Environment

Ban of Single-Use Plastic Bags in Watertown Approved by Council

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Businesses in Watertown will no longer be able to give customers single-use plastic bags when the ordinance approved by the Town Council takes effect next year. 

Tuesday night, the Council deliberated for more than an hour on details of the legislation, called the Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance, before passing it 8-0. Councilor Ken Woodland voted “present.” The ban will go into effect on July 1, 2017. Businesses will be able to sell paper bags for a small charge to customers or offer reusable bags for sale. A single-use bag is considered one less than 4 mils (thousands of an inch) in thickness. Those businesses violating the ban can be fined $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and $300 for the third more more offense.

Around Town

Hundreds of Volunteers Clean Up Charles River for Earth Day

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On Saturday, April 30, over 300 people volunteered in Watertown as part of the 17th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup. In a collaboration led by Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), over 3,000 volunteers from 133 groups throughout the watershed worked together to remove litter and debris as well as eradicate invasive species in an effort to beautify the Charles River and surrounding parklands, the CRWA announced. For 17 years the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup has provided thousands of volunteers an opportunity to serve as parkland stewards at sites throughout the Charles River watershed including in Watertown. Through their service, volunteers deepen their connection to the Charles River while increasing their commitment to protect it. On Saturday, participants joined thousands of volunteers across Massachusetts who came together for Park Serve Day MassParks’ annual statewide day of volunteer service.

DPW

Town Hosting Event to Recycle Styrofoam, Tires and Shred Paper

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The Watertown Department of Public Works will hold a recycling event and paper shredding in May. The event will be on Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Watertown Recycle Center on 76 Stanley Ave., Watertown, (off of Waltham Street). The event features:

Paper Shredding

Styrofoam collection

Tires – NO RIMS

This event is open to Watertown residents.

Around Town

Watertown Boy’s Love for Turtles Outweighs His Love for Presents

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A young Watertown boy decided to forego his birthday presents and instead donated money to save baby sea turtles. 

Six-year-old Jasper Rose raised $550 to donate to the New England Aquarium’s sea turtle rescue program, reports the Associated Press. Rose will present the check to the aquarium as part of the Earth Day celebration. Read more here: http://www.myfoxboston.com/news/watertown-boy-skips-birthday-gifts-gives-to-sea-turtles/235034748

Arsenal Project

Kids Can Paint Their Own Flower Pot to Celebrate Earth Day at the Arsenal Project

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The Arsenal Project will host a special children’s event to celebrate Earth Day. 

Join the Arsenal Project for a collaboration with Indigo Fire Studio in a fun-filled FREE event for kids. Kids will paint a flower pot to plant seeds and celebrate Earth Day! Step by step instruction will be provided by Indigo Fire Studio. Recommended for children ages 7+

The event will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 from 1-3 p.m.

Registration Required, space is limited. RSVP to Emily at emandeville@wilderco.com or call 617.923.9944

The activity will be at the Innovation Space across from Dunkin Donuts in the Arsenal Project (Formerly the Arsenal Mall) 485 Arsenal St., in Watertown.

Environment

Town Council Approves Measures to Make Charles River Cleaner

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After more than a decade of work, Watertown has a new set of storm water regulations that brings it into compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s requirements. The EPA issues a General Permit for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems for town’s which have storm water draining into rivers as part of the Federal Clean Waters Act. The permit was issued in 2003 and applies to water run-off from construction and post-construction activities. See the new stormwater ordinance by clicking here. The goal is to reduce erosion of soil in town and stop the sediment from going into the Charles River through the stormwater sewers.

Environment

LETTER: Stormwater Committee Member Urges Council to Adopt New Ordinance

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To the Editor,

On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, during its regularly scheduled meeting, the Town Council will hold a Public Hearing and Vote on a proposed Stormwater Management and Erosion Control Ordinance. As a member of the Watertown Stormwater Advisory Committee (SAC) that originally proposed this Ordinance, I submit that the adoption of this Ordinance is the right move for Watertown at this time for two reasons. First of all, the Town of Watertown, in accordance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for discharging stormwater into the Charles River from its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), is required to have ordinances governing (1) erosion control during construction projects, (2) post-construction management of stormwater on newly developed and redeveloped sites, and (3) illicit discharges to the storm drainage system. The Town enacted an ordinance prohibiting illicit discharges to the storm drainage system in 2011. The proposed Ordinance will address the first two.

Environment

LETTER: Coordinators Wanted to Lead Spring River Cleanups

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To The Editor,

Help Us End Litter: Join the Great Massachusetts Cleanup

So far, the amount of snowfall this winter is nowhere near the levels we experienced last year. While this is good news for municipal snow removal budgets across Massachusetts, the lack of snow is bad news for anyone who enjoys a break from seeing the litter that has piled up along our roadsides. Unfortunately, litter has become a serious problem all over our state. Trash along our major highways, suburban streets, in small wooded areas, and along secluded country roads is not only ugly, but it sends the message that Massachusetts doesn’t care much about its appearance. For a state that relies on tourist dollars to fuel a large portion of its economy, this makes little sense.