This Boston Globe article highlights efforts made by Harvard University, among many other businesses and institutions, to donate food rather than throw it away. Harvard’s undergraduate dining halls generate 2,500 pounds of leftovers, which are now being given to needy families in Boston through Food for Free, a non-profit organization in Cambridge. The article mentions…
A recent article in Business NH Magazine reports that twelve New England organizations are supporting a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiative to reduce the nearly 35 million tons of food waste generated nationally each year. This initiative, called the EPA Food Recovery Challenge, focuses on encouraging businesses, organizations and institutions to prevent food waste by…
This blog post written by Andrew Shakman, CEO of LeanPath (a food waste prevention technology provider), highlights how to use social psychology tools to engage employees in food waste prevention activities. Although the examples apply to food waste prevention, Shakman explains the principles can be utilized to promote other behaviors, like food safety. The five strategies Shakman…
The National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) Conserve program is a resource to explore and learn about sustainability in the restaurant business. To promote the program, the NRA developed 4 tips from industry experts on easy practices to implement that enhance a restaurant’s sustainability and produce environmental benefits: Recycle your cardboard Conserve water by establishing a…
In April, Keep America Beautiful published findings of a 2014 research study in a report titled “Recycling at Work: Research to Inform Improved Recycling in the Workplace”. Keep America Beautiful commissioned Action Research to conduct the study, which was sponsored by PepsiCo Recycling. The study assessed the effects of different desk-side bin types and placements in over…
The Food Recovery Network (FRN) brings together students at colleges and universities across the nation to combat food waste and hunger by recovering edible food from their campuses that would have otherwise gone to waste and redistributing it to people in need. FRN partnered with Bon Appetit Management Company to launch a gleaning initiative to…
On Earth Day, U.S. EPA New England (Region 1) announced its 2015 Environmental Merit Awards. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s Environmental Club received a 2014 President’s Environmental Youth Award. The Environmental Club carried out an initiative to encourage reusable water bottles and spread awareness of climate change to fellow students, which involved fundraising to purchase two purified…
In November 2014, the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, a working group of major food service retailers and trade associations, released the report Analysis of U.S. Food Waste Among Food Manufacturers, Retailers, and Restaurants. From statistics in the report, Jordan Figueiredo of EndFoodWaste.org and Nicole Civita of the Food Recovery Project at the University of Arkansas created…
The U.S. EPA Region 1 (New England) office recently announced the Regional 2014 Food Recovery Challenge Achievement Award winners based on 2013 data. The awards go to those who significantly reduce the volume of surplus food generated, donate food to people or animals, and/or compost excess food. The Massachusetts winners include: Tufts University Medford Campus,…
This article and accompanying video highlight major grocery store chains that are diverting unsold food that cannot be donated, as well as food scraps that are not sent to composting, to anaerobic digestion. In April, Stop & Shop announced the groundbreaking for its 1.25 MW anaerobic digester at its Freetown Distribution Center, which will…
This article from Wicked Local Burlington describes how food donations to the Burlington Food Pantry have increased since the Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban went into effect in October 2014. The increase in food donations from large food service providers like a Wegmans grocery store has led the Burlington Food Pantry to expand hours and…
In Fall 2014, Simmons College, Emmanuel College, Wheelock College and Wentworth Institute of Technology all partnered with Casella Resource Solutions on waste diversion improvements, including single-stream recycling and back-of-house food waste diversion. This article highlights the increased diversion rates and positive behavior change these colleges have experienced as a result of working with Casella…
This article from Boston University’s (BU) independent student newspaper, The Daily Free Press, discusses the increase in food waste diversion to alternative organic waste processing methods like composting as a result of the Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban that took effect October 1, 2014. The article highlights BU’s food waste diversion program, which was successfully…
MassRecycle’s 20th Annual Recycling Awards winners were announced at the MassRecycle R3 Conference held in Quincy on March 30. This year’s winners are: Individual Award: Heather Pillis, Ipswich, MA Municipal Award: City of Salem K-12 Award: Danvers School District Institution/University Award: University of Massachusetts Lowell Business Award: Hannaford Supermarkets Public Servant Award: Mayor Kim Driscoll,…
