Dear Staff & Community,  

Hope your fall is going well! I was honored to present on what our schools are doing for climate change education and sustainability at the kick-off for Cambridge’s Climate Congress on October 1st. Watch all of the presentations right here. The schools’ presentation begins at time 2:02.

See below for CPS environmental sustainability news, events, and resources!

Thanks for keepin’ it green.

–Kristen Middleton
[email protected], 617.349.6856

Cambridge Celebrates
Women & Bikeshare Month
Join us for Urban Cycling Basics! While this is a class for and by women, we are happy to have anybody participate. And please do stay late to have a thoughtful conversation about bicycling in urban areas. This session is being hosted for Women and Bikeshare month!

Monday, October 24
6-7PM: Urban Cycling Basics for Women
7-8PM: Conversation about biking in urban areas and biking as a woman.
Location: Flat Top Johnny's, One Kendall Square
RSVP: [email protected] or 617.349-4671 



New Flood Protection Guidelines
The Cambridge Public Works Department issued a new brochure titled Flooding: Is Your Property Protected? The six-page brochure outlines how protect buildings with flood resistant materials, exterior floodwalls, backwater valves, and elevation or relocation of utilities. These steps are important to consider as we see the risks of flooding evolving with climate change. Download an electronic copy of the brochure >>



Educational Video:
Leaving the Carbon Economy
Cambridge resident Sue Butler created a documentary film about how she decided to take on her own carbon footprint and retool her house and her life to achieve as close to zero carbon emissions as possible. Her film Leaving the Carbon Economy was recently featured at the Globedocs Film Festival and was also shown at the Chain Film Festival.



Recycle those Plastic Bags! 
While it’s environmentally ideal to use cloth or re-usable bags for shopping, sometimes we end up with plastic bags. However, plastic bags can greatly harm wildlife in waterways and oceans, and when they get trashed at a landfill; the dioxins in the plastic are chemically hazardous. But there is a solution – you can recycle those plastic bags!

Recycle clean and empty bags at the Recycling Center during open hours or at local supermarkets. Look for a collection bin near the front of the store or ask customer service: Harvest Coop (580 Mass Ave), Star/Shaw's Market (699 Mt. Auburn St, 20 Sidney St, Porter Sq Shopping Center & Twin City Plaza), Whole Foods (200 Alewife Brook Parkway, 340 River St, & 115 Prospect St). Click here for a list of what is accepted ~ and thank you for recycling!



Help Kids Compost
Love kids? Love composting? Volunteer, a little or a lot, to remind students "what goes where" and why we compost and recycle. Breakfast shifts are ~7:30am – 8:30am and lunch shifts are ~11:00am-1:15pm. You can help the continued success of the school composting programs! Please email [email protected] to learn more and join the team.



350MA.Org
350 Massachusetts is a volunteer-led, campaign-focused initiative connecting and organizing a strong grassroots coalition to address climate change and build a just and secure future beyond fossil fuels. Meetings are held every two weeks. All meetings are held at First Church Cambridge, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA and begin at 6:30PM. More info at www.350MA.org.  



Green Cambridge
Green Cambridge is a 501(c) (3) not for profit organization and a founding chapter of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN). Green Cambridge works to create a more sustainable Cambridge, and to protect the environment for the health and safety of all. Green Cambridge meets monthly at the Eastern Bank community room in Harvard Square, usually on the first Thursday of every month at 6:30PM. All are welcome and invited to attend! For more information and a listing of community events, please visit: http://www.greencambridge.org/.



Pumpkins & Yard Waste
After Halloween, pumpkins are accepted with yard waste for curbside collection (remove candles). But, consider cooking your sugar pumpkins! Chop and roast in the oven or steam/puree to use in delicious roasted breads, soups, cookies, pies and more.

Composting in your backyard? Save fall leaves to cover up or bury food scraps in your backyard compost bin, and remember to keep right ratio: 3 parts "browns" to 1 part "greens." 

For yard waste stickers, email [email protected], call DPW (617.349.4800), or stop by the office. Find out how to prepare yard waste >>