Monthly Green Tips
Kittery CAN publishes a monthly Green Tip in the Keeping Up With Kittery town newsletter. To sign up, visit: https://www.kitteryme.gov/list.aspx
October 2026 Green Tip - Trees are Climate Superheros!
As we enjoy the first colors of our fall foliage and we settle into autumn, we are also sadly aware of the loss of many of our beloved old trees in Kittery. Our trees are under attack by invasive insects, diseases, extreme temperatures, drought, construction and the stress of rapid climate change. Our trees provide us shelter from summer heat, soak up storm water, protect our shorelines, clean our air and absorb and store carbon dioxide. We can take action now to protect and restore our green canopy.
One effective strategy: Leave the Leaves! Fallen leaves have many benefits. Rather than bagging and disposing of your fallen leaves, use them as a valuable resource. Leaves are packed with nutrients and carbon that enrich the soil and feed the trees:
Consider planting or donating a tree. Fall is a great time for tree planting. Planting in fall gives trees time to establish a root system over the winter months so they are ready for spring growing.
Let’s invest now in saving our mature trees and planting trees for the next generations. We hope you had an opportunity to catch our Rooted in Resilience - Stewarding Healthy Trees presentation at Rice Public Library.
One effective strategy: Leave the Leaves! Fallen leaves have many benefits. Rather than bagging and disposing of your fallen leaves, use them as a valuable resource. Leaves are packed with nutrients and carbon that enrich the soil and feed the trees:
- Create leaf mulch: Shred leaves with a mower and spread them around trees and gardens to protect plants through the winter and fertilize the soil.
- Add them to your compost: Mix leaves with green material like food scraps for a balanced compost.
- Leave some on the lawn: A light layer of shredded leaves will decompose over winter, feeding your lawn and trees.
- Create habitat: Pile leaves in a corner of your yard to provide shelter for beneficial native insects and critters.
Consider planting or donating a tree. Fall is a great time for tree planting. Planting in fall gives trees time to establish a root system over the winter months so they are ready for spring growing.
Let’s invest now in saving our mature trees and planting trees for the next generations. We hope you had an opportunity to catch our Rooted in Resilience - Stewarding Healthy Trees presentation at Rice Public Library.
September 2026 Green Tip - Make it a Sustainable School Year
If you are in back-to-school mode or know someone who is, let’s make it a more sustainable year with mindful, eco-friendly choices that reduce waste and save resources from the first day of school to the last.
Reuse and Shop Second-Hand
It’s a little more effort, but when we all do it together, it’s big climate action!
Reuse and Shop Second-Hand
- Audit old supplies: Check what gear like backpacks, lunchboxes and supplies from last year can be used again this year.
- Thrifty clothes: Visit our local thrift stores and consignment shops for great finds and deals on second-hand clothing and gear.
- Ditch single-use plastics: Swap plastic baggies and disposable juice boxes for reusable containers like stainless steel bottles, thermoses, silicone bags and bento boxes.
- Purchase full-size snacks and portion them out to minimize waste from single-use packaging.
- Pack metal/reusable utensils and straws, and washable cloth napkins instead of disposables. If you must use disposables, use compostables.
- Look for notebooks and folders made from recycled paper or bamboo.
- Buy in bulk when possible. Purchase items in large packs to cut down on extra packaging.
- Green travel: Walk, ride a bike, carpool, or take the bus to school to reduce carbon emissions.
It’s a little more effort, but when we all do it together, it’s big climate action!
August 2026 Green Tip - Make it a Sustainable Summer
We can help protect the natural areas we love while enjoying the sunshine, travels, and outdoor fun. Some tips for practicing sustainability while we enjoy the summer:
Reach for Reusables
Summer picnics, BBQs, festivals, and fairs can mean more disposable cups, plates, straws, and utensils entering the landfill. Many of these products are sourced from fossil fuels. Try to make it a habit to bring your reusable water bottle and keep reusable utensils, containers, and straws with you. Invest in reusable snack bags and purchase full-size snacks to portion out to minimize waste from single-use packaging. If you must use disposables, use compostables.
Mindful Meals
The summer provides delicious opportunities to source our food locally, and avoid the high carbon footprint of transported and imported foods. Shop at local sources like the Kittery Community Market on Sundays, Traip Farmer’s Market on Saturdays or local farm stands. Local, seasonal fruits and vegetables have a lower carbon footprint, support our community, reduce transportation emissions, and can mean less packaging waste. Try incorporating plant-based meals and snacks into your routine. Reducing our meat consumption lowers greenhouse gas emissions and conserves water.