This article explains the various waste reduction and diversion initiatives that Fitchburg State has implemented since 2008. These include removing straws from dining halls, diverting food waste to a local pig farmer, and single-stream recycling. In addition, signage with alarming food waste statistics has been placed near disposal areas in dining halls, with the intention…
This article from EPR Retail News highlights The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC and its announcement of the groundbreaking for its first anaerobic digester that will be installed at its Distribution Center in Freetown, MA. The anaerobic digester will process unsold food from stores that is not able to be donated to regional food banks or…
This press release details the results of the 2015 RecycleMania tournament, a waste reduction and recycling competition among colleges and universities across 49 U.S. states and Canada. This year’s competition engaged 4.1 million students at 394 schools to recycle or compost 80.1 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials, preventing the release of 129,411 metric…
This article from sustainability@BU highlights the new recycling initiative that was implemented at Boston University’s Warren Towers dormitory during the Fall 2014 semester. By installing dual stream recycling on every floor of Warren Towers, the recycling rate in the building increased ten percent from September 2014 to December 2014. Multiple student and faculty groups…
This article from NPR’s “The Salt” details the rise of programs designed to rescue fruits and vegetables with visual imperfections from being wasted or thrown in the trash. Surveys in Minnesota and California suggest that anywhere from 5 to 30 percent of a farmer’s harvest is thrown out as a result of cosmetic imperfections. To combat…
This press release from Bentley University highlights food waste diversion that is taking place at the university. Sodexo staff in all of Bentley’s campus kitchens separate pre-consumer food waste. Additionally, in Seasons, the campus’ main dining hall, back-of-house staff separate and divert all food waste that is left on plates. Since Fall 2014, Bentley’s dining program has been…
This blog post from Spoiler Alert, a company based in Cambridge (MA) that has an “app” for connecting generators of surplus food to food recovery organizations, provides a visualization of food waste generation throughout the state and within the Boston metropolitan region. Staff at Spoiler Alert utilized publicly available food waste generation data from the state of…
This press release from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) highlights thirteen New England organizations that have backed the Food Recovery Challenge, an initiative that encourages businesses, organizations and institutions to prevent food waste by donating or recycling food. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is among the organizations who have become “endorsers” of…
One-third of all food produced in the world ends up as waste. In this new report, the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) estimates the value of global consumer food waste at more than US$400 billion per year, and as the global middle class expands, that number could rise to US$600 billion in the next…
Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, began a food waste diversion program at the Higgins Cafeteria in 2007, and has since expanded the program to include multiple residence halls and most recently, the Academic Commons at Goddard Library. This article provides an overview of how food waste diversion to composting has spread across Clark’s campus, helping…
This radio story from WCAI, Cape and Islands NPR Station, and accompanying blog post highlight Falmouth (MA) resident Mary Ryther and her business “Compost With Me”, a small-scale residential and commercial food waste collection and composting service in Cape Cod. Ryther charges a nominal fee for food waste collection, and returns finished compost back to…
In January 2015, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and As You Sow, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental and corporate social responsibility, released Waste and Opportunity 2015: Environmental Progress and Challenges in Food, Beverage, and Consumer Goods Packaging. The report is based on a survey of 47 companies in the quick service restaurants (QSR), beverages…
This article from Gazettenet.com describes the effort of a Deerfield farmer to install an anaerobic digester at his dairy facility. He’s working with commercial bans as well as USDA Rural Development. The article notes that the three other digesters in place around the state have simplified the permit process for anaerobic digestion. For more information on anaerobic…
This article from Cape News provides an excellent overview of a proposed anaerobic digestion facility at the Bourne landfill. The town sent an exploratory team to visit another facility operated by the same company, Harvest Power, and found that the operation produced little no no odor or noise that could be a problem for the town.
