‘Charting a Path to Zero Waste in Newton’

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Green Newton

Speakers addressed the goal of “Zero Waste” for the City, a process that sees waste as a resource that has value and takes a holistic approach towards managing that resource. This includes reducing consumption, maximizing recycling, composting, encouraging reuse and re-purposing of materials and products, and working with manufacturers to have a plan for the end use of a product. Already more than 50 U.S cities have adopted a zero waste goal, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. Boston is also considering adopting it. The speakers presented a case for why Newton should also adopt a goal for zero waste and how we might carve a path towards this ideal.

The following are the slides presented by the speakers at the talk:

amy-perlmutterAmy Perlmutter, an independent consultant who has had a career developing and implementing innovative Zero Waste programs in New Jersey, San Francisco, and Chelsea, Massachusetts.

perlmutter-pdf

 

kirstie-pecciKirstie Pecci, an environmental, real estate and municipal attorney, who in recent years, represented more than 300 citizens opposing expansion of the Southbridge landfill before the local board of health, Superior Court, and the Supreme Judicial Court.
peccimasspirg

waneta-trabert

Waneta Trabert, Newton’s Recycling Manager in the Department of Public Works since May 2016. In this role she is responsible for all things solid waste, recycling, reuse, and yard waste for Newton residents, city facilities, and area businesses.

trabert
(This talk was originally presented on November 28, 2017 as part of Green Newton’s Greening Our Community Series of talks at the Newton Free Library.)