Keep Stoneham Beautiful

IKEA launches an online marketplace for second-hand furniture in Madrid and Oslo. A global rollout is set to follow if the platform proves successful.

IKEA launches online marketplace for second-hand furniture Swedish furniture giant IKEA has created a peer-to-peer resale platform called IKEA Preowned as part of its aim to become a circular business by 2030.

Pollinators, like the iconic Monarch butterfly 🦋, play a critical role in food production and ecosystem health. Recognizing this importance, the Canadian government announced an investment of $623,000 to support monarch butterfly habitat restoration projects aimed at bolstering Monarch butterfly and pollinator populations in southern Ontario.

Canada's Monarch Butterfly Habitat Restoration Program | Happy Eco News Canadian government announced an investment exceeding $623,000 to support Monarch Butterfly Habitat restoration projects aimed at bolstering Monarch butterfly and pollinator populations in southern Ontario.

Last week, LEGO announced plans to scale up its use of renewable plastics in the production of its signature bricks, as it executes on its long-term strategy to ditch fossil fuel-based materials.

LEGO to scale up use of renewable plastics in its bricks, with goal of replacing fossil fuel-based materials by 2032 The legacy toy company is increasing the certified renewable or recycled materials that go into its bricks in an effort to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

Can Congress break our addiction to fast fashion? The Slow Fashion Caucus hopes to raise awareness around the destructive impact of what we buy and wear.

https://buff.ly/3ADGeFA

Friendly reminder: Paint cans do NOT go in the recycling! Instead, completely dry out any remaining latex paint before you put the can in the trash.

To dry small amounts, remove the lid and let the paint dry in the can. For larger amounts, mix in kitty litter or a thickening agent that can be purchased at paint or hardware stores.

Completely empty paint cans may be accepted at scrap metal locations.

Oil-based paints do NOT go in the trash. Check with your city/town for disposal options at a Hazardous Household Waste event. For more tips, see: https://buff.ly/3Z7XrRG

When in doubt, search the Recyclopedia: https://buff.ly/3IEfCFu

Thanks for the tip Recycle Smart MA

A great read about deconstruction! To reduce carbon emissions and building waste, architectural salvage and reuse advocates across the US are racing to reform the $8.7 billion demolition industry.

Appetite for Deconstruction To reduce carbon emissions and building waste, architectural salvage and reuse advocates across the US are racing to reform the $8.7 billion demolition industry.

In Cape Cod, MA, More than 46.37 Tons of Plastic Shrink Wrap Diverted from the Waste Stream.

https://buff.ly/4eincTV

Tech companies brace for the new EU right-to-repair law. Read more to see who is embracing the law and who is dragging their feet.

Tech companies brace for the new EU right-to-repair law - Trellis While Google has changed its tune on repairing devices, Apple remains opposed.

Four years ago, Vermont banned food scraps from the landfills. How did it turn out? Today, Vermonters are diverting just over half of their food waste. Click the link to read more!

Hopefully, Massachusetts will see similar big diversion results with its 2022 restrictions on food waste going to landfills and incinerators.

Four years into food scrap landfill ban, Vermonters are diverting just over half of food waste Food scrap waste has decreased slightly since a law banning it from landfills went into effect four years ago, according to a recently-released report from the state.

Tourists will be rewarded with free food and activities if they participate in environmentally friendly tasks while visiting Copenhagen, the city's tourist board has announced.

The trial scheme, which began on July 15, will see tourist attractions in the Danish capital offer rewards for activities such as litter-picking, traveling by public transport or biking around the city.

Rewards for tourists who litter pick in Copenhagen The city hopes to offset the "environmental burden" of tourism with rewards for eco-friendly travellers.

The United States, one of the world's biggest plastic producers, will support a global treaty calling for a reduction in how much new plastic is produced each year in a major policy shift, a source close to U.S. negotiators told Reuters.
https://buff.ly/3AEC68d

A big thank you to the Lecoq family and Morgan family for cleaning up around the parking lot (Pomeworth side) and basketball courts at Central Middle School this morning!

Remember to dispose of your cleaning supplies properly. Plastic household cleaner containers can be recycled, but make sure they are empty and rinsed first! Replace the caps if you can, but remove the pumps. When in doubt, visit https://buff.ly/2zn1BHS

Unlike plastic cleaner containers, aerosol cans are NOT recyclable. Empty aerosol cans go in the trash. If they aren't empty, take them to a household hazardous waste collection location or event. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3LLFIaZ

Thanks for the Recycle Smart MA

Keep Stoneham Beautiful is looking for volunteer coordinators to organize pop-up cleanups at Stoneham's Central Middle School, South Elementary School, Robin Hood Elementary School and Colonial Park Elementary School before the first day of school. The cleanups can be done anytime between Thursday, August 22 and Monday, September 2. You can sign up to do the cleanup on your own with your family - or you can pick a date/time and promote it to others (perhaps on your PTO Parents Page).

Keep Stoneham Beautiful can provide supplies, including litter pickers, safety vests, trash bags and disposable gloves if you need them. Please email [email protected] to arrange a pick up your supply kit after you have signed up on Signup Genius. Don't forget to take a couple of pictures of your cleanup and share them with us. Thanks for helping us keep Stoneham clean, green, and beautiful! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4BADA628A1FDC25-50854562-backtoschool

Target is struggling to reduce virgin plastic use by its 2025 deadline.
While the retailer made some progress toward its goal to reduce virgin plastic use in its own-brand packaging by 20% by 2025, it’s still using more — not less — than the 2020 baseline.

