Recycling/Composting

Recycling and composting at your business

Waste reduction activities like recycling and composting can help save money, decrease environmental impact, keep your business in regulatory compliance, improve employee job satisfaction, and respond to customer demands for sustainable practices and products. CET has implemented and strengthened waste reduction programs for businesses and institutions of all sizes across Massachusetts with a proven track record of success. We can assist your business in setting up or improving existing recycling and composting programs. For more information, download our Composting Toolkit – Restaurants and Schools. 

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts

The Center for EcoTechnology has partnered with MassDEP to bring you RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts, a recycling assistance program designed to help businesses and institutions maximize recycling, reuse, and composting opportunities.

RecyclingWorks services include:

• Direct technical assistance by phone or email to help you start a recycling or composting program.
• A searchable database to find local recycling haulers and processors in your area.
• Current information on the Massachusetts Waste Bans.
• Information about the most common recyclable and compostable materials.
• Information about the importance of reusing and buying recycled materials.
• Events and workshops for education and to connect with others in your community

If you have any questions or need direct assistance for your recycling program, call our Recycling Hotline (888) 254-5525 or info@RecyclingWorksMA.com — our Waste Experts are available to help you.

Understanding the State Waste Bans: Waste Bans and your Business

In an effort to reduce the volume and toxicity of trash disposed of in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has implemented waste bans on certain hazardous, recyclable, and compostable materials. The restrictions (or bans) on disposal began in 1990, and material types have been added over time to eliminate the most prevalent materials in the waste stream for which there are viable alternatives to disposal.

Current Waste Ban Materials include:

• Recyclable Paper and Cardboard (link to info on these areas)
• Glass/Aluminum/Metal/Plastic Containers
• Leaf and Yard Waste
• Cathode Ray Tubes (TV’s and Computer Monitors)
• White Goods (Major Appliances)
• Asphalt Pavement, Brick, Concrete, Wood, Metal and Clean Gypsum Wallboard – often referred to as Construction/Demolition Materials (C&D)
• Tires
• Lead Acid Batteries
• COMING SOON – Food waste (projected for 7-1-2014)

These bans apply to municipal, commercial and industrial waste loads disposed of, contracted for disposal, or transferred for disposal through Massachusetts facilities. The haulers and generators of these materials are responsible for ensuring that the banned materials do not end up in the waste loads. If banned materials end up in a load of trash, “failed loads” may occur at a disposal site.