Does Winterthur recycle?
The short answer to that question is yes. There are many different types of recycling though and the opportunities to conserve natural resources are improving all of the time. Here is what we are currently capturing in our waste stream:
Most departments at Winterthur recycle the specialized items that are used in their daily work. This includes individual department recycling of office paper, used tires, oil, batteries, scrap metal, and toner cartridges. We will soon be instituting a more centralized collection system for these materials to make it more convenient for department representatives to have their recyclables picked up.
For more than a decade Winterthur has recycled organic waste from the garden. Each year, brush becomes 2500–3000 cubic yards of mulch, and 125 tons of leaves become woodland mulch for use in the garden. A cubic yard of medium-weight mulch can weigh from 500 to 800 pounds, which means that we are keeping 875 to 1,325 tons of organic waste (leaves and wood) out of the landfill. In addition, the nature of the Winterthur garden is such that we do not use a lot of fertilizers or herbicides, and we rely on techniques, such as mulch mowing to reduce the amount of waste we produce in the first place.
Winterthur has instituted recycling at its major events, including Point-to-Point, which attracts more than 20,000 visitors a year. At this year’s Point-to-Point, volunteers distributed bags for recycling in an effort to make it more convenient for our guests to recycle.
Our restaurant, managed by Restaurant Associates, has recently implemented recycling. More importantly, for more than a year our food service operation has used materials that are low input, recycled, and compostable. Plates, cups, coffee cups, and bowls are biodegradable. We do not use products, such as plastic “clamshells” and styrofoam plates, that take up space in our trash and that do not biodegrade. At this year’s GardenFair visitors purchased water in bottles that were fully compostable and biodegradable (including caps), one of the first uses of this type of product in the United States.
What other conservation initiatives is Winterthur pursuing?
Conservation Easement – In 2002 Winterthur publicly affirmed its commitment to keep the estate forever free from development by signing a conservation easement on the property.
Bluebird Program – For nearly 30 years Winterthur has maintained a bluebird box program, managed by volunteers, to provide a much needed nesting habitat.
Natural Lands Trust – Winterthur staff worked with a nonprofit group, Natural Lands Trust, to complete an Environmental Management Study for the property. Implementation of the recommendations of this study has resulted in some of the items listed here.
Invasive Removal – For the last two years, Horticulture Department staff members have been engaged in targeted removals of invasive plants (weeds that threaten natural habitat) such as the Norway maple and “tree of heaven.” Thousands of invasive plants have been removed through this effort.
Riparian Buffers – Creation of riparian buffers, dredging of ponds, and stabilization of eroding areas in the garden have resulted in dramatic improvements in water quality. The water at Winterthur leaves the estate in better condition than it enters.
Asphalt Removal – Over the last two years Winterthur has removed significant areas of asphalt and impermeable surface. Turning these areas back to grass and meadow has reduced runoff and thermal pollution in our wetlands. In the last year we removed more than 340 linear feet (more than a football field in length) of asphalt roads and paths.
Meadow Management – Winterthur has adjusted the mowing schedule and management of its meadows to improve habitat for native wildflowers and nesting birds. In some areas mowing has been reduced to once a year and is timed to allow birds to nest and reproduce.
Tree Management – Since the du Pont family moved to Winterthur in 1839, trees have been a treasured part of this landscape. Winterthur’s arborist manages the health and condition of trees throughout the garden and wider estate. As stewards of the woodlands at Winterthur we maintain a diverse canopy (in both species and age) and several trees that are more than three centuries old.
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