The State of Recycling in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has limited and diminishing disposal capacity and therefore it is critical that we remove as much recyclable material from the waste stream as possible.
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The MA Department of Environmental Protection has taken some important steps such was implementing waste bans on organics and other materials, including plastic bottles. To learn more about their long-term plans, please review their Solid Waste Master Plan.
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In 2024, Resource Recycling ranked Massachusetts with the 3rd highest rate among all 50 at 48% - RR January 2024
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The Massachusetts Recycling Challenge
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In 2012, MassBev established this program to demonstrate our commitment to the Commonwealth. The program was designed to help communities understand best practices in municipal recycling, to fund public space infrastructure and to promote awareness and encourage more recycling. Below please find some of the highlights.
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Four workshops in central and southeastern Massachusetts to provide technical assistance along with practical examples of PAYT systems in place. Representatives of more than 50 cities and towns participated in one or more of these sessions.
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MRC’s consultant, DSM Environmental, provided direct support to more than a dozen communities related to PAYT and other efforts to enhance diversion and increase recycling.
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MRC has provided on-the-ground consulting expertise through DSM Environmental Services to work with communities to assess public space recycling needs and opportunities, select the right equipment and locations, and develop plans for installing and servicing the equipment. MRC provides funding for the consulting support and the purchase price of the bins.​
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MRC completed bin projects in Salem, Worcester, Quincy, Gardner, Taunton, Dracut, Dedham, Swansea, Marion, Lowell, Brockton, Wakefield and Cambridge (MBTA Red Line stations Alewife, Davis, Porter, Harvard, Central and Kendall) and contributed nearly $250,000 for infrastructure (bins) and digital advertising.
TAKE CARE CAPE COD
Working in partnership CARE for the Cape and Islands and Cape Cod Anti-Litter Coalition, we collaborated on the development of some great artwork focused specifically on recycling bottles and cans. This artwork is the foundation of the campaign and we hope to continue strengthening this brand through a variety of efforts.
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MRC and the ABA partnered on a digital awareness campaign that targeted visitors and local business owners on the Cape during the summer for 2021 and 2022. The primary objective was to generate awareness and email signups at the CARE website with a secondary goal of generating downloads, additional engagement and increased followers on the Take Care Cape Cod Facebook and Instagram accounts.
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Combined, these messages resulted in over 16 million impressions and 2.75 million unique viewers, with each ad seen an average of 5.8 times by each unique viewer.
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In 2023 we took more of a “boots on the ground” approach and partnered with Chatham Anglers, which is 1 of 10 teams in the Cape Cod baseball League. Now, 6 of the teams are working with CARE to promote recycling at their games and we see this being adopted as ab bets practice by all teams soon. Our volunteers promote awareness by engaging with fans and encouraging them to recycle their bottles and cans while making sure they kept the ballpark free of litter. Look for us, or better yet, join us as a volunteer this summer!
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Lower Cape TV produced a nice piece, which can be viewed using the following link: https://vimeo.com/848833021
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Our segment with Boston25 News aired on Friday, July 28, 2023, click the link below to check it out:
EVERY BOTTLE BACK
The American Beverage Association launched this initiative in 2019 to reduce the industry's use of new plastic by making significant investments to improve the collection of their 100% recyclable plastic bottles. The World Wildlife Fund (WEWF) is providing strategic scientific advice to help measure industry's progress and The Recycling Partnership and Close Loop Partners assist in deploying the funds on worthwhile projects.
The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo have committed $100M to improve recycling infrastructure, access and education in communities across the country where we can have the greatest impact. To learn more, please visit EveryBottleBack.org.
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The towns of Arlington, Danvers, Falmouth, Longmeadow, Methuen, Shrewsbury and South Hadley have all partnered with the ABA to improve local infrastructure and access to recycling.