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Sustainable Essex Hosts Talks on Waste Reduction

To make residents more aware of the effects of global warming and offer solutions within their own homes, the Sustainable Essex Committee (SEC) has teamed up with the Essex Library to offer several programs focused around the central idea of environmental awareness.

“There are three main goals we have by offering these programs,” said SEC member Mike Long. “We want to create awareness about solid waste issues and how they are impacting the climate change and the world, give guidance about how individual households locally can make changes to help reduce the amount of solid waste and food waste they produce, and we want to gather feedback from participants of these programs and discussions regard actions they think we can take on a community level to make Essex a more sustainable community.”

To achieve those goals, SEC has developed what it’s calling Sustainable Essex Environmental Discussions or SEED at the Essex Library.

The first program discussion will be held on Saturday, Feb. 29 from noon to 1 p.m. facilitated by Cheryl Baldwin of the Department of Environmental & Energy Protection. The program is called “Garbage and Climate Change: What’s the Connection?”

The second program will be held on Saturday, March 7 from 1 to 2 p.m. facilitated by Georgia Male, farm manager of the Bushy Hill Incarnation Center. This program is titled “What is the Environmental Impact of the Food We Throw Away?”

Third program, “Climate Change Impact of Plastic and Micro-plastic Waste,” is scheduled for Saturday, May 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. facilitated by professor Evan Ward, head of Maritime Science at the University of Connecticut at Avery Point.

“Our hope is to hold a series of eight programs in total, now through fall,” said Long. “These programs are an opportunity for residents to get information on key drivers of global warming and climate change from experts in the field. In addition, we will be providing practical ways to residents make a change in their own homes and this an opportunity for them to share their ideas and thoughts about this issue. The SEC will then bring these ideas and concerns back to the Essex town officials so that action as an entire community can be taken.”

For more information about these programs, visit www.youressexlibrary.org.