nantucket tops country for recycling

October 27th, 2009

Nantucket Island

October 26, 2009, Cape Cod Times announced that a national advocacy group recently named Nantucket as the top recycling community in the country, knocking San Francisco off its perch. Thanks to an adaptation of a “zero waste” recycling program a decade ago, Nantucket leads the way in recycling and composting, and is ingraining “green” values within younger generations in the community. (Trust us. Ask any islander about the “Take it or Leave It” pile, which has become a hot gathering spot to find anything from furniture to good beach reads.)

Recycling and caring for the environment is now second nature to islanders. Everyone plays an important role. Here is how the Nantucket Boat Basin is helping:

  • Reducing Pollution from Vessel Sewage Discharges – Raw or poorly treated sewage can spread disease, contaminate shellfish beds, and lower oxygen levels in water. Nantucket is a no-discharge harbor, and the Boat Basin offers complimentary pump-out services at all three of its wharves. Recently, The Clean Waters U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service recognized the Nantucket Boat Basin for participating in the most “pump-outs” of any marina in the U.S. The Boat Basin’s clean facilities and “clean boating” educational efforts were also recognized.
  • Welcome and Educate – Upon arrival to the Nantucket Boat Basin, all incoming vessels receive a lovely welcome bag dedicated to Nantucket & the environment. Information on how to recycle, the proper use of environmental materials and where to properly discard each, is included. Boaters looking to refuel are given an absorbent donut to affix around fuel nozzles, to reduce leakage into the water. Guests also receive a small jar of biodegradable soap to wash their boat with, all in an effort to keep the surrounding water clean.
  • Waste Has a Place! – The Nantucket Boat Basin has a zero-tolerance policy for mixed, or non-complying rubbish. There are 35 sets of large recycling bins to sort aluminum, plastics, and glass located throughout the 30 docks of the marina. Cigarettes can be extinguished in 50 dedicated areas, and there are 190 decorated rubbish barrels that blend with the décor of the island. Pet owners can even “dispose” at the Boat Basin’s Animal Needs Park with complimentary biodegradable bags.
  • Time and Dedication – The Nantucket Boat Basin provides environmentally- friendly staff dedicated to removing, sorting, and cleaning the marina’s waste each day. Four or more marina attendants are on hand daily just to clean and maintain the 18 bathrooms and shower facilities.

For more information on the Nantucket Boat Basin and its environmental efforts, please visit http://www.nantucketboatbasin.com/ 

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