Zero Waste Tips During Coronavirus In Boston

Press release from the City of Boston:

February 16, 2021

COVID-19 has changed our habits of disposing, reducing, and reusing materials. In order to take the proper precautions to keep yourself, your family, customers, and our community safe, our day-to-day materials and how we dispose of them has drastically changed over the past year.

Many people use single-use masks and gloves, more packages are being delivered to homes, and take-out has increased as we continue to support our local and small businesses.

Approximately six percent of Boston’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the City’s discarded materials. The Zero Waste Boston initiative moves Boston towards zero-waste and helps lower carbon emissions with expanded composting options and increased access to recycling opportunities across the city.

Here are some tips on how Bostonians can remain safe and healthy, while also keeping our communities and environment clean.

Recycle Right

You can reduce your trash by nearly 36% when you recycle. Check out what you can and cannot recycle.

Cardboard boxes

Be sure to remove any tape, fold or break down the box, and bundle them together so it is easy to pick-up.

Recycle your textiles

Did you know that about seven percent of trash in the United States is textiles? Textiles include clothing like pants, coats, hats, and suits and household cloth items like dish towels, bedding, curtains, and more.

Drop off your textiles at one of our 14 neighborhood locations.

Compost your leftover food

Utilize our five Project Oscar public compost locations, Boston’s 24-hour community compost pilot program.

Donate your food safely

Check out the Community Fridges Toolkit. Join the community-led effort to help meet the growing food needs in their communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-existing gaps in food security.

1. Proper disposal is important. Don’t litter! Wait until you can throw waste in a trash can.
2. Invest in a reusable mask. Go to your neighborhood small businesses or Main Streets district to purchase one or make your own!
3. Black plastic and styrofoam is not recyclable
4. Gently rinse your takeout container and place in recycling
5. Use your home utensils
6. Recycle or reuse paper bags
7. See our resource guide

More information here

More on managing trash and recycling here

More resources here

The Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance is in effect. Bring your own reusable bags when shopping to reduce litter and save money.

Read more tips for retailers and customers.

This press release was produced by the City of Boston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.