Municipal and regional recycling programs are the backbone of sustainable waste management in Massachusetts. Creating and managing a waste diversion program that serves your residents, businesses, and institutions can pose a variety of challenges.The following resources provide guidance for municipal officials working on sustainable solutions for their communities.
The Recycling & Sustainable Materials Management Handbook is broken down into 29 sections covering regulations, data collection, different facets of waste, waste bans, waste diversion programs and how to improve recycling rates. This Handbook has been prepared for Massachusetts-based municipal employees and/or volunteers who work to increase recycling and waste prevention measures, whether they are brand new or very experienced, regardless of whether they represent tiny towns or big cities.
The annual MassRecycle Conference and Trade Show is the biggest of its kind in Massachusetts, hosting around 300 participants and 30 exhibitors. Diverse stakeholders come together to discuss real world solutions to issues around waste management. The conference includes a keynote speaker, panel presentations, roundtable discussions, workshops, and multiple opportunities for networking.
The MassRecycle Podcast discusses hot topics in recycling, reuse, and organics diversion, as well as interviewing people who are doing great and noteworthy things in the field of sustainability in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Product Stewardship Council (MassPSC) is a formal committee of MassRecycle. MassPSC’s mission is to shift the costs of materials management away from municipalities and taxpayers, onto product manufacturers by advocating for product stewardship and extended producer responsibility policies and programs.
MassRecycle Tours offer an immersive journey through a diverse range of facilities that are not normally open to the public. These visits encompass Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), secondary processors, creative reuse centers, waste-to-energy facilities, transfer stations, landfills, and more.The program aims to demystify the processes involved in waste management and foster a deeper understanding of the journey that our materials undertake.
The MassRecycle Newsletter is a bimonthly publication focused on promoting MassRecycle events, resources, and current projects. It also includes news and information about current recycling topics and upcoming events sponsored by member and partner organizations. Sign up today on any MassRecycle webpage.
- Help with accessing state grants to fund your initiatives
- Presentations, webinars, public education, and outreach
- Guidance for contracting with haulers and recyclers in your area
- Recycling center assistance
- Program plans for composting, hazardous waste removal, and community events
RecyclingWorks MA is a statewide recycling assistance program funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and delivered by the CET. The program supports businesses and institutions in maximizing recycling, reuse, and food recovery opportunities. By embracing waste‑reduction strategies, organizations can shrink their environmental footprint, lower operating costs, boost employee morale, and meet growing customer expectations for sustainable, responsible practices. It hosts resources such as guides to contracting with haulers for different waste streams and implementing Resource Management contracts.
RecycleSmart MA is an initiative of MassDEP that aims to educate residents about what can and cannot go in the recycling bin. It also provides information and tools, such as the featured Recyclopedia widget, to help everyone reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, and compost wisely.
GreenSWoRD is an ongoing workgroup of municipalities and volunteers that are invested in school waste reduction and diversion. Members meet virtually four times a year with other municipal officials and volunteers to review topics, share experiences and learn from peers while working on the funding, marketing, implementation and management of school waste reduction programs.
Waste and Recycling Stakeholder and Advisory Committees support specific initiatives and programs within the MassDEP. They are open to anyone who would like to advise on or participate in conversations about current sustainable materials management issues in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Solid Waste Master Plan establishes the Commonwealth’s policy framework for reducing and managing solid waste that is generated, reused, recycled, or disposed of by Massachusetts residents and businesses. The 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan proposes a broad vision and strategies for how Massachusetts will manage waste over the next decade and beyond.
The Massachusetts Waste Bans are regulations meant to keep recyclable and toxic materials out of landfills. They are updated periodically, so municipalities must stay aware of any changes to maintain compliance.
Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Grants are awarded annually and support local recycling, composting/organics, reuse, source reduction, program development, and enforcement activities that increase diversion and reduce disposal.