This article from LeanPath examines four food waste trends, highlighting Massachusetts as an early adopter of food waste ban legislation. Read the article to learn more about the innovations and economic environment surrounding the food waste ban. For information on the food waste ban, visit our Food Waste page for guidance from RecyclingWorks Massachusetts on the specifics of the…
NPR’s The Diane Rehm show concentrated on food waste in the recent edition of their “Environmental Outlook” series. Click here to hear the radio program and find interesting links and infographics on the issue of food waste. For information on the food waste ban, visit our Food Waste page for guidance from RecyclingWorks Massachusetts on the specifics of the…
Do you often find yourself unsure of the actual shelf life of your groceries? Every day, people throw away food that is still delicious and healthy, but luckily there’s a new resource to help consumers who are uncertain; Check out Stilltasty.com, where you can search for different food categories and learn how you can best store…
Presentations from the recent WasteWise forum are now available on our WasteWise page; you can visit that page or use the following links to download and review slideshows of the presentations. Solid Waste Management Hierarchy-Christine Beling, Project Engineer at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1 The Furniture Trust-Michelle Blakemore, Education and Outreach Manager at The…
The 2014 RecyclingWorks Year-End Report is now available on our about page. Visit that page or click here to download a copy to learn about all the ways that RecyclingWorks has helped businesses and institutions across the state manage their waste stream responsibly and adapt to the new Food Waste Ban.
Check out our new directory of available on-site technologies for managing food waste: On-Site Systems for Managing Food Waste Guide. Please note that RecyclingWorks or MassDEP does not endorse any of the companies or technologies represented in this document, and the information included has not been verified by MassDEP. This guide may be helpful to you if you’re…
This article from the Patriot Ledger details the responses of several grocery chains to the Massachusetts Food Waste Ban. Stop and Shop, for example, is planning a product recovery center which will generate enough gas to power the chain’s regional distribution warehouse. The value of the ban legislation is underlined by the lack of opposition…
This article from the Berkshire Eagle highlights the effort that the historic Red Lion Inn has made to reduce food waste in their hotel and restaurants. The article includes perspectives from MassDEP Commissioner David Cash, as well as State Representative William ‘Smitty’ Pignatelli. For more information on the food waste ban, visit our Food Waste page for guidance from…
This story from NPR highlights the acceptance of the Massachusetts Food Waste Ban by food waste generators in the state. MassDEP Commissioner David Cash attributes this positive response to early outreach and involvement with those expected to be affected by the ban. The article notes that the National Waste and Recycling Association expected to testify against the legislation,…
This article from the Cape Cod Times takes a look at the ways that Cape Cod businesses are adapting to the food waste ban. The article includes perspectives from one of the two farmers who are licensed to compost on the Cape as well as from a restaurant owner who is using a dehydrator to…
This article from National Geographic highlights Jordan Dairy, the first dairy farm in Massachusetts to install an anaerobic digestion system. The article notes the expectation for increased food demand in the next 50 years; systems like the digester at Jordan Dairy help us to get the most out of the food we already produce. Visit our Food Waste page for guidance from RecyclingWorks Massachusetts…
The RecyclingWorksMA.com website has had over 50,000 visitors in 2014, seeing an increase in traffic in the lead up the the beginning of the food waste ban! Thank you to all our users for your contribution in making our website a successful resource for the citizens of Massachusetts! If you’ve only had experience with one…
NECN featured an excellent story on the food waste ban in Massachusetts. The video features an interview with DEP Commissioner David Cash as well as footage of Compost Windrow Turners in action at Groundscapes Express in Wrentham. Visit our Food Waste page for guidance from RecyclingWorks Massachusetts on the specifics of the ban and resources to help your business comply…
