What if spaces were intentionally designed to optimize waste diversion and zero waste practices? In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta talk with Cory Page, landscape designer and alum of the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). As a student at GSD, Cory noticed that the setup of the waste and recycling system in the main school building was inadequate. Materials such as foam board and aerosol cans, common in the design studios, were not disposed of properly. The placement of trash and recycling bins throughout the building was inefficient. Cory launched a student-led initiative, the GSD Zero Waste Project, to address the issues. Learn how Cory used input from students, educators, and custodial staff, combined with solid design principles, to transform the system into one that effectively handles 15 different waste streams and promotes reuse, recycling, and community stewardship of materials.

Thank you to Reworld and The Association of Plastic Recyclers for sponsoring this episode.

The post Episode 55: Designing for Zero Waste: How Space Shapes Behavior first appeared on MassRecycle.

The post Episode 54: The State of Plastics Recycling first appeared on MassRecycle.

The post Episode 53: Putting Our Best Foot Forward: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Shoes first appeared on MassRecycle.

In this episode, we spotlight Cell Phones for Soldiers, a nonprofit that’s been bridging the digital divide for over 20 years. With 10,000 devices collected monthly from unique sources like MBTA lost and founds, funeral homes, and municipalities, they give forgotten phones a second life – connecting veterans and active-duty military members with vital communication tools. Learn how their R2-certified facility safely refurbishes devices, deletes sensitive data, and supports 1,300 veterans with subsidized phones – aiming to reach 30,000 in the coming years. Discover how you can get involved at cellphonesforsoldiers.com or by emailing [email protected]. Reuse, reconnect, and make a difference!

Sponsored by Cell Phones for Soldiers and Reworld.

The post Episode 52: Cell Phones for Soldiers first appeared on MassRecycle.

In this episode of the MassRecycle Podcast, Waneta and Gretchen are joined by MassRecycle Board member and former NEWMOA Executive Director Terri Goldberg and Dave Allaway a senior policy analyst in the Materials Management Program at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Together, they explore the importance of comprehensive, carbon-based emissions inventories—highlighting why we must account for the carbon impact of goods beyond state lines. The conversation emphasizes the need for thorough accounting and actionable solutions, focusing on reducing emissions through smarter purchasing choices and consuming less. This topic coincides with the release of the MassRecycle White Paper, A Call to Action on Materials Management & Climate Change, which will be unveiled at the MassRecycle Conference in March 2025.

The post Episode 51: The Hidden Carbon Cost: How Our Stuff Fuels Climate Change—And What We Can Do About It first appeared on MassRecycle.

In this episode Waneta and Gretchen are joined by John Fischer, Deputy Division Director for Solid Waste Materials Management at MassDEP, and Delia Camacho, a Vice President at AshBritt.  A disaster management plan is something every municipality needs, but is also something that gets pushed to the bottom of the list. Delay no longer: You need a plan.  In this episode you will get guidance, resources, and the jump start you need to put together a plan for your municipality. 

The post Episode 50: Disaster Debris Management first appeared on MassRecycle.

In this episode, Waneta and Gretchen sit down with Mary Ann Remolador, of the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), to discuss her decades of experience in waste reduction and recycling. Mary Ann shares her insights on the evolution of recycling programs across the Northeast and the role of NERC in advancing sustainable materials management. Tune in for a deep dive into the intricacies of recycling with one of the field’s most experienced leaders.

The post Episode 49: An Insider’s View with Mary Ann Remolador first appeared on MassRecycle.

Waneta and Gretchen are joined by Jan Ameen, Executive Director of the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District to discuss her research into what to do with vape devices.  Complicated regulatory issues surround the components of these devices, from controlled substance concerns to battery disposal issues. We usually talk about recycling, but some vape devices have no end point whatsoever. When there is nowhere to put something, it goes into the waste stream and the inherent dangers are put on the waste workers.  What do we do with these devices at the end of life? The answers are not straightforward, but there are some options. Listen and learn more about this complicated, and growing issue.

The post Episode 48: Vaping Device Disposal first appeared on MassRecycle.

Waneta and Gretchen are joined by Gail Sowerder Garron, Regional Planner for MassDEP, and Alison Beucler, Sanitation and Hazardous Material Program Manager for the City of Somerville, to discuss food waste diversion in K-12 schools. Food waste contributes significantly to the overall waste generated by schools. Discover the successes and challenges of existing programs, ranging from administrative initiatives to student-led efforts. There’s no single approach to starting a program, and you will learn from their experiences and access resources for your district.

If you are a volunteer or school employee, reach out to [email protected] for Green SWoRD School Waste Reduction and Diversion resources.

The post Episode 47: Organics Diversion in K-12 Schools first appeared on MassRecycle.

11/16/22 — Boston, Massachusetts Center for Computing & Data Sciences at sundown Nov 16.Photo by Cydney Scott for Boston University Photography

Waneta and Gretchen are joined by Sarah Healey, MassRecycle Board member and Zero Waste Manager at Boston University, to discuss building your Zero Waste goals into your contracts. Sarah has been on both sides of the waste contract, previously working for Casella Waste Systems.  To work toward  90% diversion, BU has implemented Resource Management Contracting, a system that  incentivizes waste reduction over time.  Learn how to build your sustainability goals into your contracts, how to get buy-in from all parties, and look toward the future all in this invaluable episode!

See Sarah’s presentation on Contracting for Zero Waste from the 2024 MassRecycle Conference, and a treasure trove of reference documents here.

The post Episode 46: Contracting for Zero Waste first appeared on MassRecycle.