MassRecycle Podcast

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).

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.org

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. 

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.

This week Leni Fried joins Waneta and Gretchen to talk about the creative projects piloted by the Old Stone Mill Zero Waste Maker Space.  Leni and her partner, Mike Augspurger, founded the Old Stone Mill as a community space for creative reuse, to divert materials from the waste stream, and make repair projects accessible.  Leni talks about their partnerships with local businesses to divert waste through upcycling, creative reuse, and connecting materials that would be discarded with people that have use for them.  These projects are just the tip of the Zero Waste Maker Space iceberg; find out about all their good work in this episode.

This episode is what we all need right now: reasons for hope from the world of solid waste, and also some commiserating with your fellow materials management professionals.  MassRecycle board members join Waneta and Gretchen to share their pet peeves, serious concerns, and reasons to be hopeful about the future of solid waste.  Have you been feeling the need to see that proverbial silver lining?  Would you rather have a little commiseration?  Do you want some insight into the world of materials that just “go away”?  Listen now and get the behind the scenes view, and maybe a little sympathy.

This week Audrey Ng and Mike Orr join Waneta and Gretchen to explore sidewalk exchange, and the growing movement of community “Freedges”, around Boston. Audrey is the Water and Sustainability Project Manager for the Boston Public Schools District and organizer with the South End Community Fridge. Mike is the Recycling Director for the City of Cambridge.  They discuss neighborhood sidewalk exchange as a viable method to divert durable goods from the waste stream, and direct them into the hands of people that can use them.  Community “Freedges” are a form of mutual aid increasing in popularity around the country.  Sidewalk-based refrigerators allow food sharing within a community, and remove barriers between those giving and those receiving.  Listen to this great episode and learn more!  Community fridges, and the volunteers that run them, can be found at Boston Eater's Community Fridges page.

In light of the upcoming 2022 mattress waste ban, Waneta and Gretchen interview MassRecycle member organizations UTEC, HandUp and Green Mattress about their mattress recycling programs.  Waneta also discusses the role of Extended Producer Responsibility in this issue, and the potential for new legislation. 

In this Valentine's Day special episode, Gretchen and Waneta, with the help of Board member Rob Gogan, interview three couples who found each other while following their passion for waste diversion.

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.org

Gretchen and Waneta talk with Dona Neely of The Great Exchange in Devens, Mass about their amazing reuse program there. Business clean outs and manufacturing extras turn into resources for non-profits, schools, teachers, and daycares. 

Gretchen and Waneta talk with Paul Franceschi of the Boston Area Gleaners about gleaning: the harvesting of surplus farm crops to preventing waste and expand local food access. Paul talks about their work and how they were able to help when the world needed it most in 2020. 

Learn about existing programs and new ways to help make colleges and universities become more sustainable.  Gretchen and Waneta talk with Alex Freid, founder of the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN),  In 2013 Alex and his fellow college students witnessed a systemic waste problem on their campus and developed the first student-led, financially self-sustaining Zero Waste move-out program of its kind. Other campuses wanted to replicate the program and from there, PLAN was born. Years later, out of PLAN, the ATLAS Zero Waste plan was created. Hear from Williams College student fellows Rika Nakato and Lauren Lynch as they discuss the ongoing ATLAS pilot. 

Gretchen and Waneta learn all about the stormwater system and its many intersections of waste management from MassDEP pro Laura Schifman. More info here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stormwater

Gretchen and Waneta interview Graeme Durovich, Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator on the Island of Nantucket about the specific challenges of creating waste on an island. They cover special rules, litter issues, seasonal changes, and other topics that make Nantucket a unique waste environment.  Nantucket-ma.gov/242/solid-waste-recycling 

Gretchen and Waneta are joined by Reagan Bissonnette of the NRRA (Northeast Resource Recovery Association) to talk about the effect of Covid 19 on recyclable material, the recycling industry, and the commodities markets.  

Gretchen and Waneta interview Khrysti Smyth Barry from the Center for EcoTechnology about their many free resources available to businesses and property managers.  Learn about opportunities for guidance and helpful tools to recycle more, lower food waste, save energy, and conserve water on this podcast and at www.RecyclingWorksMA.com 

Recently the media has pointed out the connection between Big Oil and recycling, leaving you to believe that recycling is a scam. Guest speakers from Preserve, Rehrig Pacific, and GreenLabs Recycling explain how the industry has come a long way since then.

Gretchen and Waneta get into the weeds with Patti Howard from Covanta, discussing unusual opportunities for reuse and diversion as well as things that really shouldn't go to a waste-to-energy facility.

Gretchen and Waneta talk to former Board Member, Phil Goddard about community relations from a municipal perspective.

Gretchen and Waneta talk with Board member Deb Darby about compostable dishware, the real meaning of the term "biodegradable", and the most sustainable way to run a Zero Waste event while avoiding greenwashing. Learn more from Biodegradable Products Institute.

Gretchen and Waneta discuss recent changes for recycling in Massachusetts: what doesn't go in, and what no longer goes in, and why.  The conversation is based on www.RecycleSmartMA.org, the statewide guidelines for recycling in MA. 

Gretchen and Waneta invite MassDEP's Ann McGovern back to talk all about home composting.

Gretchen and Waneta talk about the many food waste systems: how they work, where it goes, what it becomes, and how to successfully set up a system that works for you (and your organization).

Katherine Butler from the Center for EcoTechnology joins Waneta and Gretchen to talk about the coolest new opportunity for reusing and buying salvaged building materials. https://ecobuildingbargains.org/

Gretchen and Waneta do a deep dive on MassRecycle: the Board, the focus, and recent changes, as well as new offerings and opportunities for members.

An in-depth interview with MassDEP's Ann McGovern about the Green Team and recycling in K-12 schools: resources, curricula, and success stories. Check it out at https://thegreenteam.org/

Gretchen and Waneta interview Ariela Lovett from the Massachusetts Municipal Association and discuss recycling, trash, and extended producer responsibility.

In August of 2018, MassDEP worked with Massachusetts'recycling facilities to create a state-wide streamlined recycling message. Gretchen and Waneta discuss the roll-out and ways to encourage further adoption.

Gretchen and Waneta do a deep dive on plastics: what they are, what they get used for, and where they are going. Also, why replacing them may not be as simple as it sounds.

Gretchen and Waneta interview Keep Massachusetts Beautiful's Executive Director Neil Rhein about the small but mighty volunteer army keeping public spaces beautiful in MA. Steps to run a successful clean-up day of your own, and the role the state plays in controlling litter.

Gretchen and Waneta interview Michael Orr, Recycling Director of the City of Cambridge, who spearheaded the effort to launch a citywide organics pickup program after 4 years of pilots.

We discuss the difficulties of processing glass in the single stream systems, and Mike Durfor, Executive Director of the NRRA (Northeast Resource Recovery Association www.NRRA.net) gives us insight on alternatives for the beneficial use of glass.

Gretchen and Waneta give an in-depth look at how the recycling industry evolved over the decades, leading us to the current crisis.

An interview with Claire Galkowski, the Director of the South Shore Recycling Cooperative, and Former Executive Director Edward Hsieh from MassRecycle. We cover the history of recycling advocacy in MA, and a primer on how to change recycling laws in MA. More information at www.ssrcoop.info.

A look at the 2018 global recycling crisis, caused by the movement known as the China National Sword, and how its impacts have been felt by municipal and commercial stakeholders alike in MA.