Waste Reduction Packets

We assemble and deliver welcome packets to all new residents that feature a waste reduction guide along with information from our Town Manager, Conservation, Board of Health, Library, and Council on Aging.

Tyngsborough, MA

Highlights

  • The willingness of volunteer committee members to deliver packets around town.

  • We have received positive feedback from new residents. This is our 5th year running this program and we have now delivered more than 600 new resident packets (town population around 12,000).

  • Envelopes, copying, postage are all performed at town hall, so no direct costs.

  • None needed.

  • For more information contact Diana at dianakeohane@comcast.net

Steps to implement

  1. Create the contents of the packet

    We created two introduction flyers: one for residents receiving curbside trash and recycling collection and one for residents NOT receiving this service.

    The flyer contains information about trash and recycling collection as well as other options for responsible disposal of food waste, large cardboard, textiles, mattresses, scrap metal, and mercury-containing items.

    We then approached other town departments and MA organizations to create and maintain the following flyers or brochures:

    • Trash and Recycling Calendar,

    • Welcome to Tyngsborough from Town Manager (with information about town hall and how to get updates from town),

    • Textile Recycling Basics (Helpsy curbside collection program),  Homeowners’ Guide to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act,

    • Make Your Home the Solution to Stormwater Pollution,

    • Home Composting,

    • Food Waste Composting Fact Sheet,

    • Homeowner Activities and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act,

    • Tyngsborough Council on Aging,

    • Homeworks Energy (our Mass Save partner).

  2. Assemble the packets

    Contents are the same EXCEPT that the packet that is created for new residents who do NOT receive curbside trash and recycling collection service has a different introduction flyer and does not contain the trash and recycling calendar.

  3. Monthly search for real estate home closings

    One of our members is a real estate agent so is able to pull this information off her multiple listing service. Otherwise, you could search realtor.com or Zillow for the information or ask a local agent to send you a report each month.

  4. Deliver packet to new residents

    A member drops a packet off to the new resident. When someone is home we have a brief conversation. Otherwise, we leave at the front door. If new resident lives in a condo development we mail the packet to them.

  5. We maintain a spreadsheet to track new closures and then delivery of a packet. We track how many packets are delivered every month and year.

Making it Great!

  • What worked well

    We worked with other town departments to see what information they might want us to include in our packet. They are thankful to have their information shared with new residents.

  • What worked less well

  • Advice

    If you do not have the volunteer force to deliver the packets, or if your town is too big, then you can mail new residents these packets.

    It is important to keep the information in the packet up to date. Be sure that each department submitting documents "own" those documents and check in with them at least annually, and upon the implementation of new programs, to see if they wish to update their document.

Additional Resources