Located on Pine Street in the heart of Florence, Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity is a vibrant hub that enriches the community and carries on the building’s legacy of activism through their performance venue. Also known as the Florence Congregational Church, the historic building operates two houses of worship, a performance art space, a…
Reducing waste at work offers many environmental, financial, and social benefits. Recognizing the opportunity for improvement is the first step in the process, but many may wonder, what comes next? RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) experts have compiled their top five tips to help businesses and institutions reduce waste, increase recycling, and implement new programs. Review…
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is paving the way for a sustainable future with its ambitious Climate Action Plan for the Decade aiming to decarbonize campus operations by 2050. The heart of MIT’s sustainability mission lies in its quantitative impact goals that will touch every aspect of MIT life, from energy consumption to sustainable food…
A new video from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) addresses common misconceptions about food donation and highlights the expanded federal liability protections for businesses that donate food. Produced in partnership with Top Chef Tom Colicchio, the video illustrates how businesses can donate surplus food safely, preventing unnecessary waste. Common scenarios shown in the video…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released new reports that quantify the environmental impacts of wasted food. In response to these findings, the EPA introduced the Wasted Food Scale (pictured below), an iteration of the EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy. The Wasted Food Scale is designed to empower individuals, businesses, institutions, and more with the…
Since 2014, when the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) enacted the Commercial Organics Disposal Ban, businesses and institutions across the state have increasingly diverted food waste. While food waste diversion leads to significant environmental benefits, it also has the potential to provide cost savings for businesses and creates opportunities to address customer and employee…
On March 23rd, 2023, MassRecycle held their annual Conference and Trade show at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough. MassRecycle is a Massachusetts organization that assembles stakeholders to provide solutions to waste reduction and recycling issues as well as advocates for practical and effective legislation. The conference and trade show welcomed a large…
The “Williamstown Composts!” pilot program in Williamstown, launched for residents in 2018, has now expanded to include businesses. This local effort is supported in part by Community Climate Fund (CCF), which is administered by the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) and receives funding from Williams College. In the expanded pilot program, approved businesses receive funding to…
RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts presents a case study on Johnny’s Luncheonette, an iconic diner in Newton with robust recycling and food waste diversion programs. Johnny’s Luncheonette partners with local environmental groups, such as Green Newton, on a variety of sustainability initiatives, and shares information on their food scraps composting program with customers through interactive signage.
Decreasing the volume of wasted food from foodservice operations reduces the overall cost of operations and increases efficiency. In 2018, RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) began conducting interviews with food waste prevention technology companies to quantify their collective impact in Massachusetts. RecyclingWorks follows up with these companies annually to request an update on customer base and…
