Johnny’s Luncheonette, an iconic Newton diner with robust recycling and food waste diversion programs, continues to push the envelope in sustainability. The diner now offers a reusable takeout container program! Customers who choose to join the program can order menu items for takeout in containers that won’t end up in any waste, recycling, or composting…
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.…
Boat wrap addresses the need to protect valuable marine equipment through harsh winter weather, but what happens to this material after the spring unveiling? While boat shrink wrap cannot go in single stream recycling, options exist for marinas, boat yards, and yacht clubs to recycle this high-quality plastic material. Recycled wrap is typically made into…
As described by Forbes, Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray is one of the latest brands partnering with TerraCycle to reduce the disposal of single-use materials. Through this partnership, consumers can collect the empty flexible plastic packaging used for Ocean Spray snack products and send these items to TerraCycle for recycling using a pre-paid shipping label. Looking beyond…
Each year, grocery stores in the United States generate as much as 300 million pounds of rigid plastics in their operations. This material, found in bakery, deli & seafood, and pharmacy departments, is not typically accepted in most single stream or dual-stream recycling programs but can be recovered and recycled as a separate stream. Recycling…
According to the US EPA, nearly 30% of all solid waste is comprised of containers and product packaging. Despite significant progress in Massachusetts, over 600,000 tons of plastic was disposed of in 2018, including single use items, rigid plastics, and film plastics. In an effort to achieve statewide waste reduction goals, MassDEP aims to reduce…
River Valley Co-op is a 17,000 square foot community-owned food cooperative in Northampton. In addition to traditional grocery items, the co-op has a prepared foods section, a self-service hot bar, and an extensive bulk section. Since their opening in 2008, River Valley Co-op has implemented a variety of waste diversion programs, including comprehensive recycling and…
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…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently released Recycle Smart, a statewide initiative focused on putting the right materials in recycling bins and separating “problem materials” that cause contamination and drive up the cost of recycling. The goal of this initiative is to reduce contamination in materials sent to Massachusetts Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs).…
The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) recently released a guide to help restaurants reduce plastic waste in their operations. This guide, 3 Steps to Reduce Plastic and Benefit Your Business: A Guide for Restaurants and Eateries, is part of the Trash Free Waters Pilot Project, a partnership between PSI, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 2 office,…
On May 10, the College of the Holy Cross hosted RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Spring 2018 WasteWise Forum. The forum began with remarks from John Cannon, Director of Facilities Operations at the College of the Holy Cross, who described the College’s commitment to waste reduction, including its…
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), recently added a section on recycling stock pharmaceutical bottles to their guide on recycling grocery rigid plastics. The guide encourages grocery stores to recycle their primary rigid plastics: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polypropylene (PP). The guide was developed with assistance from the American Chemistry Council, and includes data…
Our team recently had the opportunity to take a tour of the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) to see how these facilities separate the many materials in a recycling bin. The Springfield MRF, owned by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and operated by Waste Management Recycle America, has been sorting and selling the recyclables…
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…
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,…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection announced the first round of Recycling Business Development Grant (RBDG) recipients. The RBDG recipients are Massachusetts recycling processors and manufacturers that intend to create a sustainable recycling market for eligible materials. Seven Massachusetts companies received an RBDG grant. These companies include: Aaron Industries Abby Enterprises Inc. Casella Waste Management…
