By Laura Gardner, Fairhaven Sustainability Committee
When we throw things “away” we often forget that those items have to go somewhere. Our landfills are filling up and the town of Fairhaven (and by extension us, the residents) have to pay for all of our trash. Did you know there are actually 6 R’s of sustainability? They are Rethink (Do I really need to buy that? Can I borrow from a friend?), Refuse (No thanks on the single use plastic; I’ll use my reusable utensil!), Reuse, Recycle, Reduce, and Repair. I’ll focus primarily on the last two R’s of sustainability in this article.
Reduce
One big way we can be more sustainable is by reducing what we put in our trash bins. Many people are not aware of the new rules and regulations around solid waste (they can be found on our town website Departments → Solid Waste and Recycling or on the MassDEP site). As of January 2022, MA residents can no longer put textiles (this includes shoes, clothes, etc) in the trash.
There are a number of options for diverting your textile waste from the trash. If the clothing is still clean and usable, you can donate it to give it a second life. You can also drop off at one of the textile bins around Fairhaven including at Arsene Street. Even undergarments, linens, stuffed animals, shoes, and curtains can be put in these bins, as well as textiles that are unusable but clean. The town earns money from these bins, too!
Another huge part of our waste that can and should be diverted is food waste. According to the MassDEP, food waste makes up 22% of our waste stream and is the third largest source of human-related methane gas in the world. Backyard compost bins can be purchased at the BPW for $40. If backyard composting isn’t an option, starting this fall you may be able to participate in curbside composting. If we get enough people signed up then Black Earth Compost will begin picking up compost in Fairhaven for a fee. Stay tuned for more!
Repair
Another important strategy is to repair or improve what you have and keep using it. Allie Thiel, the Youth Services Librarian at the Millicent Library, is offering a teen program as part of summer reading (theme: Read, Renew, Repeat! Programs for all ages! Sign up at the library!) all about repairing and enhancing your clothing to give it a second life.
From the library website: “Fashion for Our Futures is a drop-in, do it yourself clothing lab for teens aged 13+. By upcycling and repurposing clothing, we’re reducing waste, conserving resources, and championing creativity in a sustainable way. Try sewing, patching, beading, embroidering, and screen-printing and more, using our materials and space.”
Marissa Perez-Dormitzer of the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District has applied for a grant to bring a Clothing Repair event to Fairhaven in the coming year, as well.
Overall, we need to rethink our relationship to things and waste. We can be more mindful of our purchases, including the packaging, and consider ways to be more sustainable in our day to day.
•••
Click here to download the 06-27-24 issue: 06-27-24 FishDerby
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