This article from the Berkshire Eagle gives an excellent overview of the many businesses and institutions in the Berkshires who are adapting to the food waste ban with outstanding success. In an especially encouraging case, Berkshire Health Systems found that the food waste diversion program at one of their facilities had saved so much in disposal…
This article from the Worcester Business Journal contains an excellent summary of the goals of the food waste ban in Massachusetts, as well as perspectives from Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett as well as Rick Walton, owner of the Gardner Ale House, a business that has used RecyclingWorks to help them reduce…
State officials visited Groundscape Express in Wrentham to celebrate the start of the food waste ban. This article from the Attleboro Sun Chronicle contains perspectives from the company’s owner as well as MassDEP commissioner David Cash, and details how Groundscape Express uses compsting for fertilizer as well as burms for erosion control. Visit our Food Waste page for guidance from…
To celebrate the beginning of the food waste ban, state officials visited the seventh-generation Barstow Farm in Hadley, which operates an anaerobic digester. This system takes in food waste from the community and processes it into methane, which is used to generate electricity. Check out the article for perspectives from MassDEP commissioner David Cash as…
Officials from the Massachusetts department of Environmental protection visited a Waltham supermarket as part of the start of the Full Harvest Tour, celebrating the beginning of the Massachusetts Commercial Organics Waste Ban. This article from the Waltham News Tribune details their visit and includes perspectives from Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Maeve Vallely Bartlett…
UMass Lowell celebrated the start of the Massachusetts Commercial Organics Waste Ban with state officials including DEP Commissioner David Cash, who led by example, taking an active role in the day’s kitchen scrap collection. UMass Lowell made an early commitment to food waste diversion, and began composting a year ago at the behest of a student…
This article from Cape Cod Online takes a look at how businesses on the cape are responding to the food waste ban. In a region like Cape Cod where all waste must be shipped elsewhere, the food waste ban is of special importance in that it will help to reduce the overall amount waste needing to…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental protection has issued this press release celebrating the start of our state’s first-in-the-nation commercial organics waste ban. Check out our food waste page for more information on how you and your business can help to divert food waste.
This article from the Huffington Post focuses on the ways the food waste ban helps to ensure food security and feed the hungry in Masssachusetts. The food waste ban incentivises donations of unwanted but usable food to Food Rescue Organizations such as those listed on our Food Donation Guide. Note: The article mentions that there are 17,000…
This article from the Berkshire Eagle’s Go Green Column, highlights the upcoming food waste ban beginning Wednesday, October 1st. The article provides some helpful starting tips for those organizations that generate more than one ton of organic waste each week and are subject to the ban.
In this article, BioCycle examined several food waste collectors from three states including Massachusetts and shared tips for efficient organics collection from the hauler’s perspective. Across the board, these haulers are experiencing an uptick in business with one Massachusetts hauler noting that their phone was “ringing off the hook,” as the October 1 start date of…
This coming Monday, September 23, the Association of Post Consumer Plastic Recyclers is conducting a FREE webinar on rigid plastics recycling. This provides the opportunity to hear about rigid plastic recycling resources and learn how one major US grocery chain has already implemented a program to recover rigid grocery plastics. Learn more about this webinar…
This article from The Guardian highlights the preparations underway by various stakeholders in Massachusetts to be ready for the upcoming commercial organics waste disposal ban, which goes into effect October 1. The article notes that that most affected businesses have already put food reduction policies into place and are ready to adapt to the ban.
The RecyclingWorks September Newsletter has been released; it includes a link to an article on Crosby’s marketplace, a supermarket that RecyclingWorks helped to set up a composting program. Click here to read a copy of the RecyclingWorks September Newsletter. Email info@recyclingworksma.com if you;d like to be added to the newsletter’s mailing list.
