Shoes are not just an item of clothing; they are our main form of transportation. In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta welcome Dr. Yuly Fuentes, Project Manager for Fiber Technologies at MIT and Program Director of the MIT Climate Project, to talk about shoes and sustainability. Did you know that over 23 billion pairs of shoes are produced annually across the globe? Or that Massachusetts has long been a nexus for the global shoe industry?  Dr. Fuentes takes us through her work addressing the sustainability issues caused by shoe manufacture and disposal. Her initiatives include The Footwear Collective, a group of leading footwear brands that collaborates to develop circular solutions for the footwear industry, and DESCIENCE, a collaboration between fashion designers and scientists. Listen to learn more about how Dr. Fuentes is working to reduce the environmental footprint of the global shoe industry. Thank you to Reworld and Cell Phones for Soldiers for sponsoring this episode.  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 Rob@cellphonesforsoldiers.com. 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 gail.garron@mass.gov 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.

Waneta and Gretchen answer the perennial question “Why can’t I recycle this?”.  Recycling is a commodity, and not only does it need to be collected and sorted, someone needs to want to buy it.  To understand what is recyclable and what is not, it is important to understand the system: Who has access to recycling? How are those items sorted? How much of it is collected? What materials have an end market where they are given a second life as a new product?  If you have been wondering what happens to your recycling, or you want to answer your friends’ questions about why you bother, this is the episode for you!The post Episode 45: Why Can’t I Recycle This? first appeared on MassRecycle.

Waneta and Gretchen are joined by Jessica Camarena, City of New Bedford Recycling Coordinator, and Rosanna Deldosario, City of Lawrence Recycling Coordinator, to discuss their work to make recycling more accessible to residents. Both of their positions extend past recycling into waste reduction, education, and outreach. Establishing school programming, informing landlords, and providing materials in multiple languages are just some of the strategies that have contributed to outstanding advances toward sustainability in these two communities. All of this and more in this episode of the MassRecycle Podcast.The post Episode 44: Recycling Programming in Multilingual Communities first appeared on MassRecycle.

Embark on a revealing journey as Gretchen, Waneta, and Andrew Brousseau of Black Earth Compost delve into PFAS.  Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances, or PFAS, is a group of human-made chemicals found in countless everyday items that has permeated our daily lives for decades. Learn about the sources of PFAS, the challenges this group of substances presents to waste disposal, and the broader environmental impacts. Stay tuned for insights into recent advances in regulating PFAS in compostables, including the success story of Black Earth Compost. Get informed, stay engaged, and discover how positive changes are reshaping our relationship with this pervasive substance. The post Episode 43: Unveiling the Invisible: PFAS and Compost first appeared on MassRecycle.

Woodbridge Project Team at Rockland Psychiatric Center demolition. Future Data Center. Photo Credit: STO Building Group   Join Waneta and Gretchen as they delve into deconstruction and mercury with Mike Orbank from STO Building Group and Danielle Myers of the Thermostat Recycling Corporation. Ever wondered about the environmental impact of construction waste? Embodied carbon vs emissions? Curious about how we can make a difference through strategic choices? Explore the paradigm shift from traditional demolition to the meticulous art of deconstruction. Tune in to discover the power of careful planning, material separation, the ingenious reclamation of off cuts, and how planning can keep mercury out of landfills.  Thank you to Covanta for sponsoring this episode and for their work with Thermostat Recycling Corporation. The post Episode 42: Demolition vs. Deconstruction: Careful Practices for a Sustainable Future first appeared on MassRecycle.

Recycling legend Johnny Gold joins Waneta and Gretchen to talk paper recycling – where it all began and how we got here.  Have you ever wondered how paper drives earn money? How did paper recycling start?  What happens to the paper you throw in your bin?  There is an entire industry behind that paper in your bin and how it becomes that hardcover book or that brown paper towel.  Find out how it all works and what you can do to help make paper out of paper on this episode of the MassRecycle podcast. Thank you to Good Point Recycling for sponsoring this episode! Good Point Recycling is a nationally-recognized electronics recycling company and a respected expert in Fair Trade Recycling.The post Episode 41: Make Paper out of Paper: Johnny Gold first appeared on MassRecycle.

