This fall, several facilities in Massachusetts are starting to accept packaged food material for depackaging. These facilities have installed infrastructure to separate food material from its packaging allowing the wasted food to be fed into an anaerobic digester, composted, or used to produce animal feed. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) list of organizations…
The US Environmental Protection Agency added a webpage designated for information regarding Anaerobic Digestion (AD). This webpage is to provide information to the public such as basic information, environmental benefits, types of anaerobic digesters, project profiles, tools and resources, and publications. The links on the webpage also include more detailed information and other relevant programs.…
The Healthy Building Network and StopWaste released the “Optimizing Recycling: Post-Consumer Polyethylene in Building Products” report. This report examines the hazards, supply chains, and economic impacts of using post-consumer polyethylene from products such as beverage containers as a feedstock streams for building products. The report outlines recommendations for manufacturers, recyclers, consumers, and government agencies to…
A recent Zero Waste Zone post describes a new partnership between the U.S. Green Business Council (USGBC) and the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC). The U.S. Green Business Council administers the LEED certification program which recognizes buildings for their sustainable building design, construction, operations, and maintenance. The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council offers a…
The Harvard Law School and Food For Free are partnering to reduce wasted food and distribute it to feed hungry people. Food for Free, a Cambridge nonprofit, rescues the excess food and distributes it to the area’s hungry. This partnership began with the Harvard Law School May 2016 Commencement lunch where Food for Free recovered…
A BlueCart blog post recommends steps for managing unsold food inventory at businesses. Many businesses must manage surplus products due to reasons such as, overproduction, unpredictable demand, imperfections, or approaching code dates. However, with the Massachusetts Commercial Organics Waste Ban, businesses and institutions disposing one ton or more of food waste per week must divert…
RecyclingWorks has been working with United Tool & Machine & Gaynor Industries to improve their recycling program and identify outlets for materials used in their manufacturing process. These manufacturing materials include scraps of neoprene and aramid fiber. RecyclingWorks connected United Tool & Machine with Extras for Creative Reuse, a store in Peabody that provides low and…
A recent Newburyport News article featured developer, George Haseltine’s recent deconstructed a home in Newburyport. Haseltine diverted the lumber from disposal, instead donating it to EcoBuilding Bargains for resale., Haseltine could receive a $84,500 tax credit for this donation if he makes a profit from the construction. EcoBuilding Bargains sells the used building materials at…
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is accepting comments and holding a public hearing for the 330 CMR 25.00, Agricultural Composting Program regulation. The public hearing will discuss amendments to the regulation through which Agricultural Composting Operations may register and receive education and technical assistance from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). Agricultural Composting…
An article on the Northstar Recycling blog identifies recycling sources in manufacturing waste streams. Due to the large intake of supplies and parts at manufacturing companies, manufacturing companies end up with materials that should be recycled. There are many materials that can be recycled after inbound shipments. These materials include slip sheets and corner boards,…
