With state landfill capacity dwindling, MassRecycle conference explores recycling remedies

From WASTEDIVEby Megan Quinn, April 4, 2022 Disposal constraints in Massachusetts are a well-known challenge, and the state’s legislative and municipal efforts to redirect material away from landfills come with their own share of hurdles. Speakers at the MassRecycle conference, held virtually March 31 and April 1, shared examples of what’s…
How Maine is transforming who pays for recycling
Your drawer full of old tech could have a new life — or start a fire.

How to upcycle and recycle your old gadgets and smartphones By Chris Velazco Washington Post, September 28, 2021 (excerpt) If your home is anything like mine, there’s a forlorn drawer somewhere that’s full of old batteries, zip-ties, cables and gadgets you haven’t touched in years. That stuff might look like junk,…
Some say it’s time for companies to reduce excess packaging or pay the price
Oregon enacts US’s second packaging EPR law
by Megan Quinn, Cole Rosengren June 30, 2021 • Updated Aug. 9 2021, Waste Dive Gov. Kate Brown signed SB 582 into law on Friday, making Oregon the second state to pass an extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for packaging. Maine’s governor signed the first EPR law in July. Under the law, most producers will need…
Maine enacts first packaging EPR law in US

By Janelle Nanos, Boston Globe July 19, 2021 After a quarter-century, a Boston-based nonprofit scores big win with nation’s first law making companies pay to recycle the waste they produce. In the 90s, Cassel ran Massachusetts’ recycling and waste management programs, and one day local recycling officials began calling him…
East Bridgewater joins SSRC
Voters unanimously approved East Bridgewater’s membership in the South Shore Recycling Cooperative (SSRC) at the Town’s June 14 Town Meeting. Membership became effective on July 1. Rising costs and shrinking options prompted DPW Director John Haines and Operations Manager Rob Kenn to investigate joining the seventeen-town government organization. After attending…
Packaging EPR hearing next Tuesday
(Action alert 6/15/21) The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture just scheduled its hearing on solid waste bills for Tuesday, 6/22 from 1-5 pm. A good showing by supporters is critical to getting the producer responsibility bills reported out favorably. This alert is primarily about the packaging and paper producer responsibility bill(s) H878/S610 /S517 . EPR bills on…
Pandemic brings more trash to South Shore curbs
Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger 4/22/2021 QUINCY – Every cleaning product, bottle of hand sanitizer and package of masks ordered online for the last 13 months has come with packing material, cardboard boxes and more work for local trash collectors. Since the start of the pandemic, hundreds of tons of additional household waste…