State Representative Lipper-Garabedian Spearheads Successful Inaugural Recycling & Sustainability Event for Town of Wakefield with Town & State Partners
May 23, 2022 –Saturday, May 14, 2022, State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D- Melrose) hosted the inaugural Recycling & Sustainability Day event in the Town of Wakefield. Partnering with Town Administrator Stephen Maio, the Wakefield Environmental Sustainability Committee, the Department of Public Works, Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light, Senator Jason Lewis, and organizations local to the Town such as the Youth Action Team and across the Commonwealth, this one-day event was a successful hub that allowed residents to “spring clean for a cause” and learn how to further their sustainability initiatives and individual climate action.
At the Recycling & Sustainability Day Event, Wakefield residents recycled and upcycled truckloads of their inefficient dehumidifiers, gently used furniture, appliances, housewares, and outdated electronics. Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light collected dehumidifiers; housewares were collected to support Habitat for Humanity; Green Team Junk Removal offered peace of mind with proper data erasing from electronics; and textiles were collected for Bay State Textiles. The event was also an opportunity to explore household organic waste solutions with Black Earth Compost, bring hard-to-recycle plastics for a Terracycle program with the Wakefield Environmental Sustainability Committee, and discover how to take climate action with local organizations such as Safe Streets Wakefield and the Wakefield Youth Action Team.
Representative Lipper Garabedian also partnered with local nonprofit Sunflowers of Peace to continue efforts to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. Participants were able to donate via an online wishlist for Ukrainian orphans, displaced persons, and those affected by the crisis in Ukraine provided by the nonprofit to ensure that needed items are received directly by aid organizations in Europe, reducing carbon emissions and transportation costs.
“The event was testament to the level of civic engagement and climate leadership in Wakefield,” said Representative Lipper-Garabedian, a member of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy and the Zero Waste Caucus. “I’m glad we could collectively make a meaningful impact and expand civic engagement for climate action. From the 10 am start time up until the 1 pm closing, Wakefield residents consciously cleared their household clutter. I am proud to partner with leadership from the grassroots up to the State House to make this day possible.”
“It was great to see so many residents take advantage of the on-site recycling and upcycling opportunities at this event,” noted Town Administrator Stephen Maio. “I’m grateful for contributions of our community partners. The information and resources they shared are sure to inspire residents to keep the momentum going throughout the year.”
“The Town of Wakefield showed up for recycling and sustainability,” said Fred Cullen, founder and owner of Green Team Junk Removal. “We welcomed 267 cars and collected one ton of electronics and 739 pounds of recycled furniture.”
"The Wakefield Environmental Sustainability Committee's plastics collection at the event was very successful,” said Board Member Melissa Eusden. “We were able to fill the two large Terracycle boxes very quickly. There was overwhelming support from residents to continue to collect these types of plastics on a regular basis, and it was clear that many people in our community are committed to waste reduction."
Representative Lipper-Garabedian intends to make the Recycling and Sustainability Day an annual event.