EcoBytes - Volume 1, Issue 4 (September 1999)

Welcome to Volume 1, Issue 4 of EcoBytes, the Center for Ecological Technology's (CET) email newsletter. EcoBytes updates you on CET's activities in solid waste, energy, environmental education and sustainable development. We encourage you to contact us for more information about any of our programs. You can reach us in Pittsfield at cetpitts@aol.com or (413) 445-4556 or in Northampton at cetnoho@aol.com or (413) 586-7350. For mailing list additions and deletions, please send a message to cetpitts@aol.com.

In This Issue:

• Breaking Down Greater Boston's Composting Barriers
• Cleaning Up Our Cleaning Products
• Showing Small Businesses How to Save Money by Saving Energy
• Bringing Industrial Ecology to Berkshire Businesses
• Welcoming CET's New Director of Waste Management Programs
• Coming Next Issue: A Community Conversation about Renewable Resources

Breaking Down Greater Boston's Composting Barriers

CET and its partners are launching a new project to strengthen the infrastructure for commercial food and organics diversion programs in greater Boston (Route 495) and Massachusetts as a whole. During a productive roundtable session, more than 70 members of the organics recycling industry, including waste generators, haulers, processors, end-product users and the financial business community, identified top opportunities and motivating factors, barriers and next steps to growing the organics recycling industry in Massachusetts. CET, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency New England (EPA), the Chelsea Center for Recycling and Economic Development (CCFRED), BioCycle Magazine and WasteCap of Massachusetts will work together to implement many of the recommendations over the next two years. A new report entitled "Strategies to Increase Food Waste Recycling in the Greater Boston Area" (August 1999) summarizes the work to date and recommended next steps. The report is available from DEP. The project is funded by the CCFRED, DEP and EPA. For more information, contact John Majercak in our Northampton office.

Cleaning Up Our Cleaning Products

Did you know that 6 out of every 100 janitors are injured by chemicals every year, costing employers an estimated $450 per reported injury? Choosing safer, less-toxic cleaning products can provide important health benefits, help the environment and often save businesses money. CET is publicizing the EPA's Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) program and distributing educational materials. At a CET workshop in July featuring Lara Sutherland, an environmental analyst from the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance, sixteen participants from ten businesses and organizations discussed their experiences and received suggestions and sample products. For more information about less toxic and non-toxic cleaning products, contact Joy Kirschenbaum in our Pittsfield office.

Showing Small Businesses How To Save Money By Saving Energy

Small and medium-sized businesses served by Berkshire Gas can now call CET's energy auditors for an energy survey of their facilities and learn ways to reduce gas consumption for space and hot water heating. Berkshire Gas will provide up to $150 worth of free water conservation measures and pay 50% of the cost for eligible measures, including insulation, heating system replacements, new thermostats and more. CET has provided energy surveys and conservation programs for Berkshire Gas Company's residential customers for the past seven years and was recently selected to manage its commercial energy program as well. For more information on CET's energy programs, contact Paul Schmidt in our Pittsfield office.

BRinging Industrial Ecology To The Berkshires

Analyzing the way businesses use and dispose of materials can help increase their efficiency, profitability and environmental performance. With a new grant from the Chelsea Center for Recycling and Economic Development, CET will apply these concepts, known as industrial ecology, to businesses in northern Berkshire County. Working with interns from the University of Massachusetts, we will explore opportunities to increase recycling, facilitate exchanges of materials between businesses and create new business enterprises. A diverse advisory board of business and economic development agency representatives will guide our work. If you know of good resources or others involved in this type of work, please contact Laura Dubester in our Pittsfield office.

Welcoming CET's New Director Of Waste Management Programs

Evadne Giannini has joined CET as Director of Waste Management Programs. Ms. Giannini will develop new recycling, reuse and waste reduction programs for the community and manage CET's current initiatives. Evadne (rhymes with Rodney) has over 20 years of public and private recycling and business experience. Most recently she was the Director of the State of Delaware's Green Industries Program. Before her appointment in Delaware, she worked as the Recycling Coordinator and Clean Communities Coordinator for Leonia, New Jersey. Contact Evadne in our Pittsfield office to say hello.

Coming Next Issue:

A Community Conversation about Renewable Resources