cooking
    Cooking Technology
    Cool
    Coping
    Corporate Responsibility
    Council On Aging
    Create
    Cycling
    Cynthia Creem
    Dana Hall
    Dave Becker
    Decarbonize
    Demonstration
    Dems
    Department Of Public Utilities
    Design
    Dine
    Distress
    Donate
    Donation
    Drive
    Drought
    Dryer
    Dump
    Earth Day
    Easier
    Easy
    Eco Anxiety
    Efficient
    Elect
    Election
    Elections
    Electric
    Electric Appliances
    Electric Car
    Electric Experience
    Electricity
    Electricity V
    Electric Lawn Care
    Electric Vehicle
    Electric Vehicle Event
    Electric Vehicles
    Electrificatino
    Electrification
    Electrify
    Electronic Waste
    Energy
    Energy Assesment
    Energy Audit
    Energy Efficiency
    Energy Efficient
    Energy Price
    Energy Savings
    Energy Use
    Environment
    Environmental Justice
    Environmental Voters Projct
    Equitable
    EV
    Ev Car
    EV Charging
    Events
    Evolutions
    Ewaste
    Experts
    Fall
    Family
    Family Friendly
    Farm Animals
    Fashion
    Fast Fashion
    Fathers Day
    Feel Good
    Fields
    Finance
    Food
    Food Pantry
    Food Waste
    Foodwaste
    Free
    Fridays For Future
    Fun
    Fund
    Future
    Garage Sale
    Garden
    Gardening
    Gardens
    Gas
    Gas Leak
    Gas Leaks
    Get Involved
    Get Off Gas
    Get Together
    GHG
    Global Climate Strike
    Goals
    Go Green
    Grass
    Green Building
    Green Consumer Alliance
    Green Schools
    Grow Food
    Guests
    Hardy School
    Healey Administration
    Health
    Healthy
    Healthy Family
    Heat
    Heater
    Heating And Cooling
    Heating System
    Heat Pump
    Heat Pumps
    Help Others
    High Efficiency
    High Performance
    Historic Home
    Holiday
    Holiday Lights
    Holidays
    Home
    Home Renovation
    Homes
    Hope
    Hot Water
    House
    Housing
    Hunnewell School
    HVAC
    Hybird
    Ideas
    Idle
    Idling
    Incentives
    Indiction
    Induction
    Inspiration
    Inspire
    Internship
    Investment
    Job
    Join Us
    July Jubilation
    Junk Mail
    Jupiter
    Kelsey Hudson PhD
    Kids
    Landcare
    Land Conservation
    Landscape
    Landscaping
    Lawn
    Lawn Care
    Lawn Mower
    Lawnmower
    Lawns
    Leadership
    Leadership Team
    Lead On Climate
    Leaf Blower
    Leaf Blowre
    League Of Women Voters
    Leaves
    LEED
    Legislation
    Legislators
    Library
    Library Of Things
    Lighting
    Light Plant
    Lights
    Lincoln
    Living Sustainably
    Lobby
    Local Government
    Local Politics
    Make Change
    Marathon
    Marine Pollution
    Masks
    Mass Climate Action
    Mass Save
    MCAN
    Meatless Monday
    Meet
    Meet Goals
    Meet New People
    Meet People
    Middle School
    Mindy Domb
    Mini
    MIT
    Mobility
    Mobility Plan
    Money
    Mopo
    Mother's Out Front
    Mower
    Municipal Light Plants
    Mustang
    Natick
    Natick Mall
    Native
    Native Garden
    Native Palnts
    Native Plants
    Natural Resources
    Natural Resources Commission
    Nature
    Neighbor
    Net Zero
    New Construction
    Newton
    New Year
    No Cost
    Noise
    Oil
    Olin
    Opportunity
    Organize
    Parade
    Parenting
    Partner
    Party
    Passive Home
    Passive Homes
    Passive House
    Peabody
    Peak
    Pension
    Pets
    Pfas
    Picnic
    Pipe Lines
    Pizza
    Plants
    Plastic
    Polestar
    Police
    Politics
    Pollinate
    Pollution
    Power Plant
    Pre Loved
    Pre School
    Printer
    Psychologist
    PUBLIC TRANSIT
    Questions?
    Quiet
    Rainwater
    RDF
    Reach Goa
    Reach Our Goals
    Read
    Realtors
    Rebate
    Rebates
    Recycle
    Recycling
    Recycling Facility
    Reduce Costs
    Register To Vote
    Renew
    Renewable Energy
    Renovate
    Renovation
    Renovations
    Residential
    Reslience
    Retro Fit
    Retrofit
    Reusable
    Re-use
    Reuse
    Rev. Vernon K. Walker
    Ride
    Rides
    Rummage
    Rummage Sale
    Run
    Run For Office
    Safe Streets
    Safety
    Save
    Save Energy
    Save Money
    Saving Us
    School
    School Food
    Schools
    Science
    Scoot
    Scouts
    Sen Creem
    Sen Mike Barret
    Share
    Share Inputt
    Shave The Peak
    Shop
    Show
    Sierra Club
    Smart Heating And Cooling
    Snow Blower
    Social And Family Event
    Solar
    State House
    State Of Mass.
    Statewide
    Stay Warm
    St. John's School
    Stormwater
    Story
    Stove
    Student
    Students
    Summer
    Supplies
    Support Climate Action
    Survey
    Take Action
    Talk
    Tax
    Teachers
    Test Drive
    Thanks
    Thanksgiving
    Thank You
    TikTok
    Tiny Home
    Tips
    Tonight
    Town Goverment
    Town Government
    Town Hall
    Town Meeting
    Town Of Wellesley
    Town Politics
    Toxins
    Train
    Transit
    Translate
    Transportation
    Tree Planting
    Trees
    Try
    TV
    Use Less
    Vacation
    Vehicles
    Virtual Event
    Volunteer
    Vote
    Vote Your Values
    Walk
    Washing Machine
    Waste
    Waste Reduction
    Water
    Water Conservation
    Watering Restrictions
    Wayland
    Weatherize
    WeCare
    WEF
    Wellesley
    Wellesley College Student
    Wellesley Free LIbrary
    Wellesley Green Schools
    Wellesley High School
    Wellesley League Of Women Voters
    Wellesley Middle School
    Wellesley Police
    Wellesley Police Department
    Wellesley Public Schools
    Wellesley RDF
    Wellesley Students
    Wellesley Town Hall
    Wellesley Water
    Wellesley Wonderful Weekend
    Weston
    WhatsApp
    What's Is New
    Whs
    Winter
    WMS
    Work
    Wrap
    Write
    Yard Sale
    Year End Charitable Giving Wellesley
    You Are Invited
    #YouCanDoIt
    Your Talents
    Your Values
    Your Voice
    Your Voice Heard
    Zero Emissions

