Category: Green Team Green Tip
November 8, 2020
Recycling is now even more important than ever since we are doing more takeout’s, and stores, in general, are using more packaging. The city of Newton DPW sustainable materials management division has very specific rules for recycling. If you want to know how to best recycle black plastic take out containers, meal/grocery delivery packaging, or drugs containers. Check here (link to: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Green-Cart-Chronicle.html?soid=1105979720296&aid=zYjabAIyZ38)
November 1, 2020
October 25, 2020
Ever wonder what the environmental impact is of the food you eat? How beef compares to tofu? How beer compares to tea? Use the Climate change food calculator https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714 to compare the different foods you eat to other carbon consuming activities and foods.
June 7, 2020
Still thinking about joining the Appalachian Trail challenge? Or perhaps you already have and are looking for a new spot to check out. Members of the Green Team would like to share some of their favorite local nature trails for you to enjoy. Some of our favorites local spots include Hammond Pond Reservation, Kennard Park, Oakdale Woods Conservation Area, and Hemlock Gorge. If you wish to venture a little further and want a flat trail, Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley has beautiful views of the Charles River. If you are looking for a place with a variety of trails of varying difficulty, Noanet Woodlands in Dover has 17 miles of trails to explore. Wherever you go, we hope you enjoy all nature has to offer. In addition, we would also like to encourage families to bring some trash bags with you and to pick up trash while you are walking; if you are so inclined, you could share pictures with the Green Team and/or post them on the Keep Newton Beautiful Facebook page.
May 31, 2020
Local food producers are small businesses that can help ensure a healthy food supply while reducing transportation costs. Often the food is delivered directly to you.
For more information, visit https://www.buylocalfood.org/buy-local/
May 25, 2020
May 17, 2020
In order to inspire our children to be mindful of the environment, we must teach them about nature. Did you know that the Oxford Junior Dictionary has removed a number of nature-related words—acorn, dandelion, fern, ivy, newt, otter, kingfisher, and more from its pages, replaced by words from the digital age like “bullet-point” and “broadband.” While certainly the latter are important for children to know, we must expose them to the words that describe our environment. The book, The Lost Words: A Spell Book by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris uses a mix of illustration and poems with those “missing” words, to conjure back the magic of nature. Until we are able to get to the library again to see this beautiful book, bring these lost words into conversation on your next nature walk to inspire tomorrow’s environmentalists.
May 3, 2020
Did you know that food waste accounts for 27% of the trash stream in MA and makes up 4,573 tons of Newton’s trash annually? In addition to RECYCLING your food waste by composting (see our tip in the February 2, 2020 Update), a very important way to manage food waste is to REDUCE it in the first place. Meal planning and using grocery lists can help ensure that you don’t over-buy. You can use this meal-prep tool (https://savethefood.com/planning) to ensure that you’re only buying what you need at the grocery store.
April 26, 2020
With all the extra handwashing, have you ever wondered if bar soap is environmentally better than using liquid soap? Bar soap isn’t 100% zero waste because of the paper wrapping or cardboard box it comes in (although you can get bar soap without packaging!) But it is much better for the planet than large plastic bottles of liquid wash. Bar soaps last a lot longer than liquid soap which makes them also less expensive. Besides hand soap there are also shampoo and conditioner bars as well as solid dishwashing bars available.