Green Acton is a member of the Acton Climate Coalition; the organizations worked closely together in advocating for passage of the “Declaring a Climate Emergency: A Better Future Starting Now” resolution. It passed, with overwhelming support, at the 2020 Fall Special Town Meeting!
Purchase of Piper Lane Parcels for Conservation
The Green Acton Land Use Committee, along with other community groups in town, successfully advocated before and at the 2020 Special Town Meeting for passage of a Warrant Article that will result in purchase of the Piper Lane parcels for preservation as conservation land.
Rivershed Health Event
The Green Acton Water Committee hosted the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord River Report Card event, a lively and well-attended gathering at the Acton Senior Center. Alison Field-Juma, the Executive Director of OARS, presented the first-ever “report card” on the health of the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord river system.
Reusable Bag Distribution
After Acton’s Ban the Bag bylaw — a regulation prohibiting distribution of single-use, plastic bags at store checkouts — went into effect on January 1, 2020, the Green Acton Plastics Committee organized the distribution of more than 500 reusable bags to a variety of stores, as well as to residents.
The 2019 Climate Strike
On September 20th, 2019 Green Acton participated in the 2019 Climate Strike. Actions included a standout at Kelly’s Corner in Acton, and participation in the Boston Climate Strike.
Housing Production Plan Reform
In April 2020, the Green Acton Land Use Committee generated, and the GA Board of directors approved and submitted, suggested principles by which they encourage Acton’s Housing Production Plan (HPP) to abide. Many of Green Acton’s principles helped reform the HPP to support more-sustainable policies.
IBM “Field Trip”
Debra Simes and Jim Snyder-Grant, two Green Acton officers and board members, were invited to the IBM office in Littleton to explain to its Green Team and interested parties Green Acton’s work on climate, in particular, and how it works with the Town. Debra and Jim presented to 25–30 employees, and then met with some… Continue reading →
Acton Clean-Up Week 2019
Continuing a long-standing annual tradition, Acton Clean-Up Week freshened up our town this spring. Green Acton co-sponsors the event with the Asian American Civic Engagement Alliance (AACEA), and invites all residents — including individuals, families, and organized groups, such as scout troops — to participate. That means picking up trash and recycling in their own… Continue reading →
Ban the Bag Campaign Success
Green Acton played a substantial role in passing the “Ban the Bag” Warrant Article at 2019 Spring Town Meeting. The bylaw will go into effect on January 1, 2020, and will ban provision to customers of single-use, plastic bags at checkout stands in a variety of stores around Acton.
Advocacy on Stormwater Articles
Green Acton advocated, at the 2019 Town Meeting, for the passage of two stormwater articles that would reform the way stormwater runoff is handled during construction projects. Both articles passed, and subsequent votes by the Acton Board of Selectmen enabled the implementation of new stormwater protocols.