Data about specific municipalities’ waste and recycling programs, participation, tonnages, and other information can be found on this website.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) is the professional trade association for Massachusetts municipal officials. It brings together local leaders to share information and best practices, develop policy, and work together to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal service delivery. The website provides resources such as publications, databases, and webinars.
The National Recycling Coalition represents and advocates for every sector of the recycling industry across the country, on the local, state and federal levels. They provide members with the tools and resources they need to convey to their community members, decision makers, and news media the important benefits that recycling provides to the economy and environment.
The Recycling Partnership is a nonprofit solving recycling’s toughest challenges by uniting stakeholders. They tackle system challenges that no single company, community, or policymaker can fix alone. By bringing together unmatched insight, the right partners, and practical solutions, they help modernize recycling infrastructure, shape effective policy, and engage the public to build trust in recycling.
Resource Recycling is a great resource for news and events. Their publications, newsletters, and conferences reach the processors, policymakers, and executives who move the sustainable materials management industry forward.
The NH Recycles annual Recycling Conference and Expo is built for people who operate, manage, and support recycling and transfer stations. While tailored to New Hampshire stakeholders, the practical workshops and conversations on topics such as safety and compliance, daily operations, equipment, and market updates are a valuable tool for anyone in municipal waste management.
Held annually in the Washington D.C. area, the Resource Recycling Conference connects over 2,500 attendees and 250 exhibitors to engage in sessions, workshops, and discussions focused on legislation, extended producer responsibility, infrastructure, funding, and cross-sector collaboration. It includes access to the annual Plastics Recycling Conference and Textile Recovery Summit held under the same roof.
Connect 351, the MMA’s annual conference, is the largest regular gathering of municipal officials in Massachusetts. It is a great opportunity for local officials to learn about solutions to problems facing their community and meet people who can assist with resources, ideas, products and services.
The Recycle Smart MA Newsletter takes deep dives into various recycling, reuse, and repair topics. The archive includes advice for seasonal waste challenges, thorough explanations of specific processes and ideas, and event announcements.
RecyclingWorks MA hosts a blog on its website that includes articles, updates, event recaps, and insights about waste reduction, recycling, reuse, and food recovery.
Waste Today Magazine publishes eight issues annually in print and offers a continually updated website and a twice-weekly e-newsletter. Coverage includes collection and transfer, organics, recycling, conversion technologies, waste to energy, landfill management, special and hazardous waste, markets and contracting, mergers and acquisitions, and other aspects of the environmental services industry.
Industry Dive is a leader in business journalism offering daily news, content, and analysis specific to various industries, including sustainable waste management. Subscribe to one or more of their free newsletters to stay on top of current industry topics.
Recycling Today includes a monthly print and digital magazine, a continually updated website, and a suite of informative newsletters providing broad coverage of the sustainable materials management industry. It provides deep insight into commodity markets, legislative and regulatory activity, and technology and equipment trends.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a Waste Reduction Model (WARM) tool that provides high-level comparisons of potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions, energy savings, and economic impacts when considering different materials management practices, such as source reduction, recycling, anaerobic digestion, combustion, composting and landfilling.
NERC offers online courses for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of the recycling and sustainable materials landscape. The organization also hosts a resource library that includes records, reports, templates, and connections to outside resources.
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) also offers a suite of courses in various formats tailored to professionals in the waste and resource management industry. These courses aim to expand the students’ knowledge base and improve productivity, profitability, and efficiency. SWANA also has a hub of resources to support sustainable materials management, particularly on the technical and funding sides. SWANA has a Southern New England Chapter for professionals in Massachusetts.
Keep Massachusetts Beautiful (KMB) offers a Talking Trash & Recycling program that educates residents, employees, and students about what happens to their trash and recyclables in Massachusetts. This is available as a recording or can be presented in-person to your organization or community. Viewers will learn ways to reduce the amount of trash they generate, improve their recycling habits, make small changes to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, and help the state of Massachusetts achieve its solid waste reduction goals.