This article from Biocycle.net describes how Crosby’s Marketplace, a Salem-based supermarket chain, has been separating 1.5 tons of food waste each week from three of its six locations, donating edible food to homeless shelters and composting the rest at local farms. The remaining three locations will begin food waste separation on October 1st, and the reduction…
This article and video from Elite Daily highlights the creative ways that French Supermarket chain Intermarche has found to repurpose and market spoiled or unappealing fruits and vegetables. Watch the video to see how discounting ‘ugly’ fruits and vegetables became popular with their shoppers and has helped to utilize food that the producers would have otherwise…
This article from Spare Change News provides an excellent overview of one institution’s commitment to reducing their food waste. Boston Medical Center has joined the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge in preparation for the upcoming Massachusetts commercial organics waste ban, beginning October 1, 2014. John Fischer, DEP Branch Chief for Commercial Waste Reduction, explains how targeting…
This blogpost from the Union of Concerned Scientists highlights the Federal Government’s recently released Biogas Opportunities Roadmap. This report recognizes the technology’s potential for reduction of waste and production of renewable energy, noting that such systems could potentially power more than 3 million American homes. With our commercial organics disposal ban and biogas energy incentives, Massachusetts…
This article from the Boston Globe highlights UMass Lowell and Signature Breads, two recent additions to the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge, a program which encourages participants to reduce their food waste by 5% each year. The article explains how the organizations have increased donation and composting, helping to feed hungry people while producing natural compost fertilizer…
This article from the Boston Globe gives an excellent overview of the current status of preparations for Massachusetts’ commercial organics waste ban. The disposal requirements puts Massachusetts in the forefront of efforts to reduce food waste in the United States. The article highlights several social benefits of the new rules, and notes that the business…
The Boston Public library recently posted several items of furniture for free on the Reuse Marketplace, a regional network to exchange reusable and surplus items. These items are being offered only to governmental entities and nonprofits. Check out these FREE items of furniture: AV Stands Atlas Stands Metal Folding Chairs
This article from BioCycle describes how legislation like the Commercial Organics Waste ban is helping to spur the development of Anaerobic Digesters in New England. The article highlights Barstow’s Longview Farm in South Hadley, where a recently installed Anaerobic Digester is generating energy from diverted food waste. The farm even uses a by-product of the anaerobic…
This article from The Fall River Herald News highlights the Green Move Out program at UMass Dartmouth, run by a group of students. During this year’s move-out the group collected 4,300 pounds of items to donate to charity, diverting that material from the waste stream. This represents a 3,100 pound increase from last year’s results. UMass…
Find out how RecyclingWorks helped the Lenox Hotel in Boston prepare for the commercial food waste disposal ban, and learn more about how we can offer your facility free, direct assistance!
This article from Sustainable City Network details the efforts by several Massachusetts towns to begin curbside composting and pickup at residences. In each case, the success of the program has depended on cooperation between community groups, haulers as well as state and local government. Remember that the upcoming Commercial Organics Waste Ban applies only to large…
This article from the Gloucester Times highlights DownRiver Ice Cream of Essex, which is making the move to compost or recycle 100% of the waste it produces. They’re working with the Green Team from Manchester Essex Regional High School to create signage that helps their customers understand what waste to compost and what to recycle.…
This article from High Rise Facilities notes that diverting food waste can help to reduce a hotel’s disposal costs. Please don’t be too alarmed by the title of the post; the Commercial Organics Waste Ban applies to businesses and institutions which produce one ton or more of organic waste each week. Visit our food waste…
This article from Masslive describes how various businesses in Massachusetts are preparing for the upcoming Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban beginning October 1, 2014. The article interviews representatives from Big Y, Martin’s Farm, Hope and Olive, and the Center for Ecotechnology. Interested in learning more about the commercial organics waste ban and best management practices for…
