Boston Flora

Tag: recycling

  • Holiday Wreaths 2023 – A Recycling Ethic

    We never miss a chance to publicize The Garden Club of the Back Bay’s ongoing fund raising project, the sale of Holiday Wreaths to friends and neighbors in the Greater Boston area. One excellent attribute of the Club is the effort put into recycling. The wreath below, which hung in a commercial space in 2017, is a bit different than the Club’s trademark all natural look, but was constructed with decorations recycled from decorations from past years. Some fruits had been discarded, some were scavenged from past projects, some were deconstructed from bargain bin decorations at shops which couldn’t find a buyer for them, but put together in a new and exciting way, with a vibrant bow to tie it all together. Members bring in clippings, old boxes of decorations, dropped cones from the forest floor – nothing is wasted. Buyers are encouraged to save the non perishable items at the end of the season and either use them in their own projects, or even return them to a Garden Club member for re-use the following year. Our planet is a fragile thing. Let’s not contribute to the landfill. Greenery can be composted, plastics cannot (which is why, for the most part, plastic accessories are eschewed.) Order your wreaths now at https://bostonflora.com/shop/

  • Sundays, October 9 & October 23, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Leaf and Yard Waste Drop-Off

    The City of Boston will hold two periodic leaf and yard waste drop off events on October 9 and October 23 from 10 – 2 at 500 American Legion Highway in Mattapan. For more information on what is or is not accepted, and for information on November dates, call 617-635-4900.

    Leaf and yard waste tips

    • Common yard waste material includes leaves and grass clippings, branches, and yard brush.
    • Place leaves and yard debris in large paper bags. Do not use plastic bags.  
    • Tie branches with string. The maximum size for branches is three feet with a one-inch diameter.

    For more dates and other information visit https://www.boston.gov/calendar/leaf-and-yard-waste-drop-10

  • Wednesday, January 6, 12:00 noon – The Green Industry’s Black Thumb: Pollution from Our Use and Disposal of Plastic Plant Pots, Online

    Plastic horticultural pots are the primary vessels used in horticulture and landscaping. Without them, the Green Industry would not have grown to be the multibillion dollar industry it is today. Primarily after single use, billions of plastic plant pots are disposed of annually in the United States. A staggering 98% end up in landfills and are not recycled. This realization was the impetus behind looking into why it is occurring, how it remained under the radar as long as it did and suggestions for steps we can take moving forward. For the past 23 years, Marie Soulliere-Chieppo has been a landscape designer and horticulturalist with a passion for healthy landscapes. All of her designs incorporate native plants that provide four season interest and habitat for wildlife. She is a big believer in educating her clients and the the public about the importance of strictly organic approaches to gardening, pest control and invasive plant management.

    Before she discovered her love for gardening, Marie was the researcher for the Editor in Chief at the New England Journal of Medicine. Being a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designer’s Sustainability Committee, she was asked to research the issue of plastic horticultural pots, their disposal and how their use impacts our environment. For 6 months she plunged into this issue and made some jaw dropping discoveries. The white paper entitled, “Plastic Pots and The Green Industry: Production, Use, Disposal and Environmental Impacts” was published in July 2020.

    Marie will conduct this Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar on January 6 at noon. Free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers, but registration is required at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/the-green-industrys-black-thumb-pollution-from-our-use-and-disposal-of-plastic-plant-pots/

  • Monday, July 1 – New Back Bay Recycling Schedule

    Beginning July 1, 2014, the Back Bay will have residential trash and recycling collected on both Mondays and Thursdays. Please note the added recycling day.

    Residents are urged to place trash out on the morning of pick-up. This will significantly reduce the opportunity for spillage and scavenging. Properly and securely containing your trash and recycling is a critical component of keeping your neighborhood clean. Trash must be placed in a container with a lid or a sturdy trash bag.
    The Back Bay has single-stream recycling and all eligible recycling materials can be co-mingled and placed out for curbside collection in a clear plastic bag. These are available at most retail supermarkets. Those with alley collection can utilize the clear plastic bags or the large 64 gallon carts (pictured below) for recycling. The City has formally discontinued distribution of the small, open recycling blue bins and residents are urged to use only the clear plastic bags for their recycling, instead of the small bins. Small plastic and paper bags from market/convenience stores are not acceptable for trash/recycling placement.
    It is illegal to utilize City sidewalk litter barrels or solar-powered compactors for the disposal of residential or commercial trash and carries a fine of up to $1,000 per day.
    Failure to comply with the above regulations will result in fines issued by the Code Enforcement Division. Offenses may be reported to the Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500.
    Comprehensive trash and recycling guidelines, including a listing of recyclables can be found at www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks.

  • Thursday, January 16, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Snow Date January 17) – Managing Large-Scale Landscapes Sustainably

    Join the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA ) and Wellesley College on Thursday, January 16, from 8:30 – 4:30 at the Wellesley College Science Center for a symposium on the development and maintenance of large-scale landscapes that utilize fewer inputs, are designed and maintained with the environment in mind, and become more sustainable over time. Experts who work daily in successful, sustainable large-scale landscapes will lead four panel discussions. If you are interested in sustainable landscapes for colleges, parks departments, public agencies, cemeteries, golf courses, forests, land trusts, public gardens, or other large landscapes, this event is for you.