    RSS Feed

Sign up for updates!

Get Our Newsletter

Contact us!

[email protected]
75 Emerson Road
Tel: 508-353-6964

Support us!

Volunteer
Donate

Follow us!

Copyright © 2025 By Sustainable Wellesley
Photos from Rennett Stowe, Fan.D & Dav.C Photgraphy, Ivan Radic, KOMUnews, focusonmore.com, Ivan Radic, shixart1985, vwcampin, shixart1985, Scrap Pile, garlandcannon, Ivan Radic, We Like Sharing, Ruth and Dave, Ivan Radic, REM Photo, Images_of_Money, Raed Mansour, comedy_nose, Ivan Radic, RLHyde, aqua.mech, dc_gardens, mbkestell, EpicTop10.com, Consumerist Dot Com, THE Holy Hand Grenade!, Robert Couse-Baker, portland general, pedrosimoes7, /\ \/\/ /\, valentinapowers, Bob Klannukarn
  • About
    • Our Mission and Who We Are
  • Take Action
    • So Much You Can Do
    • Buildings (Home/Office)
    • Donate
    • Food
    • Gas Leaks- Get off of Gas
    • IdleFree
    • Land Care
    • Run For Office
    • Solar
    • Transportation
    • Volunteer
    • Vote!
    • Waste >
      • Alternatives to Plastic
      • Gift Wrap
      • Reduce Plastic
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Green Schools
    • Mission and Who We Are
    • Green Team Representatives >
      • Food Waste Diversion
      • Environmental Education
      • Smart Event Guide
      • Borrow Free Supplies for Your Event!
    • Families >
      • End of year Locker Cleanout Tips
      • School Supply list