In the face of a changing dairy market, Barstow’s Longview Dairy Farm in Hadley, MA capitalized on another product from their cows: manure. Manure Manager reports that Vanguard Renewables invested in the construction of an anaerobic digester that allows the farm to repurpose the manure as both fuel and fertilizer while reducing business operation costs.…
A BioCycle article demonstrates the progress Massachusetts has accomplished in eliminating food waste and the continuing challenges and opportunities for growth. The article was written by John Fischer, Branch Chief for Commercial Waste Reduction at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Elizabeth Johnston who is a Senior Manager at ICF’s Cambridge office. Massachusetts has…
Yesterday, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) released a new report highlighting the positive economic benefits of reducing food waste. This report studied the effects of the Massachusetts Commercial Food Waste Ban, which prohibits businesses and institutions that generate one ton or more of food waste per week from disposing of that waste in…
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.…
Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization (MASCO) reports on the impacts of the Massachusetts Commercial Organics Waste Ban on their members. MASCO, a nonprofit organization for Boston’s Longwood Medical and Academic area (LMA), strives to benefit those who live, work, study or receive care in the area. MASCO members have increased their food waste diversion…
The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) recently featured the Massachusetts Commercial Organics Waste Ban in a Success Story Video. ECOS is an association that helps state agencies to improve human and environmental health in the US. Massachusetts is one of the first states in the nation to implement an organics disposal ban. The ban,…
GreenBiz reports a new collaboration to research and identify strategies for reducing food waste known as Rethink Food Waste through Economics and Data (RFED). ReFED is led by a group of businesses and foundations including Sodexo, Deloitte Consulting, MissionPoint Capital Partners, and the Closed Loop Fund. ReFED research has identified $165 billion in annual lost revenue in the…
In February, Food Engineering Magazine published an article on tactics that food and beverage manufacturers are taking to reduce waste. Food and beverage processors are using a wide variety of methods to reduce waste; these efforts help meet company’s sustainability goals while offseting manufacturing costs. The article includes some tips from RecyclingWorks for reducing waste.…
RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts regularly hosts College & University (C&U) Forums. These forums are particularly useful for facility managers, dining service operators, and recycling and sustainability coordinators to network and discuss waste reduction topics. Stay tuned for more information about the next College & University Forum. To suggest a topic for a future C&U Forum, sign…
WABI TV5 reports on a new food waste depackaging and anaerobic digestion system operated by Agri-Cycle Energy and Exeter Agri-Energy in Exceter, Maine. The depackaging machine helps divert packaged food waste from landfills. Packaged food is fed into a large drum that breaks up the packaging. The food waste is then fed into 400-thousand-gallon anaerobic…
