The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), in collaboration with the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), recently launched the MassGrown Exchange, a new online platform that facilitates business-to-business connections within the local food system. This platform is a tool for businesses looking to sell, donate, or purchase Massachusetts crops, seafood, products and services: Buyers (including…
Businesses such as hotels, healthcare facilities, colleges & universities, and retail operations often have textiles they no longer need. The majority of textiles, including apparel, linens, and other fabrics, can be reused or converted into new products rather than thrown away. It is important to collect and recover textiles separately, as they do not belong…
Many hotels, colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, and multifamily properties end up with used mattresses that need to be removed. There is a growing infrastructure for mattress recycling in Massachusetts and mattresses contain many recyclable materials with established markets. Because of their bulky size, mattresses can be challenging for haulers and disposal sites to manage.…
As restaurants, bars, hotels, and other businesses have closed or adjusted their operations due to COVID-19, breweries have been faced with excess inventory that cannot be sold. The Massachusetts Brewers Guild recently shared how breweries can partner with organics processors, such as Vanguard Renewables’ farm-based digesters, to divert the liquid from disposal, turning it into…
Since the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) enacted the commercial organics waste ban in 2014, there has been an increase in the diversion of food waste by businesses and institutions across the state. In addition to the environmental benefits of diverting food waste, many businesses have recognized potential cost savings, and the opportunity to…
Property managers oversee a wide variety of facilities in Massachusetts, include residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. Waste streams vary depending on whether your tenants are residents or businesses, but all of these property types generate some combination of waste ban materials such as cardboard, bottles and cans, and construction and demolition materials. As a property…
Northeast Reuse Marketplace The Northeast Reuse Marketplace includes on-line materials exchanges from Massachusetts and several other Northeast states. It has an extensive directory of donation and reuse opportunities. This site is specifically designed to help make matches between organizations that have reusable materials and those looking for these materials as a feedstock. The materials exchange…
The Northampton Chamber of Commerce recently organized a Centennial Gala event, which was hosted at the Academy of Music. The event provided entertainment and catered meals, drawing in more than 350 attendees. The Chamber connected with RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) for assistance with diverting the event waste from the landfill. The Chamber worked closely with…
The primary waste coming out of most offices is paper and cardboard. Many offices also generate food and beverage containers, which can be collected as part of a single stream recycling program. Some larger office buildings may have in-house food service operations that generate food waste or other materials specific to the business type. Offices…
Health care businesses, such as hospitals, assisted living facilities, and skilled nursing centers, vary widely in terms of size and services, but share many common needs for diverting waste. While these facilities generate medical waste, which requires specific handling and tight control to minimize health concerns, they also typically generate a large volume of materials…