This article from Masslive highlights the work being done by Martin’s Farm, a family-owned Greenfield farm which has been taking in compost for 20 years, helping Franklin County to lead the way in commercial composting. The article gives an especially incisive look at the steps involved in commercial composting, from intake of waste through processing…
This article from MassLive describes the award-winning effort from Big E’s Supermarket to reduce their food waste by implementing a composting and recycling program. This reduced their waste collection frequency to once a month, significantly reducing disposal costs. Inspired? Check out our compliance page to learn how your business can cut its waste disposal costs while improving…
This article from wcvb.com highlights the great work being done by Lovin’ Spoonfuls, a Boston-based food-rescue organization. Grocery stores often have a hard time selling bruised or blemished produce; instead of that unsold food going out with the trash, Lovin’ Spoonfuls collects and distributes it to soup kitchens and other organizations that feed the hungry.…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is compiling information on Earth Day events open to the public in Massachusetts. Information about these events will be shared in a press release and on MassDEP’s website. If your organization or community is hosting an event for Earth Day, you can get the word out and share…
This article from the Boston Globe describes the citations and in some cases fines issued in the last round of state inspections. State Inspections have been significantly increased recently, and more than 80 companies were issued citations after inspectors found banned material in their waste loads. In the cases of repeat-offenders, fines of up to…
Registration is now available for the upcoming Massachusetts Commercial Food Waste Vendor Fair. Register now to be a part of this exciting event which connects stakeholders from around the state and help your organization prepare for the commercial organics waste ban. Visit our event page to find more details on the specifics of the event…
This article from ecoRI News highlights the growing opportunities and benefits from using anaerobic digestion to manage food waste in Massachusetts. This is one of the many ways for businesses and institutions to comply with the commercial organics waste ban and RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts stands ready to help your business.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) issued a press release on waste ban compliance and enforcement earlier today. Click here to read it at the MassDEP web site. Also, visit our compliance page to learn how RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts can help your business comply with the upcoming commercial organics waste ban.
MassDEP, U.S. EPA Region 1, and RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts present the: Massachusetts Commercial Food Waste Vendor Fair: “Everything you need to divert food waste from your waste stream” Attendees will have a chance to connect with a wide range of vendors, including haulers, compostable product vendors, food donation and rescue organizations, and onsite organic waste…
EcoRI, a website covering envrionmental news for southern New England, has recently published two stories regarding the Massachusetts Food Waste Ban. Reducing Waste Stream Requires a Statewide Effort describes the upcoming Commercial Organics Waste Disposal ban, noting the assistance available to businesses from RecyclingWorks. Check out State’s First Food-Scrap Digester Under Construction for more information…
Scrap Monster, a trade news website for the Scrap Trade industry recently noted the upcoming Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban in an article published on their website. Check out the article to see how they appraise the opportunity for their industry.
This article from Nashoba Publishing goes over the particulars of the upcoming Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban. It underlines the necessity of working with all organic stakeholders to prepare for a smooth transition while highlighting past sucessful innovations in food waste management.
Food Waste as a Climate Strategy Healthier Hospitals Initiative Less Waste Series Webinar, Thursday, February 27, 2014, 2:00-3:00 PM EST Click here to register! Webinar Objectives: Understand food wastes role in methane gas production and role in climate change. Understand how states are taking a closer look at food waste management Learn how one hospital has taken…
In this webinar, the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) was explained and success stories from partners were shared. Whether your school has been composting for years or is just beginning to contemplate a composting program, the information presented may be useful to your program. Click here to view the webinar.
