Sustainable Resource Consumption

Sustainable Resource Consumption - processes that reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill

GOAL STATEMENTS lime green banner

  • Efficient systems and consumption practices minimize indoor and outdoor water use
  • Weston implements and promotes resource conservation, waste reduction, and elimination of toxic products
  • All residents have access to locally produced food and products

What can you do?

Much of the waste we throw away ends up in incinerators, which emit toxic pollutants, or in landfills where waste decomposes and releases methane emissions that contribute to climate change. Here are some ideas to reduce your household waste.

  • Reduce consumption. The simplest way to keep waste out of the landfill is to consume less. Reduce packaging and single use plastic, buy local, trade with neighbors, buy secondhand.
  • Recycle. Weston has its own Transfer Station that allows residents to recycle a vast amount of materials, keeping recyclables and reusables out of the incinerator/landfill. Not sure what can be recycled at the Transfer Station? Weston Recycling-at-a-Glance (PDF) has you covered.
  • Compost. Composting can divert as much as a third of household waste away from landfills and incinerators. To make composting easier for residents, Weston has initiated a pilot composting program at the Transfer Station. You can bring a wide range of food scraps, including many items (like dairy and meat scraps) that often cannot go in backyard composting systems.
  • Buy local food. Buying local food cuts out the emissions that result from the transportation of the food. It is also a great way to support local farmers, and our local economy. Visit Land’s Sake Farm’s farm stand or join their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

Measuring Success to Sustainable Resource

Measuring Success

Tracking our progress is essential to successful achievement of Weston Ahead's goals for Sustainable Resource Consumption. We have identified several metrics and associated targets, listed below. we anticipate this list will continue to evolve as data tracking improves. The Town will report on progress against these metrics at least every two years.

METRICBASELINE2035 TARGET2050 TARGET
Diversion rate (tons recycled/total waste)53% (2019)180%100%
Waste generation per household (tons/household)1.76 (2019)10.940.47
Potable water used per capita (gallons/capita)49,473 (2018)236,59523,725 (2015 state average)3

Notes:

  1. Recycling and Solid Waste Data for Mass. Cities and Towns, MassDEP, 2019. Includes recycled material and trash.
  2. Weston Community and Municipal 2018 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, Town of Weston, 2020
  3. Water Demand Analysis and Forecast 2013-2019, MassDEP, 2021

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1. Connected Mobility
2. Healthy Natural Ecosystems
3. Resilient Infrastructure and Services
4. Smart and Efficient Buildings
5. Sustainable Resource Consumption