In this episode, Waneta and Gretchen are joined by four experts who have dedicated their careers to reducing waste and promoting sustainability on college campuses. Laurie Simmons of UMass Amherst, Sue Higgins of Northeastern University, Sarah Healey of Boston University, and Rob Gogan, retired from Harvard, share their insights on waste reduction, recycling, and creative reuse programs.  Join us as we explore the innovative programs and initiatives that are creating a culture of environmental responsibility that is making a difference on college campuses in Massachusetts.The post Episode 40: Sustainability on Campus: 2023 Edition first appeared on MassRecycle.

In 2018, China National Sword cut off imports of foreign recyclables and brought recycling in the US to a screeching halt.  In Massachusetts, MassDEP created RecycleSmart: the one stop resource to turn the Wild Wild West of recycling collections into material streams that could be processed domestically.   Janice Paré, Municipal Recycling Analyst at MassDEP, talks with Waneta and Gretchen about the endless resource that is RecycleSmart and its Recyclopedia.  Is your recycling actually being recycled? Yes, you can even see where it goes by zip code!  What gets in the way of recycling, and what poses a danger to the people that hand-sort your recycling?  All of this and more, in this episode of the MassRecycle podcast.The post Episode 39: The Recycling Miracle: MassDEP’s RecycleSmart first appeared on MassRecycle.

Pull up a chair and join Gretchen and Waneta in conversation with Terri Goldberg.  Terri has had an extensive career in recycling, solid waste, and pollution prevention.  She is retiring from her role as Executive Director of the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEMOWA).  Join us for this unique opportunity to venture into her decades of knowledge.   Misinformation about plastics: how did we get here?  Eco anxiety.  Obstacles to recycling progress.  PFAS, toxics, and their role in circularity.  We talk about it all, in this episode.The post Episode 38: An Insider’s View of Recycling, Solid Waste, and Pollution Prevention. first appeared on MassRecycle.

Lithium batteries are exploding in popularity, and literally exploding. Gretchen and Waneta welcome Stan Walczak, Rob Gogan, and Dave Ditata, to discuss the dangers of batteries in the waste stream. Stan Walczak is Facility Manager of ReSource Waste Services, Rob Gogan is retired Recycling and Waste Services Manager for Harvard University, and Dave Ditata is Fuel Superintendent at SEMASS Covanta. Each share their unique experience with these incendiary devices in the waste world. Lithium ion batteries can erupt and burn violently if punctured. This is incredibly dangerous for anyone in the waste industry. Despite the dramatic hazard that rechargeable batteries pose, proper collection is not widely available. Listen for some shocking stories about what happens when lithium batteries enter the waste stream, the role that Extended Producer Responsibility legislation can play, and why it is just as important to recycle alkaline batteries (hint, recyclable and toxic metals that are mined in horrific conditions around the world). The post Episode 37: Lithium Batteries: Blowing Up! first appeared on MassRecycle.

Gretchen and Waneta talk with Kelley Dennings of the Center for Biological Diversity about simplifying the holidays and reducing waste. They discuss top holiday waste generators, alternative gift ideas, hosting and decorating, the role of public policy, and the perceived barriers to celebrating with fewer material items. Should you buy a fake or real Christmas tree? Is wrapping paper recyclable? All this and more, in this lively conversation. Find Kelley Dennings at kdennings@biologicaldiversity.org Great ideas, tools, and information can be found at https://simplifytheholidays.orgThe post Episode 36: Simplify the Holidays & Reduce Waste – a Re-Release for 2022 first appeared on MassRecycle.

The MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans are quickly approaching, and MassRecycle has resources for you. In this episode, Waneta and Gretchen interview four textile vendors that take used items and recycle, upcycle, repurpose, or divert them for reuse. Epilepsy Foundation New England, Helpsy, Baystate Textiles, and CMRK, Inc each have a unique operating model that allows them to divert materials from the waste stream while giving back to the communities they serve.  The post Episode 35: Textile Recycling first appeared on MassRecycle.

Robin Ingethron and Aaron Mintzes join Waneta and Gretchen to discuss the Mining Act of 1872.  This historic push to populate the West with white settlers continues to subsidize extraction and while making it nearly impossible to legally limit mining.  Robin Ingethron is CEO of Good Point Recycling and founder of Fair Trade Recycling. Aaron Mintzes Senior Policy Counsel at Earthworks. Both work to educate the public and reform policy that harms people and the environment.  Recycling is in direct opposition to mining; reuse of materials rather than extraction of virgin materials. Yet, misinformation has convinced many that recycling is not a viable source for materials.  This needs to change. Get ready to be outraged.  The post Episode 34: The Mining Act of 1872: still enforced and even worse than you think first appeared on MassRecycle.