    Maintaining Large-Scale Landscapes
    Landscapes Over Time, Soil Compaction, Invasive Plants, Recycling Organic Matter, and Sourcing Quality Compost

    Panelists: Dennis Collins, Mount Auburn Cemetery, John Forti, Strawbery Banke Museum, and Stuart Shillaber, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.  Please note that both Dennis Collins and John Forti are past Garden Club of the Back Bay presenters.

    Large Lawns: Ecological Approaches
    Mowing Frequency, Inputs, Pests, Disease, and Alternative Energy Mowers

    Panelists: Richard Luff, Sagamore Golf, Fred Newcombe, PJC Ecological, and Anthony Ruggiero, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

    Runoff as Resource: Large Scale Stormwater Solutions
    Erosion to Irrigation, Collection Options, Dealing with Large Rain Events, Water Quality, Minimizing Demands of Potable Water

    Panelists: Tom Benjamin, LA/Sustainable Designer, Brad Buscher, Groundwork Lawrence, Eden Dutcher, GroundView, and Kate Venturini, University of Rhode Island

    Managing Semi-Wild Landscapes

    Designating “Semi-Wild” areas, Identifying Invasive Plant Threats, Setting Management Priorities, Tackling What is Feasible (and Leaving the Rest)

    Panelists: Tobias Wolf, Wolf Lighthall, Heidi Kost-Gross, G/S Associates, and Sandy Vorce, Mass Audubon

    Registrations are limited – Use This Link to Register Online Now

    For more information: ela.info@comcast.net

    http://winnielawncare.com/images/albany_lawn_care_saratoga_springs_clifton_park_12-i.jpg

     

  • Saturday, September 7, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – City of Boston’s Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off

    Drop off your hazardous waste on Saturday, September 7, from 9 – 2 at the University of Massachusetts, Morrissey Blvd Parking Lot D in Dorchester.  No latex or acrylic paints, please.  Electronics recycling and paper shredding will be available at Bayside Expo as well.  For Boston residents only, no commercial waste accepted, and proof of residency required.  For more information please call the Mayor’s hotline at 617-635-4500, or visit www.cityofboston.gov/recycle.

    http://dumpsterrentalbostonma.net//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/boston-household-hazardous-waste.jpg

  • Monday, January 9 – Tuesday, January 10 – Christmas Tree Pickup Schedule for Back Bay

    The City of Boston composts Christmas trees.  Pick up in the Back Bay is the week of January 9, 2012.  Please remove all decorations and plastic bags and place out for collection on your recycling day, which is Monday for Arlington Street to Massachusetts Avenue, and Tuesday for Massachusetts Avenue to Charlesgate.

  • Monday, October 17 – Friday, December 2 – Leaf & Yard Waste Collection

    This season’s Leaf & Yard Waste Collection in Boston begins Monday, October 17 and continues through Friday, December 2.  Place leaves or waste in large, paper leaf bags or open brrels marked “Yard Waste.”  Remember that branches must be cut to a three foot maximum length, 1 inch maximum diameter, and be tied with string.  Place leaves and yard waste out behind your building on your recycling day.  For more information, call the Mayor’s 24 hour hotline, 617-635-4500.  Check the City of Boston website as well:  www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks.

  • Monday, October 18 – Friday, November 26 – Boston Fall Leaf and Yard Waste Pickup

    If you don’t have time to compost your leaves or yard debris, Boston Public Works Department will collect your leaves and yard waste on your recycling day (Mondays in Back Bay) and use it as natural fertilizer for Boston’s community gardens.

    Guidelines

    * Place leaves, and yard debris in large paper leaf bags or open barrels labeled “yard waste” (no plastic bags).
    * Yard Waste stickers for barrels are available by calling 635-4500 or placing an online service request (up to 2 stickers available per household).
    * Tie branches with string, 3′ maximum length. Do not put branches in barrels.
    * Put barrels, bags and branches on the curb by 7:00 AM on your Recycling Day, between the collection dates listed below.
    * Yard waste will not be collected with trash during this period.
    * Yard waste in plastic bags will also not be collected.
    * No more Saturday collections.
    * Place your yard waste, prepared per the instructions above, on the curb by 7am on your recycling day, from Monday, October 18 through Friday, November 26.

  • Single Stream Recycling is Here

    As a public service, we reprint a recent notice received from The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay. Two on-line sources for these bags are  www.amazon.com and www.staples.com.

    As many know, we now have single-stream recycling throughout Boston. This means you no longer have to separate paper and cardboard from cans and bottles. Instead, all recyclable materials can be mixed together in one container. Currently, that container is typically an open blue bin that allows loose materials to fly around on windy days.

    Beginning in July, for all buildings with less than seven units, all recyclables should be placed in clear plastic bags for pickup on recycling day. All bags should be tied. This should significantly reduce  loose papers flying around the alleys. And, for those opening bags looking for returnable bottles, the use of clear bags will allow these people to see if there are in fact any bottles with deposits before they tear the bag.

    For buildings with more than seven units, the law requires that the building provide residents with recycling programs using large 64-gallon carts. Many buildings currently use these for recycled materials.

    The clear plastic bags should be a heavy-duty, 30-gallon size and are available at Back Bay Hardware on Newbury Street and Charles Street Supply. They are also available at Foodies in the South End and from a variety of online sources.

    If you live in a building with less than seven units, please encourage your building to begin using clear plastic bags for all items to be recycled beginning in July. The result will be fewer rodents and less trash for Back Bay.

    — NABB City Services Committee

    http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Staples/s0036019_sc7?$sku$