Boston College believes sustainability should be a lifestyle of environmental awareness, and encourages all to incorporate sustainability habits into their daily life. A number of Boston College student live off campus, and many faculty and staff live within the Boston region. Below are resources for those wishing to support sustainability beyond campus within their local communities.
Massachusetts Communities
BOSTON
Information related to finding your trash and recycling collection days, services for yard waste collection, household hazardous waste drop-offs, paint and motor oil drop off, composting, regulations and guidelines for recycling and trash collections, as well as other frequently asked questions.
NEWTON
Information about local recycling and trash collections, sustainable living, hazardous waste drop-offs, composting, source reduction, farmer’s markets, and even volunteering opportunities.
The City of Newton also has an excellent Reusable Materials website, which provides residents with a convenient way to sell, trade, or give away used or surplus items that would otherwise be disposed of. Like an online garage sale or local eBay.
If you are looking for ways to be more active in Newton’s sustainability efforts, look into the Green Decade Coalition/Newton – a grassroots volunteer environmental non-profit that represents households, businesses, schools and institutions in Newton and elsewhere with goals of implementing measurable improvement in the way resources are used.
BROOKLINE
Information connected to recycling services, solid waste collection, hazardous waste, composting, sustainability activities for children in addition to a Sustainability Inventory Report.
CAMBRIDGE
Links to the Departments of Conservation, Electricity, Water, Transportation as well as Public Works which contains information related to recycling, rubbish, hazardous waste, large appliance collection and more.
Other Massachusetts Communities
If you live in Massachusetts beyond the Boston region, please refer to the Commonwealth Communities website for an alphabetical listing of Massachusetts towns and cities with links to related state agencies and how you can live sustainably in your community.
For students living off campus, see what UGBC has to offer from its Off-Campus Information page.
Local Communities
Please follow the links below for supplementary sustainability opportunities in your community.
Farmers Markets
Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets
Department of Agriculture
Alternative Transportation: Walking and Biking Efforts and Opportunities
Bike the Hub
Livable Streets
Mass Bike
Walk Boston
Massachusetts' Sustainability Efforts
While you practice healthy environmental habits in your community, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and various state-wide organizations are also hard at work ensuring a livable environment for future generations. Follow the links below to learn more about these activities and see how you (as an individual, business, non-profit, or community) can become more involved in the wider sustainability effort.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
Leading by Example Program
Waste Management, Recycling & Toxics
Mass Technology Collaborative
Business Summit for a Sustainable Boston
Alternatives for Community & Environment
Clean Water Action