Stop & Shop is one of the largest supermarket chains in New England, operating over 400 stores across five states. Like other supermarkets, their stores generate a variety of recyclable and compostable materials, including cardboard, plastics, and food waste. As the company works towards a 50% reduction in wasted food by 2030, efforts have become…
After a year of preparation, food rescue organization Lovin’ Spoonfuls launched their first delivery in Hampden County last month. The Boston-based organization feeds hungry people by collecting surplus edible food from local businesses and institutions and delivering it to shelters, food pantries, and other groups that serve food-insecure populations across the state. Lovin’ Spoonfuls has…
The U.S. EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy ranks feeding hungry people near the top of its priorities as a strategy to reduce wasted food. In Massachusetts, the amount of rescued and donated food increased by over 20% between 2014 and 2017 as individual businesses and chains partnered with food rescue organizations across the state. Milford Daily…
The City of Boston announced the release of its first zero waste plan in June, 2019 as reported by Recycling Today. This plan recommends over two dozen short-term and long-term strategies to reduce waste in multiple sectors of the city. Boston’s Zero Waste Advisory Committee included representatives from local institutions, businesses, and industry associations. The…
The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (UMass Dartmouth) was recently awarded the College/University Partner of the Year for the 2018 national WasteWise awards. WasteWise is a free program – sponsored nationally by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in Massachusetts by the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) – designed to help private and public organizations work to reduce…
Seeking new strategies to reduce food waste, many businesses in Massachusetts are leveraging advances in technology that help connect excess food to local outlets. A recent WBUR story spotlights several mobile app and software solutions helping organizations in the Boston area cut their food waste. The Boston-based restaurant chain Boloco has partnered with Food For…
The Northampton Chamber of Commerce recently organized a Centennial Gala event, which was hosted at the Academy of Music. The event provided entertainment and catered meals, drawing in more than 350 attendees. The Chamber connected with RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) for assistance with diverting the event waste from the landfill. The Chamber worked closely with…
The Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC) is a mosque and community center, located in Roxbury, serving over 1,500 congregants at its weekly services. Each year the mosque holds a month of programming in observation of Ramadan, which includes educational activities and a nightly community meal. The mosque connected with RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks)…
Businesses and institutions that host large-scale events often face the challenge of managing the excess food and single-use materials generated during these events. As reported by Harvard Law Today, the 2019 Harvard Law School Commencement recently demonstrated how to implement a robust waste diversion program for a one-day event while serving prepared lunches to more…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP’s) 2014 commercial organics disposal ban has already had a significant impact on the state’s diversion of food materials, as well as growth in the food waste marketplace. Since the ban was implemented, annual food waste diversion has increased by 180,000 tons, food donation has increased by 22%, and…
