Environmental Awareness

Community Planning

The Town of Acton has recently completed Phase 1 of the Comprehensive Community Plan. To view Phase 2 Information, visit the Acton 2020 website or contact the Planning Department at (978) 929-6631. 

Community Gardens

Community Gardens are available to anyone interested in having a garden plot. There are three community gardens:

Signup is required.

Environmental Activism

Green Acton is a group of volunteers working to conserve local resources and protect the environment for future generations. Green Acton welcomes new members. Find out more at greenacton.org. Green Acton sponsors Acton Clean-up Day.

Acton Arboretum

Water Supply

The Acton Water District is a community public water supply that delivers high quality drinking water to the majority (about 95 percent) of the residents of the town of Acton, Massachusetts. All of the water provided from the District comes from eleven wells located within the town of Acton. The District’s system consists of 106 miles of water main, four storage tanks, and a variety of treatment facilities that assist in the production of high quality finished water. Read the Water Department's publications.

Solid Waste and Recycling

Acton's Transfer Station and Recycling Center are located at 14 Forest Road. Access to the facility is off the westbound lane of Route 2, 1/4 mile north of Hosmer Street. The Transfer Station and Recycling Center take care of all disposal including solid waste and recycling for the Town of Acton. You must purchase a sticker. Read the Guide to Recycling.

SMART Pay As You Throw

The Town of Acton implemented the SMART Pay-As-You-Throw program at the Transfer Station and Recycling facility on September 1, 2015. SMART stands for Save Money and Reduce Trash, and PAYT stands for Pay As You Throw. In this system, residents pay a significantly reduced sticker fee which covers the basic costs of the Transfer Station, plus a small fee per trash bag to cover the actual cost of disposing of the trash in the bag. Find out more.

Conservation Lands

Acton is home to over 1,650 acres of conservation land for public enjoyment including trails for walking and hiking. 

Acton Trail Map

The Acton Conservation Commission sponsors the Acton Land Stewardship Committee, a group of citizen volunteers responsible for the stewardship of Acton's conservation land. See the list of Acton conservation sites. This land includes Acton Arboretum in the town center which provides 65 acres of conservation land and trails near town center through meadows, woodland ponds, a glacial esker and a bog. A handicapped accessible trail gives access to herbs, shrubs and flower gardens.

Friends of the Acton Arboretum raise funds for development and maintenance of the arboretum, and sponsor many educational activities including seasonal walks, talks and workshops.