Marlborough group creates international bonds
By Angela Greiner Community Reporter

Marlborough - What started as a casual conversation in a small boutique in Marlborough, England, several years ago has today turned into a friendship and joint partnership between two women an ocean apart trying to increase recycling and reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

Local resident Peggy Ayers said when she first met her British counterpart, Tricia Cavil, she was excited to meet someone who was equally as committed to saving the environment. Since then, Ayers has orchestrated several visits with Tricia and her husband, Bill Cavil, who is the former mayor of Marlborough, England. The meetings have helped align the two cities in the start of an international environmental alliance.

Ayers chairs the Marlborough (Mass.) Recycling Committee.

"Every time I go to England I am surprised at how quickly changes are being made … They are moving at a much faster pace," she said.

According to Ayers, recycling and reusing is much more widely practiced in England through composting, reusing shopping bags, and using a thermos rather than a water bottle and reusable containers for packed lunches.

"They are a society that uses public transportation instead of driving and makes coff ee at home versus a disposable to-go cup," Ayers said.

What surprised Ayers most in her recent visit was that there was still limited curbside recycling pick-up; homeowners had to take most recyclables to the city center for sorting.

"We actually have it easier here," Ayers said, "but yet in England they have more people recycling. They have a diff erent attitude … recycling and conserving energy is just a way of life over there."

In addition to being in contact with the Cavils herself, Ayers has connected them with Marlborough's Climate Action Network members Jennifer Boudrie and Mike Manning. The Climate Action Network works to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

"It was fun to learn from Peggy that Marlborough UK has residents into recycling and climate protection like Marlborough USA," Boudrie said.

In an eff ort to connect citizens in both cities to local climate eff orts, both organizations have put links to each other's website on their home pages.

"We [the two cities] have more in common than just sharing a name … I am proud that we are doing our part to share with other communities," Boudrie said.

Early correspondence between the two organizations has included ideas about both goals and hosting transcontinental events.

"It takes people all over the world working together to make a diff erence," Boudrie said.

Ayers is optimistic about recent trends in the United States.

"Earth-friendly products are more readily available … We are a couple of years behind them [the British], but we are making progress."

With several new recycling ideas, including a countertop food composting container and quilted door covers to stop drafts, Ayers is hopeful that the local earth-friendly groups will continue to have increasing support from the community.