December 2016 | Business View Magazine

68 69 Natick began evaluating their PAYT options in early 2003 as a way to handle its fiscal challenges. Soon after, in FY2004, it began its WasteZero bag-based PAYT program—and instantly experienced signif- icant reduction in municipal solid waste. In July 2013, it began its automated recycling collection. WASTE REDUCTION & OPERATIONAL SAVINGS WASTEZERO PAYT SUCCESS STORIES NATICK, MASS., SOLIDWASTE TONNAGE, FY1998 - FY2013 ANNUAL POUNDS OF TRASH PER CAPITA INFOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PROVIDED BY WASTEZERO / NATICK The town does curbside collection of yard waste twice a year, and re-uses much of the mulch it makes from its pickups. Natick also has regular collec- tions of household, hazardous waste, and at its recycling center, it processes many “hard to recycle” materials, such as books, paint, used motor oil, and tires. Jillian Wilson Martin, Natick’s Sustainability Coordinator, is a frequent partner on the initiatives pursued by Marsette and his team at the Department of Public Works; however, her main focus is on improving energy efficiency, increas- ing the adoption of renewable energy, and saving taxpayer dollars. In the spring of 2010, Natick became one of Massachu- setts’ first “Green Communities”, a designation the Massa- chusetts Department of Energy Resources gives to cities and towns that establish an energy usage baseline and develop a plan to reduce it. “Our focus on energy pays dividends,” says Wilson Mar- tin.“Since becoming a Green Community, we have reduced the energy we use to operate Natick’s public buildings, streetlights, vehicle fleet, and water and sewer systems by 25 percent and cut en- ergy costs by more than $500,000 each year.” Some of the town’s energy upgrades in- clude: the replacement of streetlights to LED technology; the addition of variable frequen- cy drives to its sewer department’s pump sta- tions; the replacement of high frequency boil- ers in town buildings; and the installation of occupancy sensors in buildings to make sure energy is conserved when buildings are closed or few people are present.“This year, we’re working to retro-commission Natick’s Town Hall and Community Senior Center to make sure they are operating in accordance with current energy code and that conditions are comfortable for building occupants,”Wilson Martin reports. Marsette adds that the town also purchases the most full-efficient vehicles possible for its 200-plus municipal fleet.“We have hybrid vehicles and currently, one all-electric vehicle, with two more on the way,” he says.“We’ve been working with the Operational Services Division and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council on a state-wide bid for NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS Power Solutions You Can Rely ON asne.com 888.890.9886 sales@asne.com Generator Sales Service Transfer Switches Fuel Polishing Preventive Maintenance Emergency Repairs Remote Monitoring Training Parts Since 2008, through that program, we’ve reduced our municipal energy con- sumption – the energy we use to run our buildings, fuel our trucks, etc. – by 20 percent. And we’re on track to continue reduc- ing it even further. JiLLiAnWiLSon MArtin sUstAinAbiLity COOrdinAtOr