The founder and past president of the MacDowell Company, a construction and landscape design firm, Roy MacDowell is now the principal of Baystone Development. In addition to being a recipient of a Massachusetts Historical Commission award, Roy MacDowell is a former trustee of Babson College in Massachusetts.
As part of its efforts to reduce its environmental impact and promote sustainability, Babson College has implemented a number of initiatives that challenge participants to live more environmentally-friendly lifestyles. Its annual Zero Waste Challenge, which tasks participants to produce as little waste as possible over the course of a week, is among these efforts.
During the week, participants must place every non-recyclable item of waste they produce into a clear bag while recycling or composting anything they can when they have the opportunity. This includes single-use water bottles and tissues but does not extend to other waste items containing bodily fluids. Participants must attach the bag to the outside of their person. The aim is to demonstrate the true weight of the waste each participant discards during an average week.
