Green Hudson January Newsletter
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| Single-use Plasticware Reduction In Effect |
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Happy New Year! The Non-Recyclable Plastic Reduction Bylaw is now in effect. Lauren Antonelli, the Board of Health (BOH) Administrator, is giving businesses at least a month to deplete their inventory of banned polystyrene, black plastics and plastic utensils before beginning to give out warnings. Head over to the Green Hudson Plastic Reduction page on our website to learn more about what is and is not being banned under the new bylaw.
The Board of Health is a very active department with limited staff and time. In conjunction with their twice a year inspections, they have asked Green Hudson to proactively |
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| collect reports of non-compliance on their behalf. So if you notice a local store or restaurant in violation of the new by-law, please refrain from calling the BOH and use the form soon-to-be found on our website. We will deliver completed forms to the Board a few at a time.
We have also put together a business card with a QR code that interested folks can give to stores and restaurants who may need more information. Please let us know if you would like a few to carry with you: [email protected].
Our goal is to function as an educational organization, to build supportive, rather than hostile, relationships with businesses. These changes will be a big stretch for some businesses and particularly the smallest ones. And if language is a barrier, we have the bylaw in Spanish and Portuguese. The BOH can also talk with businesses that need translation. |
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| In addition, our plans include an award process to honor those establishments that have eliminated single-use plastics. We will provide our seal-of-approval sticker to those businesses for their front door or window. We welcome you to submit success stories that can be considered for a sticker! Submit them to [email protected]. |
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| Thank you for helping to make this bylaw a reality. We can all eat and live more safely and happily know that we are contributing to a healthier environment for all! |
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| The Climate and Energy Committee. We meet monthly on the 3rd Sunday, right before the general meeting. Current topics include: Heat Smart Cool Smart, EV charging infrastructure, and other related subjects. Want to join our committee? Contact us at [email protected]. |
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The Education and Outreach Committee. Our Climate Cafes are on hold for the foreseeable future. All previous cafes can be found on our web page. Planning for the new year is our current goal. Want to join our committee? Please contact us at [email protected]. |
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The Plastic Reduction Committee. If you would like to help with our plastic reduction efforts, please contact Elisa Pearmain— [email protected]. |
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| Most clean energy and climate bills were reported out favorably from committees. Unfortunately the Make Polluters Pay bill was sent to study. Governor Healey’s Affordability bill remains in the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (TUE) committee and the energy bill sponsored by Rep Cusack in TUE was vigorously voted against. The Governor’s environmental bond bill (Mass Ready Act) is now in the bonding committee and is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, January 13 at 1:00. The Climate Bank Bill coalition will advocate for the bill to be included in the Environmental Bond bill. The plastics bills were voted out of committee. It is now up to the House to draft another energy bill. A bill to protect public health from toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS passed a key hurdle in the state Legislature after winning passage in the House from the Joint Committee on Public Health. The act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS (H4870/S1504) filed by state Rep. Kate Hogan (Stow) and Senator Julian Cyr (Provincetown) would phase out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in many products; cut industrial discharges of PFAS; and set up a fund to help communities test and treat PFAS in drinking water, soil, and groundwater. The House bill passed committee and the Senate bill is pending action. |
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| Nathaniel Stinnett, and a panel of experts for a discussion on organizing these older climate voters to work in a non-partisan way to get out the vote. Register here. |
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| "Nature’s original engineers"—
scientists explore the amazing potential of fungi |
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| In this Grist article, Prof. Andrew Adamatzky at the University of the West of England in Bristol begins: "First, people are beginning to appreciate that fungi are neither plants nor animals, but their own vast and largely unexplored kingdom with extraordinary biological abilities. Second, practical demonstrations – fungal packaging, fungal leather, fungal insulation, even fungal electronics—have shown that these organisms can replace or augment many industrial materials. |
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| Third, we’re facing urgent global challenges: waste, pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate stress." Read the full article here. |
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| Recycling Volunteers Needed! Have fun! Meet your neighbors and make new friends while helping the planet. Recycling volunteers needed Saturdays. For more information: contact [email protected] |
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Green Hudson's monthly general meetings are open to the public and held the third Sunday of each month, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson, 80 Main Street in Hudson. Next meeting is January 18th. |
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| The Assabet River flows through the town of Hudson providing a powerful reminder of why we want to protect the beauty the earth provides. Scientists are alarmed as we witness climate change happening. We need to do more to put a stop to the threat. Join Green Hudson now to learn more. |
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| You are invited Do you have suggestions for atyicles, resources of note, inspirations, relevant books to recommend, etc.? Send them to [email protected] with the subject line "green Hudson."
Share Green Hudson's Newsletter If you found something of value in this newsletter, please forward it to others who might be interested. And, if you're reading someone else's copy and would like to receive your own copy, please subscribe by contacting us at [email protected].
For more information on Green Hudson ... visit our website greenhudson.org. |
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