Materials Guidance: What happens to common recyclables? Have you ever wondered what happens to your recyclable materials after they leave your business? Where do they go? How are they processed? And what do they become? Explore the following pages for specific guidance on some of the most common materials from businesses and institutions. We will…
This article from Gazettenet.com describes the effort of a Deerfield farmer to install an anaerobic digester at his dairy facility. He’s working with commercial bans as well as USDA Rural Development. The article notes that the three other digesters in place around the state have simplified the permit process for anaerobic digestion. For more information on anaerobic…
This article from the Berkshire Eagle gives an excellent overview of the many businesses and institutions in the Berkshires who are adapting to the food waste ban with outstanding success. In an especially encouraging case, Berkshire Health Systems found that the food waste diversion program at one of their facilities had saved so much in disposal…
Learn how RecyclingWorks helped Worcester State University set up a successful off-site composting program to comply with the commercial organics waste ban and divert 60 tons of food waste annually.
The Massachusetts College and University Recycling Council (CURC) will meet Tuesday, January 14th at 9 AM to discuss the issue of textile recycling. The robust and innovative market for re-purposed textiles will be discussed and success stories shared from the industry. Speakers will include: Bill LaBelle – Goodwill Industries – “Goodwill Not Landfill” – http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/waste-reduction/goodwill-not-landfill/ Larry…
Check out this article from the Boston Herald highlighting the proposed Massachusetts commercial food waste ban. Highlights include Clark University, which saves $3000 annually diverting food waste: http://bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2013/07/food_waste_law_could_make_dollars_and_sense
RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) publishes an annual report that details the impacts of our outreach, technical assistance, hotline, presentations, resources, and more. We recently published the annual report for Fiscal Year 2023. Key successes included: Approximately 1,430 tons of material diverted from disposal, contributing to an overall cumulative direct program impact of nearly 324,000 tons…
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…
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.…
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…
