Connect with us

Massachusetts

Composting can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s how Mass. can become a leader. – The Boston Globe

Published

on

Composting can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s how Mass. can become a leader. – The Boston Globe


Composting is a process that takes biodegradable materials such as discarded food scraps and garden waste and recycles them back into usable soil. Compost is capable of “reducing greenhouse gas emissions at landfills” and “promoting uptake of carbon dioxide by vegetation,” according to the US Composting Council.

Massachusetts has been a pioneer in sustainable waste management for decades. The state secured the first EPA recycling grants in 1976, which allowed the state to implement limited curbside collection programs and use the first residential recycling truck. But today, still only a handful of Massachusetts municipalities offer curbside composting. Sustainable waste management demands more than just recycling, so Massachusetts must broaden its composting efforts to continue its environmental leadership.

There is strong evidence that such policies would have a real impact. In the 1970s, when the recycling of paper products, glass, aluminum, and plastic was just becoming part of the mainstream environmental movement, the lack of practical and convenient ways to dispose of recyclable waste was the main obstacle to increasing recycling participation.

Consequently, when curbside recycling was offered, the result was dramatic: The percentage of total waste bound for landfills across the country decreased from 94 percent in 1960 to 52 percent in 2018. There is good reason to believe that the same would happen with food waste.

Advertisement

Yet despite the historical efficacy of curbside programs, only 5 out of the 351 cities and towns within Massachusetts currently employ city-run curbside programs for food waste. It is important that these programs are not only free and convenient but that they are implemented in all towns throughout the state.

As of right now in Massachusetts, only businesses face regulations on their disposal of food waste: They must compost instead of sending their waste to landfills if they generate more than 1 half-ton per week. While this is a commendable step, more food waste is generated by households (43 percent) than by grocery stores, restaurants, and food service companies combined (40 percent).

Why is participation in composting so limited? Cost continues to be a barrier. Alexis Schulman, a professor of environmental sciences at Drexel University, notes that free, citywide collection programs, along with a composting mandate “have absolutely seen the highest diversion” of the volume of food waste in American cities. For example, the first year of a mandatory residential composting program in Cambridge saw citywide trash cut by 8 percent. This eradicated an equivalent amount of emissions as driving 2.7 million miles.

Similarly, in July 2023, the town of Lexington launched a pilot program for curbside pickup of kitchen waste to 2,000 Lexington households at no charge. In July, the pilot program expanded to another 2,000 households. Since then, Lexington Public Schools Green Teams has reported that 2,000 of the town’s 11,000 households are composting — meaning just 200 are paying for curbside pickup. Clearly, having a free program increases participation by orders of magnitude.

For all these reasons, the state could be doing far more to move Massachusetts toward widespread composting. This could not be done overnight, as composting facilities would need to be expanded, local regulations would need to be written, and large apartment buildings might need to be adapted to accommodate waste.

Advertisement

But the Legislature could take several concrete steps to accelerate composting programs. It could start by offering financial incentives to municipalities to start free curbside pickup of food waste. It could write draft regulations for towns that include mandatory pilot programs. And it could expand educational programs to inform residents about the benefits of composting.

Composting has been proven to work across the world — San Francisco, Seattle, and Sweden are just a few examples of composting success. Massachusetts should be next to implement this vital service on a large scale. It will reduce the state’s carbon footprint. It will empower residents by giving them a way to personally contribute to mitigating climate change. And communities located near landfill sites will experience greater quality of life because of the decreased volume of waste entering the landfills.

The grass is always greener on the other side, but with today’s technology, we don’t have to wait or wish; we can make our own side green. What do we have to lose?

Sophie Shaw is a senior at Lexington High School.





Source link

Advertisement

Massachusetts

Cool off this summer at these 10 splash pads in central Massachusetts

Published

on

Cool off this summer at these 10 splash pads in central Massachusetts


play

Looking for a way the kids can cool off after the Fourth of July heat wave?

In addition to numerous public beaches and pools, central Massachusetts has multiple splash pads open this time of year, offering the perfect way for children to enjoy being in the water without the hassle of a beach day. While some are ticketed, many of the region’s splash pads are free, with parks, playgrounds and other recreational areas attached.

Advertisement

Here are 10 splash pads where you can beat the heat in central Massachusetts this summer.

Tacoma Street Spray Park

Decked out with umbrellas and chairs, green water buckets and a frog to run under, Tacoma Street Spray Park is one of Worcester’s newer spray parks, located on the 18.9-acre Tacoma Street Playground. The park also has a basketball court and picnic area.

Like all of Worcester’s splash pads, Tacoma Street Spray Park is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily through Sept. 7. Located at 345 Tacoma St. in Worcester.

Park Hill Splash Park

This small splash pad in Fitchburg features rainbow rings to run through and a large sun design painted on the ground. The splash pad is part of Park Hill Park, which also has a skateboard park, two playgrounds, a basketball court, several baseball fields and restrooms.