Check out these recent articles about the creative ways organizations around the country are tackling the problem of food waste. Rock and Wrap It Up! and NFL Feed the Hungry With SB48 Food from FiveTowns Patch This article details the effort made by Rock and Wrap It Up and the NFL to recover uneaten prepared…
Have you registered your organization for the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge? The process is short and simple and takes only a few minutes. The Food Recovery Challenge asks participants to reduce as much of their food waste as possible – saving money, helping communities, and protecting the environment. Participants should submit baseline data within 90…
This post from The Conservation Law Foundation’s (CLF) blog notes the recent announcement of final regulations for the Food Waste Disposal Ban in Massachusetts. The article places this effort in the context of the state’s goal to reduce the state’s waste stream waste by 30% by 2020, and includes perspective from a composter who’s experienced…
This article from the Boston Globe describes the effort to save and distribute discarded yet wholesome food to Boston’s food-insecure residents. Much of the time, food that would be discarded by supermarkets and farms is still safe and wholesome to eat; diverting this waste through food rescue organizations is one of the ways businesses can…
Making Move-Out a Sustainability Success Story College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC) Webinar, Thursday, February 13, 2014, 1:00-2:30 PM EST Click here to register! For the 2,100 colleges and universities with on-campus housing serving nearly 3 million student residents, move-out will generate a tsunami of reusable clothing, electronics and other household goods. Find out how…
This press release from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental protection announces the October 1, 2014 finalized date of the statewide commercial food waste disposal ban. Food Waste makes up 25% of the commonwealth’s waste stream, and the press release highlights different innovative methods for managing that waste. Read how RecyclingWorks can help your business manage organic…
This press release from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection details the anaerobic digesting facility that Stop & Shop plans to build at their distribution facility in Freetown. Though Stop & Shop already diverts unsold food to farms and composters, this new equipment will allow energy to be generated from the unwanted food, taking in up…
The Boston Globe recently published this editorial highlighting various positive social developments to anticipate in 2014. Featured prominently among them is the upcoming Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban. (Scroll down to the seventh paragraph to view this section.) Read our Commercial Organics Waste Ban compliance page to learn more about the upcoming ban and how…
The Massachusetts College and University Recycling Council (CURC) will meet Tuesday, January 14th at 9 AM to discuss the issue of textile recycling. The robust and innovative market for re-purposed textiles will be discussed and success stories shared from the industry. Speakers will include: Bill LaBelle – Goodwill Industries – “Goodwill Not Landfill” – http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/waste-reduction/goodwill-not-landfill/ Larry…
Register now to participate in the EPA’s upcoming webinar discussing success stories from the Food Recovery Challenge, scheduled for Thursday, January 16th at 1:00pm EST. Hear perspectives from the project team that set up the collection infrastructure to compost commercial food waste in the Worcester area. •Center for EcoTechnology(CET), a non-profit environmental organization providing environmental education…
Two recent articles highlight the new regulations passed in New York City with similar requirements to the Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban in Massachusetts. Like our state, New York City will be requiring larger restaurants as well as grocery stores, caterers and other food-related businesses to begin to separate and compost food waste instead of…
Massachusetts Business Recycling Efforts Increase in 2013 Many Businesses and Institutions Already Comply with 2014 Food Waste Disposal Ban This press release describes the efforts RecyclingWorks has made this year to provide support for businesses and institutions affected by the impending 2014 Food Waste Disposal Ban. RecyclingWorks has made contact with food waste generators expected to…
This article from The Economist notes the necessity for large food waste generators to prepare for compliance with the July 2014 advent of the Commercial Organics Material Ban. The article contextualizes the Massachusetts law as part of a trend which began in Europe and is spreading to the United States, particularly in areas where the cost…
This article from GazetteNet.com notes two local efforts to reduce waste, including Big E’s Market, where owner Michael Superson worked with the RecyclingWorks program to implement an award-winning composting program at the supermarket. According to Superson, a deciding factor in the decision to implement the program was an estimate from RecyclingWorks of the amount of waste…
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has begun to work with the Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA) to help reduce food waste and use the data they collect to help identify areas with the greatest potential for such reduction. This article from LeanPath describes how the NRA sees the reduction of food waste as a way to…
The South Hadley landfill will close next year, part of a trend throughout the country. This article by 22News describes alternatives to landfills such as incinerators, while highlighting the overall necessity to find innovative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle as the closure of landfills makes disposal more expensive. The article notes the upcoming Commercial Organics Material…
Climate Friendly Government Purchasing Webinar, Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 12:30 pm Government and higher education institutions are huge purchasers of products and services. Efforts to harness this purchasing power to benefit the environment and save money must go beyond a focus on single attributes like recycled content and toxicity to encompass life-cycle impacts and greenhouse…
