Reducing waste

WEST NEWBURY — Local people who are passionate about waste reduction gathered for a picnic full of food and conversations with like-minded individuals on Saturday at Maple Crest Farm.

The event was a collaboration between Newburyport-based nonprofit the Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards, or ACES, as well as Waste Ambassadors and the Wise Waste Warriors, two citizen action groups in the city.

Each group has focused on reducing waste in Newburyport, according to Waste Ambassadors co-leader Ben Iacono.

“All three organizations have been involved for a number of years in reducing waste and helping the city to achieve zero waste goals that the state of Massachusetts has mandated for both 2030 and 2050,” he said.

Iacono said the intent of hte event was to allow members of these groups to come together in a social setting.

“The idea germinated as a way to celebrate or bring together all of the parties that are working on this reduced waste effort. It was more or less a social event to celebrate everybody’s involvement, activities and also an information distributing type of picnic in a more social setting,” he said.

Once the groups decided to host a picnic, finding a venue was easy as John Elwell, an ACES executive board member, owns Maple Crest Farm.

With a venue and concept established, the three groups extended invitations to all of their members, as well as some new people who expressed interest in joining the groups.

So approximately 40 people attended the picnic Saturday to soak up the sun, enjoy delicious food and chat with people from different groups. The picnic also served as a chance for people to express their opinions on the environment and sign up for new groups if they were interested, Elwell said.

“We had a place where they could sign up, we had little places where they could note that they wanted to know more about composting, or they wanted to know more about growing plants that help the environment,” he said. “So we had things for them to think about, talk about with people they’re with, and then give their name or give their advice as to what needs to be addressed.”

Iacono said while this is the first time the three groups have collaborated for a picnic because their members have long been working toward the same goal, people were able to converse with those who shared their passions. He said this made for an enjoyable experience for all involved.

“That was the highlight of it,” he said of seeing members of different groups interact. “Because everybody recognized everybody’s contribution to the whole effort. And, it was really reinforcing the fact that it’s a very important mission that we’re on collectively to help to reduce waste.”

This was originally published by The Daily News of Newburyport on July 3, 2026.