Advertisement

Park Hill Splash Park is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from June through August. Lifeguards are always onsite, and parking is available off Pratt Road in Fitchburg.

Cowabunga Splash Park

Davis Farmland in Sterling is back for a second year with Cowabunga Splash Park, the largest zero-depth water spray park in New England. Built with a state-of-the-art, computer-controlled water filtration system, the park features every kind of mister and sprinkler imaginable, including horse cannons, a water tunnel, a water table, a toddler spray pad and more. The park also has a giant slip-and-slide, an inflatable water slide and a huge water tower.

Admission to Davis Farmland, which includes access to over 50 activities, costs $35.95 for adults or $32.95 for seniors over 60, though tickets cost more at the gate.

COWabunga Splash Park is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day from now through Labor Day, with the water slide and slip-and-slide opening at 10:30 a.m. Davis Farmland is located at 145 Redstone Hill Road in Sterling.

Advertisement

Cristoforo Colombo Spray Park

Cristoforo Colombo Spray Park is a larger spray pad full of bright colors, water spouts and buckets dropping water from above. It is attached to Cristoforo Colombo Park, which also has a playground, fields, basketball courts and a baseball diamond.

The spray park is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily at 180 Shrewsbury St. in Worcester.

Fournier Park Splash Pad

Located inside the Arthur A. Fournier Sr. Memorial Park, this splash pad spouts water from various flowers, a frog and even a dragon. The water must be turned on by pressing an orange button on the pavilion side of the splash pad, and it runs for 12 to 14 minutes at a time.

Advertisement

This splash pad is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., starting Memorial Day weekend and lasting through Labor Day. Located at 525 Litchfield St. in Leominster.

Ghiloni Park Splash Pad

Ghiloni Park in Marlborough also has a splash pad with flowers and frogs, located right next to the park’s playground. Water is activated by placing a hand on the sensor of the green activator pole.

The Ghiloni Park Splash Pad is open from June 2 through Sept. 7, with daily hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 239 Concord Road in Marlborough.

University (Crystal) Spray Park

Just opened last year, the splash pad at Worcester’s University Park features various tall water spouts for the kids to run through, surrounded by a playground, walking trails, pond views and plenty of umbrellas.

Advertisement

From now through Sept. 7, the spray park is open daily from noon to 7 p.m. Located at 965 Main St. in Worcester.

Philbin Memorial Park and Splash Pad

Clinton’s Philbin Memorial Park has a newly renovated splash pad that turns on by touching the top of the red fire hydrant. The water runs for four to five cycles and then rests for 10 to 15 minutes.

Philbin’s splash pad is open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with hours from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Located at Berlin and Wilson streets in Clinton.

Carbuncle Pond Splash Pad

Advertisement

Located right next to the beach at Carbuncle Pond, this colorful splash pad is conveniently equipped with lifeguard staffing, concessions and indoor public restrooms. Resident and nonresident passes are sold online or at the gate.

The splash pad and the beach are open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 495 Main St. in Oxford.

Greenwood Spray Park

Attached to a new playground, Greenwood Park’s splash pad has various sprinklers and buckets of water. The spray park usually has an attendant, and bathrooms are attached.

Advertisement

Worcester’s Greenwood Spray Park is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily through Sept. 7. Located at 14 Forsberg St. in Worcester.



Source link

Continue Reading

Massachusetts

Massachusetts man dies in Fiji after becoming critically ill on sailing trip

Published

on

Massachusetts man dies in Fiji after becoming critically ill on sailing trip


A Holbrook, Massachusetts man who fell critically ill while sailing through the South Pacific has died, his family told WBZ-TV Tuesday evening.

Scott Winslow was in intensive care at a hospital in Fiji for weeks, as his family fought to get him back home so he could be treated for septic shock and a serious infection.

Winslow’s wife and two daughters had made the 8,000-mile trip to be with him and fight for his care when he died.

“We are at the hospital and just said goodbye to our father,” his daughters told WBZ-TV. “We are heartbroken.”

Advertisement

Winslow was traveling on his nephew’s sailboat in the South Pacific on what was supposed to be a three-month voyage when he noticed what appeared to be a bug bite.

His family isn’t sure exactly what the cause of the illness was, but his condition quickly deteriorated, and he could no longer walk once they diverted the boat to Fiji.

The family provided WBZ medical documents from doctors in Fiji, who said he needed to be evacuated to another hospital.

The family said his insurance company, Aetna, denied the transport and the medical flight to get Winslow home would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Winslow’s family said they had secured medical services with the Mass General Brigham group if he got back to Massachusetts.

Advertisement

“I don’t understand. My problem is, my parents pay for insurance, this is what insurance is for,” Lisa Babbin, Scott’s daughter told WBZ-TV earlier on Tuesday.

Before Winslow died, WBZ-TV reached out to Aetna. In a statement, a spokesperson said they were continuing to work with Winslow’s family “and his providers in Fiji to identify the best way to get him back safely to the United States for continued treatment.”

