Northeast Paving, a contractor that produces asphalt, paves roads, and constructs roadways, is conscious about the way its offices separate recyclables and handle food waste. Intent on maximizing waste diversion, Northeast Paving reached out to the RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) hotline for assistance with recycling and food scraps collection at their Northfield office. RecyclingWorks staff…
On November 1, 2022, several changes to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) waste ban regulations will go into effect. These changes include lowering the threshold for the existing commercial organics food disposal ban from 1 ton to ½ ton per week and adding mattresses and textiles to the list of waste ban materials.…
RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) publishes an annual report that details the impacts of our outreach, technical assistance, hotline, presentations, resources, and more. We recently published the annual report for Fiscal Year 2022. Key successes included: Approximately 1,500 tons of material diverted from disposal, contributing to an overall cumulative program impact of nearly 250,000 tons of…
Blue Q is a Pittsfield-based manufacturer of unique and practical products. They design items with quippy catchphrases and vibrant illustrations. Not only are the items durable, you can count on them to make you smile. The donation network in Massachusetts runs deep. Through a series of connections, Blue Q was able to donate thousands of…
Decreasing the volume of wasted food from foodservice operations reduces the overall cost of operations and increases efficiency. In 2018, RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) began conducting interviews with food waste prevention technology companies to quantify their collective impact in Massachusetts. RecyclingWorks follows up with these companies annually to request an update on customer base and…
Starting November 1, 2022, mattresses will be banned from disposal in Massachusetts. These bulky items, once taking up space in landfills and disrupting operations at municipal waste combustion facilities, will be redirected to recycling facilities and downstream markets for their metal, foam, fabric, and wooden components. Each of the elements that make up a mattress…
Fenway Park in Boston may be the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball but that hasn’t stopped the venue from heading into a new frontier by going green. The venue has several initiatives to be carbon neutral and to be a more sustainable facility. The ballpark was even recognized in 2018 by Major League Baseball…
Since 2014, when the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) enacted the Commercial Organics Disposal Ban, businesses and institutions across the state have increasingly diverted food waste. While food waste diversion leads to significant environmental benefits, it also has the potential to provide cost savings for businesses and creates opportunities to address customer and employee…
Behind the larger system that drives food waste away from trash disposal are the diligent food scrap separation efforts in kitchens, offices, dining halls, and manufacturing facilities. Business food waste programs require training, logistics, and planning to be successful. The program at Wheatleigh exemplifies that. With a focus on employee training and a dedication to…
Breweries across Massachusetts are demonstrating their commitment to sustainability through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and organics diversion opportunities. Here are just a few recent examples. Untold Brewing is a Scituate-based microbrewery with sustainability efforts focused on waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and water conservation. As recently reported by The Hingham Anchor, the micro-brewery diverts spent…
