The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is accepting grant applications through the Commonwealth Organics-to-Energy Program. The grant applications are for “Pilot” and “Implementation” projects. These projects are to support the use of anaerobic digestion and other technologies that convert source-separated organic waste into electricity, thermal energy, and compressed natural gas fuel. Qualified applicants can receive…
A Co.Exist post describes the new “Food For All,” app supporting the reduction of wasted food at restaurants. Through the app, customers can purchase discount goods from the restaurants. Currently, 30 Boston restaurants are participating in the pilot release of the app. Restaurants are still able to donate to the food banks, yet the app…
This month, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) awarded $500,000 in grants through the Recycling Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. These awards went to three companies looking to better process and manage packaged food materials. The awardees include EL Harvey and Sons, Inc. in Westborough, CRMC Bioenergy, LLC in Mansfield, and Troiano Trucking, Inc.…
Green Retail Decisions recognizes Hannaford Supermarket’s savings with Manomet’s Grocery Stewardship Certification program. This certification helped Hannaford Supermarkets save more than $23 million in 2015. The Manomet Grocery Stewardship Certification (GSC) program provides resources for food retailers to optimize operational sustainability, including practices to increase energy efficiency and reduce waste. Hannaford Supermarkets used the GSC…
This fall, several facilities in Massachusetts are starting to accept packaged food material for depackaging. These facilities have installed infrastructure to separate food material from its packaging allowing the wasted food to be fed into an anaerobic digester, composted, or used to produce animal feed. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) list of organizations…
The US Environmental Protection Agency added a webpage designated for information regarding Anaerobic Digestion (AD). This webpage is to provide information to the public such as basic information, environmental benefits, types of anaerobic digesters, project profiles, tools and resources, and publications. The links on the webpage also include more detailed information and other relevant programs.…
The Harvard Law School and Food For Free are partnering to reduce wasted food and distribute it to feed hungry people. Food for Free, a Cambridge nonprofit, rescues the excess food and distributes it to the area’s hungry. This partnership began with the Harvard Law School May 2016 Commencement lunch where Food for Free recovered…
A BlueCart blog post recommends steps for managing unsold food inventory at businesses. Many businesses must manage surplus products due to reasons such as, overproduction, unpredictable demand, imperfections, or approaching code dates. However, with the Massachusetts Commercial Organics Waste Ban, businesses and institutions disposing one ton or more of food waste per week must divert…
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is accepting comments and holding a public hearing for the 330 CMR 25.00, Agricultural Composting Program regulation. The public hearing will discuss amendments to the regulation through which Agricultural Composting Operations may register and receive education and technical assistance from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). Agricultural Composting…
RecyclingWorks presented on Food Donation Guidance for Massachusetts businesses at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Northeast Region Annual Food Protection Seminar. The seminar was held on August 12 at Hotel Northampton and hosted by the MA Department of Public Health (MA DPH). This presentation continued to engage public health officials in this initiative to…
