The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently awarded $950,000 in Recycling Business Development Grants (RBDG) to six recycling companies in the state. The RBDG program helps businesses tackle difficult-to-recycle materials, such as contaminated food materials, construction and demolition wood, and bulky rigid plastics. The funds will help these businesses expand their operations and capacity to process recyclable materials which supports…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
Learn how Brandeis University, a research institution in Waltham, implemented a dorm and public space recycling program with support from RecyclingWorks, and established a performance plan for their food service provider focused on eight sustainability goals.
Learn how Home City Development, Inc. (HCDI), a non-profit real estate developer based in Springfield, worked with RecyclingWorks to salvage materials for reuse during their renovation of the historic Elias Brookings School.
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.…
