As reported by the Taunton Gazette, The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently awarded $600,000 in grants to four companies to improve the infrastructure for recycling construction and demolition (C&D), plastics, and mixed recyclables. This funding is part of the MassDEP Recycling Business Development Grant (RBDG) program, which supports marketplace growth for eligible materials…
Many businesses and institutions in the food service, hospitality, and educational sectors receive products in unlined paper shipping sacks, also known as multiwall sacks. More than 1 billion sacks are used each year, most commonly as packaging for food, agricultural, and industrial products. The Paper Shipping Sack Manufacturers Association (PSSMA) recently announced that businesses and…
According to Project Bread’s 2016 status report, nearly 10 percent of Massachusetts families, or more than 266,000 households, experience food insecurity. The staggering amount of edible food that is thrown away daily is a lost opportunity to combat chronic hunger. The PBS NewsHour recently reported on the food donation program at Harvard University, where student volunteers are…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is seeking applicants for the position of Environmental Analyst III. This Boston-based position is responsible for managing the Waste & Recycling Inspector program within MassDEP’s Division of Business Compliance and Recycling, which is located within the Bureau of Air and Waste (BAW). The Environmental Analyst III is an…
Judd Wire is a manufacturing facility in Turners Falls that produces electronic wire and cable for the aerospace and automotive industries. The company generates a wide range of waste, including single stream materials, film plastic, thermoplastic polymers, copper, and various metal compounds. Judd Wire reached out to RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) to request technical assistance…
Food waste constitutes a significant portion of all commercial waste going to landfill or incineration; however, food waste diversion in Massachusetts is on the rise. Encouraged by the expanding food waste infrastructure and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Organics Waste Disposal Ban, businesses around the state have continued to join the effort and…
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) exhibits contemporary visual and performing arts in a converted factory complex located in North Adams. The museum complex includes a brewery, two restaurants, a publisher, gallery spaces, and several offices. Throughout the year, MASS MoCA holds multiple concerts and music festivals, which help the museum draw in more…
Waste Dive recently reported that food waste reduction is a high priority for U.S. diners. According to research from Chefhero and goMkt, nearly half of all U.S. diners would be willing to pay more to eat at a restaurant with a food waste reduction program. These changing consumer attitudes demonstrate an increasing awareness of the…
The US EPA estimates that approximately 500 million tons of demolition waste are sent to landfills each year, yet much of the ‘waste’ is reusable material. Over the last several decades, a growing network of businesses are realizing the significant opportunities in reclaiming valuable resources through the careful disassembly of buildings. A recent Ensia article…
Earlier this month, the US Environmental Protection Agency recognized three Massachusetts entities with 2018 Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) awards. Food Recovery Challenge participants pledge to prevent and divert wasted food in their operations, and receive recognition for their achievements. The 2018 FRC National Award Winners include Green Schools Andover, an education and outreach program for…
