Sustainability Committee

SUSCOM wave logo no text (3)

Working Together to Reduce Manchester’s Environmental Footprint

The Sustainability Committee meets monthly—everyone is welcome! You can find details for our next meeting in the Meeting Agenda Center or Meeting Calendar.

Here’s How to Get Involved: 

  • Join our next meeting! Find agendas and meeting details here.
  • Volunteer your time! We can always use extra hands for projects and at town events.

  • Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for local events and sustainability tips.

  • Send your questions and ideas to sustainability@manchester.ma.us

Manchester Composts!

One of the biggest ways we can make an impact as a community is by diverting food waste from landfill. Did you know up to 30% of a town’s waste stream can be composted? Manchester offers a FREE weekly curbside food waste pickup to make it easy. Composting food waste reduces methane, creates nutrient-rich soil for gardening, and saves money for the town.

If you need a green compost bin for your home, want to sign up for a weekly pickup, or have questions about what’s compostable, reach out to Black Earth Compost.

Compost Bin

10 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Footprint

  1. Start composting household food waste.
  2. Plant a water-smart garden with native plants and/or invest in a rain barrel.
  3. Bike, walk, carpool, and take public transportation.
  4. BYO cup and utensils to avoid single-use plastic. 
  5. Make your home more efficient and save money with MassSave rebates.
  6. Upgrade your appliances and fix leaks to conserve water indoors.
  7. Get to know your local trash and recycling program. 
  8. Buy and sell clothing and homegoods secondhand.
  9. Vote with your dollar and support responsible businesses.
  10. Protect the ocean and find a beach cleanup near you.

Ready for more? Here are more ways you can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home. 

Trash, Recycling, and Compost

Head to the Department of Public Works for the town’s Trash, Recycling, and Compost pickup schedules and for a list of accepted and banned items. You’ll also find information on disposing of bulk items and mattresses. For hard-to-recycle materials, consider Black Earth Compost’s CHaRM program—a hassle-free way to schedule a one-time or recurring pickup.

Sustainability Committee Members

                                                
  • Sandy Rogers, Co-Chair, 2027
  • Annie McBride, Co-Chair, 2027
  • Vacancy
  • Louisa Mackintosh, 2028
  • Jennifer Moulton, 2026
  • Nadia Wetzler, 2026
  • Max Messervy, 2026

Singing Beach

Sustainability Committee Mission

CHARGE: The Sustainability Committee is charged with advising the Select Board on strategies and initiatives aimed at reducing negative environmental impacts of Town activities. The goal is to lighten the ecological footprint of the community and to put into place more sustainable practices.

Current and future initiatives include but are not limited to curbside composting, recycling and overall waste reduction, transfer station management, water conservation, and management of bio-solids. The Committee will seek to engage the community through public forums, educational materials and other means of raising awareness.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: Up to 7 members of the community will be appointed by the Select Board to serve on the Committee. Members shall serve for three-year terms. Initial terms for some shall be shorter in order to establish staggered terms.

SCHEDULE: The Committee shall meet a minimum of 6 times per year. Regular updates of the Committee’s work shall be provided to the Select Board. The initial formation of the committee shall occur in July of 2017, with appointments made every June.

PROCESS: As a formal committee to the Select Board, the Sustainability Committee shall adhere to the commonwealth’s open meeting law requirements. A quorum of 4 is needed for the committee to meet to conduct business. All meetings shall be properly posted, minutes kept of the proceedings and materials made available to the public. Staff support will be provided primarily through the Department of Public Works.

Helpful Links

Water Usage & Conservation Tips
Outdoor Water Conservation Tips
MA Recycling Guidelines
Black Earth - What Can I Compost?

Related Documents

Final Net Zero Municipal Operations Plan from MAPC

Final Coastal Vulnerability Action Plan June 2023