By Chris Shott
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

People who live and work at Linden Ponds appreciate the value of recycling waste materials and its inherent benefits to the environment.

As the final part of the Earth Day celebration at Linden Ponds, the Environmental Activities Committee hosted a public lecture on the merits of recycling, with a special emphasis on campus initiatives designed to minimize waste.

‘Toward becoming green’
“Linden Ponds’ Environmental Activities Committee members take seriously the spirit of stewardship of the Earth and environment,” says Acting Executive Director of Linden Ponds Nina Holt. “I’m very pleased to say that Linden Ponds will soon have a comprehensive recycling program as we work our way toward becoming green.”

Paul Schramski, community organizer for Recycling Action, a Boston-based organization dedicated to increasing recycling efforts throughout Massachusetts, presented a detailed and entertaining slide presentation on the root causes of environmental damage in Massachusetts, their impact on the environment, and potential solutions. He says waste in Massachusetts has increased by 30% since 1988, but just 39% or eligible materials are currently recycled in the state, a figure he terms “abysmal.”

Schramski says Recycling Action helps communities devise effective reuse strategies, pressures manufacturers to minimize production- related waste, and lobbies legislators in support of legislation designed to protect the environment. Accentuating his speech with statistics and graphics, he urged Linden Ponds to actively support his group’s objectives.

‘Too much waste’
“We are simply producing too much waste today in Massachusetts,” Schramski told the audience. “You have an opportunity to reduce waste right here where you live and work and you should take that opportunity to help resolve problems impacting our environment.”