ACES Issues Report with Municipal Waste Reduction Planning Tool

Motivated by the enormous environmental damage and cost to dispose of all the waste being generated in our local communities, ACES conducted research into the state of solid waste which is driving significant future cost increases. A goal of the report is to foster effective waste reduction plans and best practices in our regional communities in Massachusetts.

The team, consisting of 4 ACES Advisors and Sophie Giedraitis and Helena Strauch (both members of ACES Youth Corps and project interns) supported months of research and work. This has created a report with significant context to better understand what is happening with waste and its future impact on our communities, the goals and strategies of the Mass Waste Master Plan, and a planning worksheet tool for municipalities. This report offers the findings and research detail available to all interested city and town officials.

Sophie’s understanding of the importance of this issue is captured in this statement:  " Developing this report has given me significant insight into the future impact of different sectors of waste and how they will be impacting our surrounding communities.  Most importantly, I've learned what planning and practices are needed to address these waste concerns and protocols that could be implemented in the future to make progress towards a zero-waste environment. I hope that all communities will take actions that are truly needed"