This blog is being used to help circulate information and ideas about how the MaynardCAN community can work harder and better to use less energy and create less waste in our society.
After showing a shortclip about the book/documentary, each member of the audience introduced themselves and provided a short statement about what strikes them most strongly about the book/documentary. One of the common themes is nting the difference between individual behaviors and corporate behaviors. The vast bulk of waste is commercial waste, yet as individual consumers, we are left with picking up the collective responsibilities for our waste.
Kevin Sweet from the Maynard Town Hall (Public Health Director among many other responsibilities) was here to give as short presentation about waste disposal in Maynard.
- Maynard Current curbside pickup contract expires this year. The town could have renewed the contract with no repercussions. However, the decision was made to explore other alternatives. The Maynard DPW has been brought into the process to look at current proposals. At this point, the field has been narrowed down to a handful of possible companies.
- One of the biggest decisions is whether to go with dual stream or single stream recycling.
- Comment: Some people occasionally see recycling being mixed in the same truck. Kevin noted that that this is sometimes because one of the trucks is being serviced. Nobody should be seeing recycling and trash being mixed together.
- Kevin did point participants towards the Town of Maynard website where you can find an alphabetized list of how to dispose of a wide range of items.
- The discussion continued - but the blog has to stop now.
Thanks, Mike, for setting up a blog for us to support each other as we change our lifeways to be more sustainable!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow or ASAP I'll continue your post with info about the rest of the discussion after you had to leave. For now, suffice it to say that the group we had this afternoon was full of inspirational ideas and energy to make some deep changes at the personal and political levels. We talked about issues from downsizing, re-use and trash reduction to pressuring corporations to take back any packaging they produce.
More soon! I'm looking forward to hearing all of your ideas and feedback.
One sentiment that I'm not sure was well emphasized is that the real solution to our trash problem is a very sensitive and personal one...to reduce consumption. The ability to buy something is empowering. How do we convince people that reducing consumption is what we should focus on and that recycling is a last resort. Reduce, reuse, recycle. I'm happy to see that maynard residents care about this issue enough to spend their sat afternoon with MAYNARDCAN. Continuing to educate residents can only help our town to face the environmental issues we're going to encounter as time goes on. I hope residents will join us for our next events...water is up next. Thanks to all who took part!
ReplyDeleteKelly Nadeau