Reach for Reusables
Summer picnics, BBQs, festivals, and fairs can mean more disposable cups, plates, straws, and utensils entering the landfill. Many of these products are sourced from fossil fuels. Try to make it a habit to bring your reusable water bottle and keep reusable utensils, containers, and straws with you. Invest in reusable snack bags and purchase full-size snacks to portion out to minimize waste from single-use packaging. If you must use disposables, use compostables.
Mindful Meals
The summer provides delicious opportunities to source our food locally, and avoid the high carbon footprint of transported and imported foods. Shop at local sources like the Kittery Community Market on Sundays, Traip Farmer’s Market on Saturdays or local farm stands. Local, seasonal fruits and vegetables have a lower carbon footprint, support our community, reduce transportation emissions, and can mean less packaging waste. Try incorporating plant-based meals and snacks into your routine. Reducing our meat consumption lowers greenhouse gas emissions and conserves water.
July 2026 Green Tip - July is a Great Time to Think About Solar Energy
Maine has lots of opportunities to use solar energy instead of burning fossil fuels. If rooftop panels are not an option for you, Community Solar offers easy access to solar, with both subscription and ownership models that allow participation without installing panels on your home. Other options for solar include, co-op solar farms, and now access to technologies like plug-in or "balcony solar", especially suitable for renters.
Efficiency Maine is a great resource for more information on solar energy. Efficiency Maine is our state organization that supports Maine homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy costs and burning of fossil fuels. Including by providing discounts and rebates on products. check them out at: www.efficiencymaine.com
Efficiency Maine is a great resource for more information on solar energy. Efficiency Maine is our state organization that supports Maine homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy costs and burning of fossil fuels. Including by providing discounts and rebates on products. check them out at: www.efficiencymaine.com
June 2026 Green Tip - Recycle Batteries and Save Valuable Resources
All batteries contain valuable, highly reusable materials. If you take your batteries to the Kittery Resource Recovery Facility (aka: the dump) they will tell you to put non-rechargeable and rechargeable AA and AAA in the household trash, and pay to dispose of Lithium-ion batteries and products containing them. Why? Because it costs the town to recycle them. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese can be re-used from Lithium-Ion batteries and zinc, manganese dioxide, and steel from household batteries. These materials are continuously extracted and repurposed into new batteries, steel, or electronics. Luckily area businesses are taking advantage of collecting these valuable materials for re-use which also reduces the need for raw mining which can be expensive and destructive to the environment. Alkaline batteries can be taken to Batteries Plus and Staples. Rechargeable batteries; Batteries Plus, Staples, Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy and CVS. Car batteries; Auto Zone ($10 store credit / refund), Batteries Plus and Tractor Supply. Take action, recycle your batteries!
May 2026 Green Tip - Composting in Powerful Climate Action
Food waste in our trash stream is a significant source of greenhouse gas, specifically methane. Methane is 25-30 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Diverting our food waste from our trash by composting, prevents it from producing methane, Composting also promotes carbon sequestration in soil, improves soil health, reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, and enhances water retention, making landscapes more resilient to heat waves and droughts. A study by the University of Maine found that 43% of bagged household trash is organic, compostable materials and 28% of it is food, making food waste the single largest source of household trash!
Now everyone in Kittery can compost! You can either compost at home, bring your food waste to the Kittery Resource Recovery Facility (aka: the dump) and put it in the bins or have curbside pick up with Mr. Fox. Take action, join the Kittery Compost Campaign!
Now everyone in Kittery can compost! You can either compost at home, bring your food waste to the Kittery Resource Recovery Facility (aka: the dump) and put it in the bins or have curbside pick up with Mr. Fox. Take action, join the Kittery Compost Campaign!
April 2026 Green Tip - April is Earth Month
In the 1960s Rachael Carson sparked our awareness of environmental degradation, which quickly grew into a global movement and Earth Day. April is the time we refocus our attention and efforts to protect our natural environment and our Mother Earth.
Come celebrate our planet at the 4th Annual Seacoast Sustainability Fair, Friday April 10th 4:30-7:00 at the Connie Bean Community Center, Portsmouth NH. This is a free family event with participation from local businesses, environmental organizations. and regional experts. There will be food and drinks, live music, bike and helmet safety checks, a COAST bus to explore, EV vehicles on display and much more.
Come celebrate our planet at the 4th Annual Seacoast Sustainability Fair, Friday April 10th 4:30-7:00 at the Connie Bean Community Center, Portsmouth NH. This is a free family event with participation from local businesses, environmental organizations. and regional experts. There will be food and drinks, live music, bike and helmet safety checks, a COAST bus to explore, EV vehicles on display and much more.