Cambridge Waste Reduction Programs Help Fight Climate Change Together We Can Continue to Reduce Waste in our Trash

The City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) Recycle Division is committed to addressing climate change through its various waste reduction programs. In 2022, the City reduced trash by 7% compared to the prior year, the largest decrease in trash since 2010. The DPW also collects and recycles more than 9,000 tons of plastic, aluminum/tin, paper, and glass annually, thus reducing the demand for cutting down trees, oil refining, and mining.

Yard waste collection is also an important aspect of the City’s efforts to protect its waterways. Leaves and twigs that are collected are converted into rich soil that can be used to offset the demand for fossil-fuel based fertilizers, which in turn is used in new tree plantings in Cambridge. The City collects 2,000 tons of yard waste annually which helps reduce the amount of nutrients that end up in the storm drains, ultimately benefiting the wildlife in the Charles River.

In addition to yard waste collection, the City also focuses on composting food waste as a key tool in fighting climate change. The City collects about 2,000 tons of food waste annually. This waste is anaerobically digested, a process which uses microorganisms to convert food waste into methane. The methane is captured and used to create clean energy, reducing the demand for fossil fuels. By stopping food waste from going to a landfill, we prevent it from rotting and releasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Lastly, the City also recycles more than 500 tons of scrap metal, textiles, electronic waste, mattresses, and plastic bags through special collections. In 2022, the City recycled 148 tons of metal, 87 tons of electronic waste, and 162 tons of textiles. All of these efforts combined have a meaningful impact on reducing the City’s impact on the environment, and are a step towards a more sustainable future. 

In 2022, the City reduced trash by 7% compared to the prior year, the largest decrease in trash since 2010 

The DPW also collects and recycles more than 9,000 tons of plastic, aluminum/tin, paper, and glass annually and about 2,000 tons of food waste annually 

The City also recycles more than 500 tons of scrap metal, textiles, electronic waste, mattresses, and plastic bags through special collections