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 US EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy ranks source reduction as the top priority for reducing the amount of food sent to landfills. Businesses and institutions with buffet service often face significant challenges in preventing food waste at the source. The struggle to meet demand and ensure buffets appear fully stocked often results in overproduction, and…
Mass Audubon’s Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton and Northampton collaborated with RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) to implement a successful waste reduction program during their recent day-long Folk Festival. The family-friendly outdoor event drew together 1,200 community members to celebrate the start of the sanctuary’s 75th year celebrations this past September. Event organizers, vendors, and volunteers…
The Williamstown COOL Committee, the town’s environmental group, launched a successful food waste diversion initiative as a part of their work plan for 2018. The COOL Committee collaborated with RecyclingWorks in assisting local businesses and institutions to begin composting their food scraps. Williamstown is currently home to more than 30 small-scale businesses that are collectively…
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is currently accepting applications for its Agricultural Composting Improvement Program (ACIP). The program assists agricultural composters by funding projects and equipment to facilitate best management practices, utilize compost for agricultural purposes, and enhance overall management of agricultural composting operations. Eligible applicants include farmers engaged in production agriculture for commercial…
The Daily Item recently reported on actions being taken by Massachusetts businesses, institutions, and charitable organizations to reduce food waste in their communities. In many cases, these entities are working together to find synergies in reducing the amount of waste they produce, donating excess food, or diverting food scraps to other uses such as composting.…
CDRecycler recently reported on the sustainability achievements and lessons learned during the 2017 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, the world’s largest conference and exposition dedicated to green building. Usually hosted by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center (BCEC), in 2017, Greenbuild was co-located with the ArchitectureBoston Expo (ABX),…
Saus is a locally-owned eatery on Union Street in Boston, specializing in preparing inspired dishes from scratch. The restaurant serves a constantly changing menu, but prides itself on one regular staple: hand-cut fries complemented by 15 unique sauces, as well as homemade mayo, ketchup, hot sauce, and gravy. Saus was recognized by Boston Magazine, receiving…
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recently awarded nearly $1 million 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…
A recent Waste Dive article discusses the growth of the food recovery marketplace in Massachusetts, including expansion in tons of diverted food waste, quantity of customers served by organics waste haulers, and number of end-sites available for processing food waste. This article was based on a presentation by MassDEP at its Organics Subcommittee meeting held…
