 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.  The Reusables Area at the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF) is open for the 2024 season.
The hours of operation are:
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]  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:
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.  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.  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!  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.
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!  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.  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...
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