CET implements and strengthens waste reduction programs for businesses and institutions of all sizes with a proven track record of success. We can assist your business in setting up or improving existing recycling and composting programs.
Wasted Food Solutions
Get Wasted Food Assistance, Visit our Wasted Food Solutions Website Today!
Save money | Make your business more sustainable | Receive free, personalized support
CET is deeply knowledgeable about the marketplace and helps food businesses work across the EPA food recovery hierarchy to identify prevention, recovery, and diversion solutions, seamlessly integrating them into existing operations. CET conducts an on-site or virtual meeting to learn more about a business and its unique needs, then provides a customized report with recommendations, all at no cost to the business or institution.
Learn more or contact us today!
- CET acts as a catalyst to accelerate the development of a vibrant marketplace to divert wasted food from the commercial and institutional sectors.
- We have been a leader in the opens in a new windowwasted food reduction and diversion movement for more than 20 years, implementing some of the first wasted food composting programs in the country, and contributing to effective public policy.
- We believe that better managing wasted food is critical in order to address climate change, feed more hungry people, and grow our economy.
Center for EcoTechnology Tools
These resources were originally developed by the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) under contract to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as part of MassDEP’s RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts program. CET has modified these documents to remove Massachusetts-specific information so that they can be applied region-wide.
- opens in a new windowCOMMUNITY TOOLKIT: Adding Food Waste to a Yard Trimmings Compost Facility
- Existing municipal yard trimming composting sites represent an under-used potential to quickly increase the capacity to effectively process food scraps locally. COMMUNITY TOOLKIT: Adding Food Waste to a Yard Trimmings Compost Facility, published by the Center for EcoTechnology in partnership with BioCycle, will help municipalities determine how to employ this strategy in their community.
- opens in a new windowBans and Beyond: Designing and Implementing Organic Waste Bans and Mandatory Organics Recycling Laws
- The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, with support from the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) has released a toolkit on organic waste bans and their potential to reduce food waste and strengthen local economies.
- opens in a new windowSource Reduction Guidance
- The Source Reduction Guidance document includes information on the source reduction of food waste at institutional foodservice operations. Guidance includes strategies such as waste tracking, meal planning, food purchasing, and dining hall design.
- opens in a new windowSource Separation Guidance
- The Source Separation Guidance document was developed with health officials for health officials. It is intended to provide best practices for acceptable handling, storage, and hauling of this material, and to assist health agents that may be unfamiliar with wasted food separation for composting.
- opens in a new windowFood Donation Guidance
- This document is intended to provide guidance to organizations interested in establishing food donation programs by offering a broad overview of how successful food donation programs should be structured.
- opens in a new windowHauler Contracting Guidanceopens PDF file
- This document provides guidelines for businesses and institutions to help set up contracts for hauling trash, recyclables, and/or organics, effectively manage these services, and adjust contracts.
Additonal Resources for You
RecyclingWorks in MA Tools
These resources were developed by the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) under contract to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as part of MassDEP’s RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts program. Although these documents reference the state of Massachusetts, they are public documents and may be applicable region-wide.
- opens in a new windowFood Waste Estimator Tool
- RecyclingWorks has compiled industry data from published reports and studies, which can be used as guidance for facilities with little to no current wasted food diversion programs in place. Select the industry category that best fits your business or institution to start estimating your wasted food today.
- opens in a new windowHow to Reduce Food Waste
- A resource for businesses and institutions with tips and guidelines to save money, improve labor efficiency, and reduce waste
- opens in a new windowFood Waste Diversion Guide For Restaurantsopens PDF file
- Guidance for starting or expanding a wasted food diversion program at a restaurant, including tips for evaluating current operations, designing the program, staff training, and monitoring and maintaining the program.
Additional Resources for You
- opens in a new windowEPA’s Sustainable Management of Food
- Choose your state or EPA region from the map or search by state to find EPA regional wasted food prevention and diversion efforts.
- opens in a new windowReFED
- This collaboration of businesses, nonprofits, foundations, and government leaders is dedicated to reducing wasted food in the U.S. by 50 percent by 2030. In March 2016, ReFED released the opens in a new windowRoadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Wasteopens PDF file , an economic study of wasted food aimed at providing a feasible guide for action. It features 27 of the most cost-effective ways to reduce wasted food based on societal economic value, business profit potential, and other non-financial impacts.
- ReFED’s opens in a new windowFood Waste Innovator Database maps commercial and nonprofit entities that are working in the food waste innovation sector. The 350+ entities are mapped by geography and solution type.
- opens in a new windowFurther With Food
- Comprehensive information about food loss and waste in the United States and the solutions dedicated to reducing it. This virtual resource center offers a broad spectrum of users – such as businesses, government entities, investors, NGOs, academics, and individuals – a platform to find and share information about proven solutions and innovative new approaches to reduce the volume of surplus food generated, feed hungry people, and divert food and scraps to the highest beneficial use.
- opens in a new windowSave the Food
- The Natural Resources Defense Council has partnered with the Ad Council to develop a host of resources to help communities and individuals address the important issue of wasted food.
- opens in a new windowBioCycle
- BioCycle is a great resource for organics recovery information through its conferences, websites and publications.
- opens in a new windowFeeding America
- Feeding America provides a directory of more than 200 food banks nationally, as well as research and reporting on hunger across the United States.
- Food Rescue US
- Food Rescue US is made up of individuals and nonprofit organizations who provide for food insecure individuals and families.
- opens in a new windowThe Compost Navigator
- This BioCycle tool helps locate composting facilities, anaerobic digestion sites, and organics collection services near you.
- opens in a new windowHarvard Food Law and Policy Clinic
- FLPC has published reports, legal guides, and fact sheets on a variety of topics related to food law and policy. They partnered with CET to develop the first set of fact sheets on donation ( opens in a new windowdate labeling lawsopens PDF file , opens in a new windowliability protectionopens PDF file , opens in a new windowtax incentives for businessesopens PDF file ) for Massachusetts and have since replicated them for many other states. There are also many other great resources in their library.
- opens in a new windowNatural Resources Defense Council
- The NRDC has done comprehensive analysis on the importance of the wasted food issue and has developed many resources to address the problem. The opens in a new windowFood Matters project at NRDC partners with cities to provide technical expertise, best practices, and other tools to help them achieve reductions in wasted food. Resources include a policy and program toolkit, strategic communications and partnership guide, and more.
- Food Waste Policy Gap Analysis and Inventory: MidAtlantic, Southeast, and Great Lakes Regions: These three regional reports were prepared for NRDC by the Center for EcoTechnology, the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, and BioCycle Connect, LLC to provide an overview of existing food waste-related policies and opportunities for furthering food waste reduction in states within each region.
- opens in a new windowFood Waste Reduction Alliance: Best Practices and Emerging Solutions Guideopens PDF file
- This toolkit was developed to help guide companies through the basic steps in wasted food reduction. Included are sections on how to get started, as well as suggestions for identifying a range of solutions.
- FWRA has undertaken assessments of the volume of wasted food being produced by each member sector – manufacturing, retail, and food-service. It has also developed recommended emerging solutions and best practices for food manufacturers, retailers, and food-service operators.
- opens in a new windowSustainable America’s Food Rescue Database
- A directory of organizations across the United States that rescue, glean, transport, prepare, and distribute food to the needy in their communities.
- opens in a new windowAmpleHarvest.org
- A nationwide resource to help reduce wasted food with the goal to reduce hunger and improve the environment. Through opens in a new windowAmpleHarvest.org, gardeners that have excess produce can locate a food pantry near them, find directions to the pantry, as well as the pantry’s day/time for receiving donations.
- opens in a new windowThe National Restaurant Association’s ConServe
- This program provides information to help restaurants reduce wasted food and donate edible food. The website has a opens in a new windowBest Practices section with tips for reducing wasted food; it also has a number of “how to” videos for restauranteurs. The opens in a new windowTools & Solutions section has information on donating food, zero waste, and more.
- opens in a new windowFunding Opportunities for Organics & Compost Related Businesses in the Northeastopens PDF file
- Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) compiled the funding opportunities for organics and compost related businesses from state and federal agencies in the Northeast. These states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The document does not include information regarding possible funding from foundations and other organizations.
- Reducing Food Waste in Manufacturing: Strategies to Prevent, Donate, and Recycle Waste
- Learn about wasted food prevention, donation, and diversion opportunities and get a deeper understanding of anaerobic digestion.
Additional Resources for You
Watch this short video to learn how we approach wasted food marketplace development across the country and visit our Wasted Food Solutions website to learn more.
Massachusetts State Waste Programs
RecyclingWorks and THE GREEN TEAM are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and administered by CET.
opens in a new windowRecyclingWorks in Massachusetts is a recycling assistance program designed to help businesses and institutions maximize recycling, reuse, and composting opportunities.
RecyclingWorks is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and delivered by CET with the following services:
- Direct technical assistance to help you opens in a new windowstart a recycling or composting program.
- A searchable database to opens in a new windowfind local recycling haulers and processors in your area.
- Current information on the opens in a new windowMassachusetts Waste Bans.
- Information about the most common opens in a new window recyclable and compostable materials.
- Information about the importance of opens in a new windowreusing and opens in a new windowbuying recycled materials.
- Best practices on hauler contracting, donating surplus food, reusing office furniture, and more.
- opens in a new windowEvents and workshops for education and networking with other professionals.
Call: (888) 254-5525opens phone dialer Email: info@recyclingworksma.com
opens in a new windowTHE GREEN TEAM is an interactive educational program for K-12 schools and empowers students and teachers to help the environment through waste reduction, recycling, composting, energy conservation, and pollution prevention.
- GREEN TEAM participants receive educational tools, such as a classroom poster, lesson plans, recycling tips and suggested activities.
- Participating classes receive certificates of recognition and are eligible to win awards.
- opens in a new windowREGISTER TODAY!
Call: (888) 254-5525opens phone dialer Email: recycle@thegreenteam.org
Connecticut Waste Assistance
CET has helped many businesses and institutions in Connecticut learn more about food recovery and wasted food diversion opportunities. When it comes to preventing and diverting a wide range of materials from disposal, we can offer no-cost support! We help a range of businesses, from those that are just getting started to those who want to take their existing efforts to the next level.
Whether you’re looking to reduce wasted food, or just your waste in general, we can help.
Call: 888-813-8552create new email | E-mail: wastedfood@cetonline.org
According to ReFED, in 2019 U.S. businesses generated approximately 50 million tons of surplus food – the equivalent of 80 billion meals, representing a $244 billion loss across the food service, retail, manufacturing, and farm sectors. We provide waste reduction solutions for Connecticut businesses!
- Save Money
- Make Your Business More Sustainable
- Receive Free Personalized Support
We provide easy, practical solutions:
- Consult with an expert at no cost to you
- Receive customized recommendations
- Implement solutions with continued free support
Call: 888-410-3827opens phone dialer Email: reducewastect@cetonline.org
These resources were made possible through a contract with CET and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
- opens in a new windowHow to comply with the Connecticut organics recycling law
- The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) provides information on how to comply with the Connecticut commercial organics recycling law
- opens in a new windowThe Connecticut Commercial Organics Recycling Law (Public Act 11-217), in effect as of January 2017, states that commercial food wholesalers or distributors, industrial food manufacturers or processors, supermarkets, resorts, or conference centers that 1) produce 52 or more tons per year (1 ton per week) of organic waste and 2) are located within 20 miles of a permitted recycling facility, must recycle organic material. Compliance options under the law include on-site composting, or installation of permitted on-site organics treatment equipment. The threshold was reduced from 104 tons per year to 52 tons per year on January 1, 2020.
- Public Act (PA) No. 21-16opens PDF file , approved in May 2021, requires that “on and after January 1, 2022, each commercial food wholesaler or distributor, industrial food manufacturer or processor, supermarket, resort or conference center that is located not more than 20 miles from an authorized source separated organic material composting facility and that generates an average projected volume of not less than 26 tons/year of source separated organic materials shall: (A) Separate such source separated organic materials from other solid waste; and (B) ensure that such source separated organic materials are recycled at any authorized source separated organic material composting facility that has available capacity and that will accept such source separated organic material.”
- Helpful fact sheets on food donation laws from the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic
- opens in a new windowLegal Fact Sheet: Date Labeling Lawsopens PDF file
- opens in a new windowLegal Fact Sheet: Liability Protectionopens PDF file
- opens in a new windowLegal Fact Sheet: Tax Incentives for Businessesopens PDF file
- opens in a new windowLegal Fact Sheet: Feeding Food Scraps to Animalsopens PDF file
- opens in a new windowBill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Actopens PDF file
- The Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (Public Law 104-210) protects donors from liability when donating to nonprofit organizations and protects donors from civil and criminal liability should the product, donated in good faith, later cause harm to the needy recipient.
- opens in a new windowWasted food reduction and recovery in Connecticut
- Connecticut DEEP’s resources on how to recover food and reduce wasted food.
- opens in a new windowMap of Food Waste in Connecticut
- Connecticut DEEP’s map for identifying, quantifying, and mapping wasted food from Connecticut businesses and institutions.
- opens in a new windowComposting and Anaerobic Digestion Facilities in Connecticut
- Connecticut DEEP’s website includes facilities that accept certain types of wasted food.
- opens in a new windowConnecticut Food Donation Made Easyopens PDF file
- This food rescue guidance document is part of a series aimed at helping commercial food service providers – e.g., restaurants, hotels, corporate cafeterias, and schools – reduce the volume of organic waste they send to landfills.
- opens in a new windowFood Donation by Connecticut Schools Guidelines and Resources
- CET, in collaboration with Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Department of Public Health, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, and others, developed a guidance document for Connecticut schools on opportunities to donate food internally through share tables as well as externally to food banks and charitable organizations. The document consolidates federal and state regulations, including information on liability protection, health codes, and more.
- opens in a new windowFood Scraps Diversion Guide for West Hartford Public Schoolsopens PDF file
- CET provides guidance on how to implement a district-wide food scraps diversion program.
- opens in a new windowHow to donate food to the Connecticut Food Bank
- The Connecticut Food Bank provides guidance on how to donate food (in Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham counties).
- opens in a new windowHow to donate food to Connecticut Foodshare
- Connecticut Foodshare provides both pick-up and drop-off services for food donation (Hartford and Tolland counties).
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Connecticut wastes too much food, but help is on the way– News 8
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Connecticut using fed funds for projects to curb food waste– New Haven Register
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Grants aim to reduce food waste– Journal Inquirer
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Middlebrook School focuses on food donations in cafeteria– The Hour
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Zero Waste Connecticut Schools Coalition Forming– Patch News
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First Zero Waste meeting draws 50– Wilton Bulletin
New York Waste Assistance
Rethink Food Waste NY provides food waste solutions for New York businesses, municipalities, organic recyclers, food relief organizations, and others. We offer no-cost consultations with food waste experts, customized recommendations for your organization, and continued free support through the implementation process.
Whether you’re looking to reduce wasted food, or just your waste in general, we can help.
Call: 866-306-0911opens phone dialer | E-mail: ReduceWasteNY@cetonline.org
According to ReFED, in 2019 U.S. businesses generated approximately 50 million tons of surplus food – the equivalent of 80 billion meals, representing a $244 billion loss across the food service, retail, manufacturing, and farm sectors. We provide waste reduction solutions for New Y0rk businesses!
- Save Money
- Make Your Business More Sustainable
- Receive Free Personalized Support
We provide easy, practical solutions:
- Consult with an expert at no cost to you
- Receive customized recommendations
- Implement solutions with continued free support
Call: 866-306-0911opens phone dialer Email: RethinkFoodWasteNY@cetonline.org.
These resources were made possible through a contract with CET and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- Effective January 1, 2022, New York will enforce the opens in a new windowFood Donation and Food Scrap Recycling Law. This law requires businesses that generate at least 2 tons of food waste per week and are within 25 miles of an organics recycling facility, such as a compost site, anaerobic digester facility, or animal feed operation, to recycle organic material. This law also instructs all designated food scraps generators to donate surplus edible food for human consumption to the extent possible. Healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, and elementary and secondary schools are excluded from the requirements of the law. Beginning in March 2023, generators are required to submit an annual report that includes the amount of food donated and recycled, as well as the organics recyclers and transporters used. Designated food scraps generators may apply for a temporary waiver from these requirements if they can demonstrate undue hardship.
- The New York City Commercial Organics Recycling Mandate ( opens in a new windowLocal Law 146) states that as of July 1, 2015, specific large-scale generators are mandated to arrange recycling or to employ department-approved methods to process the materials themselves. NYC’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling is responsible for enforcing the law. The opens in a new windowCommercial Organic Recycling Mandate, created by opens in a new windowThe Institute for Local Self-Reliance, outlines those organic waste generators that are required to comply. In early 2018, New York City Department of Sanitation adopted and published the opens in a new windowfinal rule related to expansion of the commercial organics recycling mandate which will take effect in August 2018.
- opens in a new windowBenefit-Cost Analysis of Potential Food Waste Diversion Legislation Reportopens PDF file
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a report analyzing the potential benefits of requiring facilities that are generating at least two tons of food waste per week, and located outside of New York City and within 50 miles of a food waste management facility, to donate their edible food or send food scraps to organic processing facilities. The report depicts an anticipated benefit of up to $22 million annually and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
- opens in a new windowNew York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling (NYSAR3)
- This state-wide organization includes an Organics Council with five working groups focused on keeping food scraps and yard waste out of landfills. The council includes working groups focused on education and events, end products and marketing, food recovery, infrastructure development and support, and legislation.
- opens in a new windowMap of New York State compost facilities
- Map from the Cornell Waste Management Institute of compost facilities, compost education and demonstration sites, and transfer stations diverting organics to centralized facilities.
- opens in a new windowNRDC Food Waste Reports
- Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) released reports and case studies that model food waste trends in New York City, Nashville, and Denver. opens in a new windowEstimating Quantities of Food Waste at the City Levelopens PDF file , depicts the quantity and type of food occurring in the cities, while opens in a new windowModeling the Potential to Increase Food Rescueopens PDF file , outlines opportunities for surplus food.
- Helpful fact sheets on food donation laws from the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic
- opens in a new windowLegal Fact Sheet: Date Labeling Lawsopens PDF file
- opens in a new windowLegal Fact Sheet: Liability Protectionopens PDF file
- opens in a new windowLegal Fact Sheet: Tax Incentives for Businessesopens PDF file
- opens in a new windowLegal Fact Sheet: Feeding Food Scraps to Animalsopens PDF file
- opens in a new windowBill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Actopens PDF file
- The Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (Public Law 104-210) protects donors from liability when donating to nonprofit organizations and protects donors from civil and criminal liability should the product, donated in good faith, later cause harm to the needy recipient.
- opens in a new windowArticle 4-D Liability for Canned, Perishable Food or Farm Products Distributed Free of Charge
- In addition to the Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, New York State’s Article 4-D provides additional liability protection to donors of food.
- Commissioner Seggos and Feeding New York State Announce One-Million-Pound Milestone in Ongoing Food Waste and Donation Initiative– New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- 2021 Year-In-Review: Food Waste– Natural Resources Defense Council
- Orange County partners with Center for Ecotechnology to reduce food waste– Warwick Advertiser
EcoBuilding Bargains, Visit Our Website to Shop Online
The largest used building materials store in New England, offering incredible deals on reused and surplus materials! EcoBuilding Bargains is an enterprise of the Center for EcoTechnology and makes a huge environmental impact by diverting 400 tons of useful materials from landfills each year.
DONATE: Schedule a free pick up of your items to donate
opens in a new windowSHOP: Find unique salvaged items at great prices, shipped right to your door!
Call: (413) 788-6900opens phone dialer Email: ecobuildingbargains@cetonline.org
Recycling Fluorescent Lamps & Mercury Products
Fluorescent bulbs are energy efficient, using one-quarter of the energy to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb, but they also contain mercury and should be handled and recycled safely. In Massachusetts, all fluorescent bulbs are required to be recycled by law. Other common mercury-containing devices include older thermostats, thermometers, and barometers.
We can help you safely dispose of your fluorescent bulbs and other mercury-containing products!
- The MassDEP has a statewide listing of locations to safely recycle these products
- For more information about the effects of mercury, safe alternatives and procedures for spills, see our handout Mercury in the Environmentopens PDF file (pdf) or this MassDEP page.
- The Thermostat Recycling Corporation offers free mercury-containing thermostat recycling, reporting, and compliance assistance.
- The Center for EcoTechnology has been helping businesses, institutions and municipalities cost-effectively find proper lamp recycling options for almost a decade. We are available to help your business effectively manage these materials through support from Covanta Energy. Please contact us for assistance.
Call: (413) 586-7350 opens phone dialer Email: cet@cetonline.org
Watch how these businesses benefitted from CET’s help to reduce waste:
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University of Massachusetts, Amherst
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Wilton School District | Wasted Food Solutions
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RecyclingWorks MA Case Study | Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel
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Food Donation | Recycling Works MA
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Gardner Ale House Case Study | Restaurant Food Waste Diversion
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Sheraton at Bradley International Airport
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Lenox Hotel Case Study | Commercial Organics Waste Disposal Ban
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RecyclingWorks MA | ECOS | A Success Story: The Massachusetts Commercial Organics Ban
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Recycling Works MA Case Study | America's Food Basket
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MassArt | RecyclingWorks MA Case Study | Colleges & Universities
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RecyclingWorks MA | Deerfield Academy Case Study
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Center for EcoTechnology Helps Local Business Save Thousands on Energy Costs
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RecyclingWorks MA | Kitchen Source Separation Best Management Practices | UMass Amherst
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RecyclingWorks MA Case Study | Food Recovery Across the Hierarchy | UMass Amherst
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RecyclingWorks MA Case Study | Wayland House | Deconstruction and Reuse of Building Materials
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RecyclingWorks MA Case Study | The Columns | Recycling C&D Materials
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Lenox, Massachusetts | RecyclingWorks MA | MA Commercial Organics Waste Ban
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RecyclingWorks MA Case Study | Boston Public Market