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 

In MA, bags do not belong in the bin, but there is a system for recycling them.  Gretchen and Waneta learn all about how plastic bags can find a second life as composite lumber during this interview with Stephanie Hicks from Trex.com Wondering if your local grocery store is really collecting for recycling? Tune in- there is a list available to the public!

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.