The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized four Massachusetts entities with 2019 Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) awards. The Food Recovery Challenge is a voluntary program for organizations and businesses to implement strategies to reduce food waste in their operations in alignment with the Food Recovery Hierarchy. If your organization is not already a Food…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized two Massachusetts organizations for their achievements in waste diversion through the national WasteWise program. WasteWise is a free, voluntary program designed to help private and public organizations work toward reductions in solid waste. Every year, the EPA recognizes partners in various categories who report significant improvements in…
On April 16, RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) hosted the 2020 Spring WasteWise Forum as a webinar, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The focus of the virtual Forum, which was originally planned as an in-person event at Brandeis University, was on “Back to Basics”. …
On November 14, UMass Dartmouth hosted RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks), the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the 2019 Fall WasteWise Forum. This year’s fall forum focused on reducing contamination in recycling collection programs and using technology to reduce food waste. Below is a summary of the day’s highlights. Welcome and Updates The…
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) exhibits contemporary visual and performing arts in a converted factory complex located in North Adams. The museum complex includes a brewery, two restaurants, a publisher, gallery spaces, and several offices. Throughout the year, MASS MoCA holds multiple concerts and music festivals, which help the museum draw in more…
The 4th Annual Massachusetts Sustainable Business Awards, hosted by the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN), announced the organization’s 2018 sustainable business winners. The awards are given to leading independent businesses in Massachusetts that are helping to build local, green, and fair economies. The SBN takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability, and the Sustainable Business…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently awarded more than $1 million in grant funding to help six recycling companies in the state improve operations and expand the infrastructure needed to address hard-to-recycle materials. This round of Recycling Business Development Grants (RBDG) will help recyclers more effectively handle and process glass, wood, plastics, and…
The National Waste and Recycling Association recently named Wellesley-based Vanguard Renewables the 2018 Organics Recycler of the Year, as reported by the Greenfield Recorder. This represents one of five prestigious recycling awards honoring innovative leaders in the waste and recycling industry. Vanguard was recognized for its portfolio of anaerobic digester operations throughout Massachusetts, which, with…
The Berkshire Eagle recently reported on Berkshire Community College (BCC) successfully defending its statewide title in the diversion category of the RecycleMania competition managed by Keep America Beautiful. RecycleMania is a friendly competition among colleges and universities that engages students to promote recycling and waste reduction activities across campus. In 2018, teams from 300 higher…
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…
When Berkshire Community College (BCC) saw the opportunity to defend their 2016 statewide RecycleMania title, they didn’t waste it. Four Massachusetts schools – BCC, Hampshire College, Endicott College, and UMass Amherst – placed in the top 50 of the college & university recycling challenge. BCC took the top prize for the state and claimed 4th…
The Foxborough Patch reports that MassRecycle awarded their annual Recycler of the Year in the Business category to Patriot Place. The award is given to a business that has developed and operates an outstanding recycling/waste reduction program that increases recycling and/or reduces waste generated by their business. The award comes as a result of Patriot…
For participants in the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) and WasteWise programs, annual 2016 data and 2017 goals are due March 31, 2017. Participants in either program must submit their 2016 data and 2017 goals in order to stay active and maintain eligibility to receive awards. Enter data and goals by accessing your account on…
Wicked Local Cambridge highlighted the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s recent award to Lesley University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The EPA presented the ‘Regional Food Recovery Achievement Certificate’ to 26 New England organizations, including Lesley University. Lesley University received this award in recognition of their sustainable food management practices. The certificates are part of the…
The MetroWest Daily News reported on Framingham State University’s effort to reduce wasted food on campus, including source reduction, education, food donation, and composting. FSU uses LeanPath to track and reduce the amount of wasted food. The university donates edible surplus food to local shelters, and dehydrates remaining food scraps to reduce its volume and…
The US EPA recently announced 2016 Food Recovery Challenge Award Winners in New England. Organizations that participate in the Food Recovery Challenge pledge to improve their sustainable food management practices and report their results. In 2015, 54 New England participants diverted over 52,000 tons of food to donation and/or composting. The EPA is presenting a…
The Sustainable Campus Competition is now accepting submissions! Kimberly-Clark Professional offers this competition to implement new green initiatives or expand current sustainability programs on campus. Round 1 submissions are due by 11:59 PM ET, August 19th. Round 1 includes a 500 word summary that describes a campus sustainability program focused in the areas of energy…
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…
This month, EPA New England awarded the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) Environmental Merit Awards. Since 1970, Environmental Merit Awards have recognized individuals and groups in New England for working to protect and improve New England’s environment. The MassDEP, along with corresponding agencies in Connecticut and Vermont, was…
Berkshire Community College (BCC) in Pittsfield, Massachusetts placed 1st in the state and 5th in the nation for recycling rates in the RecycleMania Tournament! The college earned this title with a 75% recycling rate. The recycling rate was measured by the percentage of total waste that was recycled and composted over the course of the…
Clark University recently received two awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizing their outstanding waste reduction initiatives. Clark was the only awardee to receive awards for both the Food Recovery Challenge and WasteWise programs in the same year. The EPA awarded Clark with Honorable Mentions in the Narrative Categories for the Food Recovery…
The EPA is currently accepting nominations for the 2015 Environmental Merit Awards in New England. Award categories for environmental achievement in the last year include individuals, businesses, government entities, and other organizations. There is also an award for lifetime achievement. Nominations must be submitted online by February 12, 2016. RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts is a recycling…
WCVB reports on the awards that the EPA recently announced which recognize organizations for their food waste reduction efforts. Four of the fourteen organizations that received awards nationwide are located in New England. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection was recognized for food waste outreach and technical assistance provided through the RecyclingWorks program. Salem State…
November 19, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lorenzo Macaluso, Director of RecyclingWorks in MA RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts Receives National Honor for Food Waste Diversion Efforts during U.S. EPA’s Food Recovery Month of Action Boston, MA. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has won the US EPA’s 2015 National Food Recovery Challenge Endorser Award for leading…
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…
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,…
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 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 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 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…
Northampton, MA, 11/20/13—Just a year after launching its food waste recycling program, Easthampton’s Big E’s Supermarket (www.bigessupermarket.com) has been recognized by the Springfield MRF Advisory Board as one of the region’s outstanding business recyclers of 2013. Big E’s store manager Michael Superson received the award at a ceremony in Holyoke on November 13, which is also…
This year’s America Recycles Day, two Massachusetts colleges were honored by the EPA for their efforts to reduce food waste on campus. UMass Amherst and Clark University were part of only nine national winners of the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge in 2013. Through such solutions as student-run composting programs and the use of anaerobic digesters,…
MassRecycle recently recognized the Boston-based Blue Man Group as the Entertainment Recycler of the Year. Blue Man Group has recently revamped their disposal services to include an expanded selection of materials for recycling, including food waste generated during performance. With technical assistance from RecyclingWorks, Blue Man Group has met internal green initiatives for their organization…
