MBTA, MassDEP and City of Boston Celebrate America Recycles Day

MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas, joined by MassDEP Acting Commissioner Arleen O’Donnell and City of Boston’s Chief of Environment & Energy James Hunt, gathered at North Station to celebrate America Recycles Day, Wednesday, November 15th.

First celebrated in 1997, America Recycles Day works to promote recycling and the purchase of recycled products. Each year, on November 15th, events and celebrations are organized throughout the country to promote recycling and the purchase of recycled products.

This year, in celebration of America Recycles Day, the MBTA in partnership with the MassDEP will enhance its recycling efforts with the installation of recycling barrels throughout the subway and commuter rail system. The recycling bins will appear initially at North Station, South Station and Back Bay Station, with other stations to follow. The availability of these barrels will provide customers a more convenient and direct access to a recycling receptacle.

“The benefits to recycling are endless,” said MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas. “We are not only responding to the importance of preserving our environment, we are listening to our customers about newspapers littering our system. The expansion of our recycling efforts will reduce debris on our system significantly.”

The MBTA has been working with MassDEP to enhance its recycling program and through these efforts; the MassDEP has agreed to provide funding for the initial phase of the program.

“Massachusetts is a national leader in recycling. But more needs to be done to increase the recycling of paper,” MassDEP Commissioner O’Donnell said. “America Recycles Day is the perfect opportunity to partner with the MBTA to increase paper recycling on the transit system. We start today with a few new recycling containers at major transit hubs, but look forward to a day in the near future when recycling containers are available at all MBTA stations.”

Since partnering with Abitibi Paper Retriever Company approximately one year ago, the MBTA has developed a recycling program that includes the availability of sixty-five recycling bins at many of our stations. In less than one year, the MBTA and its customers have recycled nearly 1 million pounds -equivalent to 500 tons - of newspapers.

A staunch advocate of environmental preservation, City of Boston’s Chief of Environment and Energy James Hunt applauded the T’s accomplishments. “Today we are reminded of the benefits of recycling and what can be accomplished when agencies share their resources and ideas,” said City of Boston’s Environment and Energy Chief James Hunt. “Congratulations to the T for providing riders of public transportation with various options to recycle.”

To further encourage customers to recycle, the MBTA most recently installed approximately 50 CharlieCard recycling containers on the Orange Line from Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing.