The National Waste and Recycling Association recently named Wellesley-based Vanguard Renewables the 2018 Organics Recycler of the Year, as reported by the Greenfield Recorder. This represents one of five prestigious recycling awards honoring innovative leaders in the waste and recycling industry.

Vanguard was recognized for its portfolio of anaerobic digester operations throughout Massachusetts, which, with the capacity to handle nearly 200,000 tons of organics, collectively serve as the largest organics recycling outlet in the region. By the end of 2018, Vanguard expects to have processed more than 500 tons of food waste per day from a variety of farms, businesses, and institutions including Whole Foods Market, Gillette Stadium, MGM Springfield, Gorton’s Seafood, Cabot Creamery, Cape Cod Potato Chips, and Treehouse Brewing.

Vanguard’s facilities include a digester at Bar-Way Farm in Deerfield, which processes approximately 25 tons of manure from the farm and 75 tons of wasted food each week from surrounding areas to generate one megawatt of renewable electricity. The vertically integrated design of the system enables farms to address food waste challenges, while also utilizing the energy produced to heat their barns and the digesters’ solid byproducts as animal bedding. Vanguard also currently operates digesters at Barstow’s Longview Farm in Hadley, Crescent Farm in Haverhill, and Jordan Dairy Farms in Rutland with a new facility planed in Spencer.

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts assists businesses and institutions with recycling and food waste diversion. Our Find-A-Recycler tool is designed to help businesses connect with haulers and processors of recyclables and organics, such as Vanguard Renewables. For more information on diverting food waste at your business, call our hotline at 888-254-5525 or email us at info@recyclingworksma.com.