For Communities

We have a number of free services available for towns, schools and community groups in rural areas of western Massachusetts. Some of the ways we can help include setting up recycling and helping institute waste reduction programs. When the town of Great Barrington set out some funky "art bins" that were really recycling centers for bottles and cans, their trash volume went down by nearly 60%!

Stylish and functional at the same time - art bins like this one on the main street in Great Barrington, MA are making a splash.

CET can help your community set up something similar-drop us a line. It's not just all bottles and cans either - we help communities deal with household hazardous waste, fluorescent lamp recycling, and everyone in Berkshire County is invited to our annual textile drive - this is your big chance to get rid of those old shirts, belts, matched shoes, fur coats, any coats, really, pillowcases, sheets, what have you...

Don't know where to get rid of your batteries? Your cell phones? Your printer cartridges? Or your spent TV? Your burned out fridge? We can help.

Computer monitors and motherboards breaking the seams of your closets? We have an electronics drive every year!

We help communities deal with difficult to manage waste, and we are here to help set up recycling services in communities (in businesses and schools too!) Turn to us for help in setting up recycling at community events.

We also work with citizen groups on waste prevention and we can help set up commericial composting programs.

With a combination of grant money and donor support, CET is able to present workshops like this one on solar energy for community benefit. Chris Vreeland of Precision Decisions is our solar expert.

CET can provide guest speakers for your group's meetings on a variety of topics related to community sustainability.

Click here for additional information and web resources from the Municipal Recycling Coordinator (MRC) Climate Change workshop (January 2006).

CET, together with the Pittsfield Department of Public Health and the Public Works and Utilities Department, designed an educational piece about pesticide reduction that was included in municipal water bills. View side 1.
View side 2.

To learn about this kind of assistance for your community, contact us.

Information to help towns collect mercury (developed by South Central Recycling Association, for MA DEP).

CET helps towns earn renewable energy projects

The City of Northampton has earned enough clean energy grant money to put a large solar array on the roof on the JFK middle school, and to hire an Energy Officer for the city. How many New England GreenStart enrollments did this take? Just 6% of households ... and counting!

CET is helping communities earn funding for renewable energy projects. When residents and businesses choose to voluntarily support renewable energy through New England GreenStart or the New England Wind Fund, they earn funding for a renewable energy project in their town. Through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Choice program, your town can earn funding for a clean energy project -- like solar panels for your school or library. Contact CET's Pittsfield office if you live in the Berkshires, and contact CET's Northampton office if you live in the Pioneer Valley to find out more.

Find out more about New England GreenStart.

Adams and North Adams

CET assisted the Town of Adams in developing a Community Sustainable Action Plan that incorporates economic renewal, environmental protection and community well being. As a first step, the Town Department Heads identified sustainable and non-sustainable behaviors and prioritized some early actions. The first action was to begin recycling in Town buildings. Procurement of recycled products and waste reduction were also identified as important issues.

CET has also surveyed businesses in Adams and North Adams andcreated an inventory of business inputs and outputs. The purpose of this work was to learn more about the potential for new business creation that can use waste materials as feedstock and to help businesses become more efficient through materials exchanges.

CET produced "Sustainable Technologies, Applications and Guidelines for the Greylock Center Project" and conducted an "Inventory and Assessment of the Natural Resources Associated with the Greylock Center Project" in Adams, Massachusetts for the Department of Environmental Management.

Wood Pallet Refurbishing in Northern Berkshire County

CET conducted a feasibility study to explore the potential for wood pallet refurbishing including manufacture of value added products in Northern Berkshire County. This business would save money for businesses in pallet disposal and/or purchasing and reduce wood waste.