What's going on in Sustainability July 18-24

Community solar booms in NY

SULLIVAN COUNTY — Community solar allows residents to enroll in a local, shared solar array, letting them save on their electric bill without paying any upfront costs or making changes to their property. There are currently three community solar hubs in Sullivan County: Wood Oak Lane in Narrowsburg, Kelly Bridge Road in Liberty and Villa Roma Road in Callicoon. Together, these will serve 3,000 households; there is no cost to participate and customers can cancel at any time.
Each two-megawatt solar farm serves 300 to 400 homes. Kelly Bridge and Wood Oak are two-megawatt projects, each already full. Villa Roma Road is an eight-megawatt project and signups are being accepted. For more information or to reserve your spot, call 845/414-3491 or visit www.delawareriversolar.com.

Soft recycling with Trex boxes

HONESDALE, PA — Trex, the leading recycled materials manufacturer of wood-alternative decking, railings and other outdoor items, is collecting soft plastic to recycle into outdoor benches that will be donated back to the community once 500 pounds of soft plastics are collected.
Trex boxes are now located in Honesdale to collect any plastic that is soft: grocery bags, bread bags, dry-cleaning bags, case overwrap, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, zip-lock bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, salt bags and cereal bags.
Plastics must be clean, dry and free of food residue. Drop-off locations are at Weis Markets, The Dime Bank, Wayne Bank, The Cooperage Project and Art’s for Him. Honesdale National Bank locations in Hamlin and Hawley will also have collection boxes.
For more information or to adopt a Trex box, email honesdaletrex@gmail.com or call 570/290-5900.

Solar celebration open house

HONESDALE, PA — To celebrate the Clean Energy Co-op’s newest solar projects, The Stourbridge Project, located at 648 Park St., is hosting an open house on Tuesday, July 30 from 4 to 6 p.m. This event will consist of a tour of The Stourbridge Project’s many offerings and discussion of the Clean Energy Co-op’s plans to install solar panels on the roof of the 1928 Stourbridge Elementary School and at the Von Oechsler Farm in Damascus.