Take Charge: Recycle, Reuse
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This Week in Clean Energy
Recycling, an easy way to help offset your consumption by ultimately recycling some of the energy you used, is so often mentioned as a way to assist the environment that it can start to seem as good as it's gonna get.
However, it seems that there must be room for improvement after all: innovative new ways of recycling are appearing in communities right here in Massachusetts and allowing people to interact more with their environmental efforts.
A September issue of Newsweek highlighted a program at work in Everett that gives residents "credit" for the weight in their recycling bins every week. These rewards can then be used at stores like CVS to purchase everyday items, providing an economic incentive. It is one of the oldest tricks in the book to encourage people to take action and the results have been astounding.
Everett has seen a 10-fold increase in recycling since implementing the program run by RecycleBank, which is based in New York and is now hoping to expand into the Midwest and South, historically low recycling areas.A little closer to home, the Center for Ecological Technology collaborated with local artists in Great Barrington to create decorative recycling bins for downtown. The bins are even made from recycled materials, and are a great example of how community participation, not just city infrastructure, can be a part of a recycling program.
CET also offers support for planning recycling for large community events, a time when convenience is often chosen over environmental impact (Styrofoam cups, anyone?).
Recycling is a constant for environmentalists, one of the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), but we can keep it updated and relevant by following examples like these that allow more community involvement and visibility.
In Our Community
Take Charge Solar Power Workshop: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.
This event will feature Christopher Kilfoyle and Craig Robertson, who will inform residents about solar power and the different options available with both solar electric and solar hot water systems. It will be held at the Milne Public Library in Williamstown. Contact Kara with questions.
Take Charge Electric Bill Workshop: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.
For the last workshop in this series, "Lowering Your Electric Bill," Nancy Nylen from the Center for Ecological Technology will help residents dissect their electric bill to finds ways they can save money. It will be held at the Milne Public Library in Williamstown. Contact Madeline with questions.
North Adams energy group meeting: Thursday, Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m.
The Take Charge campaign is organized by an ad hoc citizens group. We meet on the third floor of the North Adams Public Library. This week's meeting will have a broad agenda, including planning the upcoming "Winter Blitz" weatherization campaign and discussing a mission statement. All are welcome to join. Contact Madeline with questions.
Thoreau Program in Green Design at Williams College: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 4 p.m.
Sponsored by the Center for Environmental Studies and the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives. Magda Lelek of Andelman and Lelek Engineering Inc. and Bruce Coldham of Coldham and Hartman Architects will hold a workshop on "Energy Modelling and Sustainable Design." This event will be located in Griffin Hall, Room 7, and a Williams College campus map can be accessed here.
Good luck saving energy!
Madeline King
Take Charge Project Intern
msk1@williams.edu
Kara McCall
Take Charge Project Intern
KM3564@mcla.edu
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
663-7588
