Sustainability at Butterfield
The Butterfield Library is participating in the Sustainable Libraries Initiative certification program. We are committed to practicing environmental stewardship, economic feasibility, and social equity. Read on to learn more about the ways we are changing at the Library in order to serve our community & for the future.
Less Plastic on Books
By choosing not to cover all our books with a protective plastic book jacket, we are cutting down on plastic waste in the Library and reducing your exposure to plastic. Just remember to be gentle with your next read!
TerraCycle
At the Library, we collect hard-to-recycle materials and send them to TerraCycle, where they are broken down into raw materials to be reused. This decreases the amount of waste sent to landfills or incinerators.
Items we accept for TerraCycle include: all Acure packaging • Arm & Hammer cleaning product pouches and toothpaste tubes • all Babybel packaging • Benebone nylon dog chew toys • all Better Natured packaging
• all Burts Bees packaging
• Dunkin flexible coffee bags
• all eOS packaging
• I and Love and You flexible pet food packaging
• Mr. Clean Deep Cleaning Mist packaging
• Oxiclean cleaning product pouches
• Sodastream sparkling water makers
...as well as ANY BRAND of: air care products & packaging (e.g. spray bottles & trigger or nozzle heads) • athletic performance nutrition packets & packaging (e.g. Gu energy drink mix or energy gel) • contact lens cases, contact solution bottle caps, eye drop single dose vials • electronic hair tools & appliances • razors, blades, & razor packaging • personal care packaging (e.g. toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, mouthwash bottles & caps, deodorant packaging, etc.)
• squeezable snack plastic pouches & caps (e.g. GoGoSqueez)
Compost
We have a compost tumbler on site at the Library, located next to the shed and Community Garden. Composting at the Library means we can grow plants reduce food waste and create healthy, nutrient-rich soil for our pollinator plants.
Materials we accept for compost: healthy plant matter; fruit & vegetable scraps; eggshells; coffee grounds & loose tea (no teabags); paper napkins & brown paper
Materials we cannot accept:
meat / fish; cheese & other dairy products; processed foods; fats & oils; commercial compost products (compostable plastic, etc.); diseased plant matter; animal waste
Library of Things
Our vast Library of Things helps you access the equipment you need - without having to buy it yourself. Join the circular economy!
Pollinator Gardens
We have planted three separate pollinator gardens on the grounds of the library.
Increased Recycling
We have added a recycling container to our Reading Garden.
Herbicides
We pledge not to use any herbicides on library property.
Trash Collecting
We pick up trash on the grounds daily.
Print Releaf
We have partnered with PrintReleaf, an organization which plants trees to offset the printer paper we use.