MassRecycle Podcast

The Boston University   “Goodwill, Not Landfill”  team faced a recurring challenge after student move‑out: thousands of pounds of good-quality bedding left behind that Goodwill couldn’t accept due to sanitary concerns. Also, sending high‑quality materials straight to recycling felt like a missed opportunity. In response, Maria Gorret Nampiima, a graduate student in the BU School of Theology’s Fait...

Do you suffer from “Extreme Litter Awareness”? Neil Rhein does, and he has turned that constant noticing into a statewide mission. As the founder and executive director of  Keep Massachusetts Beautiful (KMB) , Neil joins Gretchen and Waneta to talk about the litter he cannot help but see in public spaces across the Commonwealth and how KMB is working to address it. Through town‑wide cleanups and y...

Want a bird’s‑eye view of how far recycling has come in the last 30 years, and where it’s headed next? In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta chat with Brian Taylor, senior editor at  Recycling Today  Media Group. Brian shares how recycling trends have changed since he entered the industry in 1997 and how Recycling Today has grown and diversified its offerings in response. There’s plenty of good new...

Source: Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta talk with Anthony Novelli, executive director of the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, about what it takes to operate a modern landfill. From the initial design, to the construction of the liner, to the choices of materials used for daily and intermediate cover, each decision...

What if spaces were intentionally designed to optimize waste diversion and zero waste practices? In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta talk with Cory Page, landscape designer and alum of the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). As a student at GSD, Cory noticed that the setup of the waste and recycling system in the main school building was inadequate. Materials such as foam board and aerosol c...

Few recyclable materials generate as much skepticism as plastics. In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta welcome Steve Alexander, president and CEO of the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) , to paint a clear picture of the current state of plastics recycling. The US recycles 5-7 million pounds of plastic annually, but where does that plastic come from, and what happens to it after it’s r...

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...

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-...

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...

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, resour...

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...

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. W...

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...

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, previo...

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 m...

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...

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 environ...

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? Cur...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 plastic...

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. ...

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? A...

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 th...