Target still struggles to lower virgin plastic use by 2025 deadline While the retailer made some progress toward its goal to reduce virgin plastic use in its own-brand packaging 20% by 2025, it’s still using more — not less — than the 2020 baseline.

While it may look like regular cardboard, super recyclers know that frozen food boxes (i.e. ice cream cartons, microwave meal boxes, TV dinners, mozzarella sticks) are NOT recyclable. This packaging is designed not to break down when wet, and for the same reason it does not break down in the recycling process.

See https://buff.ly/2zn1BHS for more recycling .

Starbucks is piloting compostable cold cups in select California and Minnesota locations. The cups are manufactured from double-walled paperboard with a bioplastic liner, and the lids are made from molded fiber. The two states were selected for the initial rollout based on local mandates.

Starbucks piloting compostable cold cups in select California and Minnesota locations The cups are manufactured from double-walled paperboard with a bioplastic liner, and the lids are made from molded fiber. The two states were selected for the initial rollout based on local mandates.

Boston is creating a new department to help coordinate its efforts to prepare for climate change. The Office of Climate Resilience will be part of the city's Environment, Energy and Open Space cabinet and focus on protecting residents from challenges like rising sea levels, inland flooding and extreme heat.

Boston announces a new climate resilience office The Office of Climate Resilience will focus on rising sea levels, inland flooding and extreme heat.

Happy National Thrift Shop Day! The date of August 17 was chosen because it is the birthday of the late Mary Ellen Sprenkel, who was a pioneer in the thrift store industry. Sprenkel founded the Goodwill Industries of Southern California in 1935, and she is credited with helping to make thrift shopping a mainstream activity.

Thrifting reduces pollution and waste and allows for items to be put back into circulation.

What’s your favorite item you got from a thrift store?

https://buff.ly/3yxuzHB

National Thrift Shop Day - August 17 | Happy Eco News National Thrift Shop Day is an annual event celebrated in the United States on August 17 to promote thrift shopping. It was founded in 2003 by the National

Sea turtle strandings have increased dramatically in New England. Congress might create a fund to bail them out.

Fewer than 50 sea turtles were found stranded on Cape Cod in 2000, but by 2022 that number ballooned to 866, says Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts.

Sea turtles strandings have increased dramatically in New England. Congress might create a fund to bail them out. Turtles face “extinction and environmental wipeout” without assistance, said Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, the sponsor of the turtle act.

Mars doubts it can achieve 2025 sustainable packaging targets. The company says “the design and infrastructure changes needed are taking longer than we anticipated” to enable circularity for packaging.

Mars doubts it can achieve 2025 sustainable packaging targets Almost half of Mars’ packaging portfolio is being redesigned or eliminated to align with current or future recycling infrastructure. But infrastructure advancement is taking longer than expected, per its latest sustainability report.

New 300-megawatt facility to revolutionize solar panel recycling, recover valuable materials, set standards for sustainability.

https://buff.ly/3WtbEWo

: Because they're made of mixed materials (plastic on the outside & foil on the inside) which cannot be separated at the facility, juice pouches are not recyclable.

: Consider reusable water bottles with a splash of fruit juice for the win.

Biden-Harris administration announces $14 Million to increase domestic battery recycling. Funding from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda encourages consumers to safely dispose of used batteries, creating a recycling ecosystem that boosts the domestic battery supply chain.

https://buff.ly/4drwv3b

The fight against plastic pollution took a significant step forward in June as the UN’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution concluded its 4th session in Ottawa, Canada. While negotiators grappled with some contentious issues, the week marked a turning point in crafting a global treaty to address the growing environmental crisis.

2024 UN Plastic Treaty Negotiation Results | Happy Eco News The fight against plastic pollution took a significant step forward last month as the UN plastic treaty negotiations concluded its fourth session (INC-4) in Ottawa, Canada. The week marked a turning point in crafting a global treaty to address the growing environmental crisis.

New statewide poll on recycling and the Bottle Bill finds 82% of MA voters want legislators to address the state’s litter problem by modernizing the Bottle Bill.

82% of Massachusetts Voters Support Modernizing State Bottle Bill New statewide poll on recycling and the Bottle Bill finds most voters want legislators to address Massachusetts’ litter problem by modernizing the Bottle Bill this session.

Biden administration proposes single-use plastic restrictions in some federal procurement situations.

Updated: Biden administration proposes single-use plastic restrictions White House goal to restrict plastic in some federal procurement situations gets mixed reviews from trade groups, NGOs.

Try the plastic footprint calculator and you may be surprised by how little things add up!

Tip of the Week: Try the Plastic Footprint Calculator and You May Be Surprised by How Little Things Add Up Plastic pollution impacts the not only the environment but also our health and wellbeing. Because companies do not have to pay for the cost of these impacts,

Summer vacation : not all travel-sized toiletries are recyclable! Small, empty plastic bottles longer than 3” can go in the household recycling bin, but send plastic tubes to the trash. ⁣
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Pack a more sustainable suitcase with refillable containers and other zero-waste ideas: https://buff.ly/43L44sB
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See https://buff.ly/2zn1BHS for more hot ☀️ recycling .

Got any sustainable travel tips of your own? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks to Recycle Smart MA for another great