As reported by Cape Cod Times, the Massachusetts Oyster Project successfully collected 25,000 pounds of shells from Wellfleet restaurants. These shells will be scattered along the Wellfleet harbor to restore oyster habitat instead of going for disposal. Eight local Wellfleet restaurants signed up for the pilot program and successfully sorted the shells into designated containers…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has published the final 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan and announced the following amendments to the waste ban regulations, which will be effective on November 1, 2022: Mattresses will be banned from disposal. Textiles will be banned from disposal. The Commercial Organics Disposal Ban will apply to businesses…
Good Filling, a Boston-based company that sells refillable home-care and personal-care products, was recently awarded a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant. These grants can be up to $5,000 and are awarded to for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as eligible municipalities, for short-term waste reduction projects. Good Filling will be…
Clearly labelling all waste containers and collection areas is key to increasing waste diversion while also reducing unnecessary contamination. Signage that references common materials generated on-site can boost employee confidence around recycling and serve as a great educational tool. Posting clear and easy-to-understand signage on recycling, organics, and trash containers is also important for public-facing…
Since 2014, when the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) enacted the Commercial Food Material Disposal Ban, businesses and institutions across the state have increasingly started diverting food waste. While food waste diversion leads to significant environmental benefits, it also has potential to provide cost savings for businesses, and opens up opportunities to address customer…
The supermarket industry in Massachusetts has long been a leader in diverting wasted food from disposal. Recent media coverage highlights successful food recovery efforts conducted by three grocery chains with locations in Massachusetts: Hannaford Supermarkets, Stop & Shop and Whole Foods Market. These grocery retailers, as well as many others, employ strategies across the EPA…
In April this year, Boston University announced its new Zero Waste Plan. Named “Reimagining Waste as a Resource,” the institution has big plans for shifting mentalities in the Boston University community around waste, and eliminating wasteful practices throughout material life cycles. The ambitious plan aims to reuse or recycle at least 90% of the institution’s…
The Newton-based electric bicycle (e-bike) business Watt Wagons is best known for setting a Guinness World Record in 2019 for their electric bike that rode 400 miles in 24 hours using less than one dollar of electricity. Watt Wagons assembles personalized e-bikes for sport and commuting, with a strong focus on environmental stewardship. The company…
Although not accepted in typical residential or commercial single stream recycling programs in Massachusetts, plastic beer can toppers are often labeled with a recycling symbol that can be misleading for beer drinkers in the state. While some companies collect and reuse these can toppers, the reuse and recycling infrastructure for this material is still nascent.…
Widespread changes in consumer dining and purchasing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic shifted food waste generation from business sectors like catering, restaurants, and institutional cafeterias to homes, impacting composting operations across the state. As described by The Vineyard Gazette, the Martha’s Vineyard Food Waste Recovery Initiative is one of many programs that experienced a reduction…