The Winslow family had also reached out the U.S. Embassy in Fiji for help securing an emergency loan.



Source link

Continue Reading

Massachusetts

ICE detentions rise in Massachusetts amid World Cup festivities

Published

on

ICE detentions rise in Massachusetts amid World Cup festivities


The past month in Massachusetts has been synonymous with World Cup fan festivals, cheering crowds and tourists from Scotland crowning statues with traffic cones.

Amid concerns that the Trump administrations would ramp up immigration enforcement during the tournament, international soccer fans have posted on social media that they’ve felt welcome in the United States. The World Cup has even served as a distraction for many immigrants who’ve spent the past year and half in fear of the Trump administration’s deportation push.

And yet beneath the surface, immigration lawyers and advocates say detentions have not only continued across Massachusetts since the World Cup started in early June — they’ve increased in frequency.

“It’s supposed to be a joyous time for families, for children, and we’re still seeing an increase of arrests,” Eloa Celedon, an immigration attorney based in Marlborough, said. “Prior to the World Cup, it had settled down a bit — but since the World Cup started, it has been very sad to see arrests happening.”

Advertisement

During May and early June, Celedon said her office received one or two calls a week about potential clients who’ve been recently detained. Over the last month, those calls have increased to four to five a day.

Celedon’s experiences track with a reported nationwide surge in arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Over a recent five-day period, agents across the nation detained more than 10,000 people. The arrests have occurred during routine check-ins with ICE agents as well as during traffic stops.

Todd Pomerleau, an immigration attorney and the president of Mass Deportation Defense Project, called the spike in arrests a “remarkable” contrast to the international goodwill that’s been on display during the World Cup. He pointed to a recent game he was at in California between Belgium and Iran, recounting the way players and fans cordially listened to both teams’ national anthems played before the match.

“Juxtapose that with what I’ve seen as an immigration attorney,” Pomerleau said. ”The government seems like it goes out of its way to basically arrest people without justification a lot and then just throw them in detention facilities.”

No attorneys have heard of any cases of immigrants being detained around the World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium, temporarily renamed Boston Stadium.

Advertisement

A closer look at recent enforcement numbers

ICE didn’t respond to questions about how many people it has detained in Massachusetts since the start of the World Cup — the agency usually doesn’t provide time-specific enforcement figures.

Still, there are other ways to get rough estimates. Attorneys often file habeas petitions in federal court, asking judges to intervene in alleged unlawful detentions and keep immigrants from being sent to detention centers in other states.

There have been nearly 190 habeas filings in Massachusetts federal district court since the beginning of the World Cup matches, according to Habeas Dockets, a tracker run by the nonprofit Immigration Justice Transparency Initiative. Cases rose by 21% in June overall from the month before, going from 183 in May to 222.

One of those filings was for Malton Lacerda, who was detained June 28 by ICE agents after shopping at a Walmart in Halifax with his son Victor Lacerda, a Navy vet. The elder Lacerda wore a T-shirt saying “Navy Dad” as he put groceries in the car.

“Then we get rushed by a bunch of different ICE agents with guns drawn and threatening us. And we were confused,” Victor Lacerda, the son, said. “I looked back to see what was going on, because at first I couldn’t even believe it was happening to us, because we were just getting groceries. We hadn’t done anything wrong. And that’s when I saw them putting hands on my father and detaining him. But they were still asking me questions about my citizenship and my father’s citizenship.”

Advertisement

Victor Lacerda, who was born in the United States, served in the Navy after high school and lives in Kingston, Massachusetts. His father, who’s undocumented, is originally from Brazil and has lived in the United States for at least 25 years. He’s currently being held at Plymouth County’s ICE detention facility.

Pomerleau, the Lacerdas’ attorney, says the father was in the process of securing a green card when he was detained. He’s eligible for permanent residency in the United States through a special process for veteran family members.

Pomerleau called the father an exemplary member of his community, noting that he works as a horse trainer and provides horse therapy for disabled veterans. He and his son also march in local parades, and planned on doing so again for the Fourth of July.

“He’s done a lot of work for the community for years. He marched in the 400th Thanksgiving Parade down in Plymouth, Memorial Day parades,” Pomerleau said.

Advertisement
Malton Laceda in a Massachusetts parade last year.


Courtesy of Victor Laceda

Lacerda has two 20-year-old cases of driving without a license and paying fines, and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge from 2008 that was dismissed, involving his ex-partner who’s now raising funds for his legal expenses. ICE didn’t return requests for comment on the case.

Local immigration advocates say the recent spike in arrests is one more way the Trump administration has cherry-picked which foreigners and immigrants can enjoy the world’s biggest sporting event.

Celedon noted that the federal immigration crackdown has also made it impossible, or very difficult, for people from countries on full or partial travel ban lists to visit the United States to attend World Cup games. Those countries include Haiti and others in Africa.

Advertisement

“It feels like almost like racial profiling people of certain countries that are allowed to come and those that are not allowed to come and not allowed to stay,” Celedon said.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending