About MassRecycle

What is MassRecycle?

MassRecycle, founded in 1989, was organized in response to a need for statewide advocacy to establish recycling programs. Its founders and early members recognized that widespread recycling would help to conserve natural resources, energy, landfill space and open space. More recently, recycling has been recognized as an essential component of any comprehensive strategy to reduce greenhouse emissions. The economic benefits of recycling have become evident by the over 19,000 recycling jobs and the estimated $600 million that recycling contributes to the Massachusetts economy.

MassRecycle is a statewide coalition of individuals, governments, businesses, institutions and non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting and realizing the vital environmental, social and economic benefits created by reducing, reusing, and recycling waste materials, and by increasing the utilization of recycled products. Our members include recycling coordinators in all 351 municipalities in Massachusetts, individual residents, non-profits serving western Massachusetts to the Boston area, and businesses across the state.

MassRecycle plays an important role in the Commonwealth’s recycling activities by:

• Providing educational and networking services to the diverse members of the recycling community. At the moment, municipal officials are the group most involved in these activities, including the regional Municipal Recycling Councils and trainings.
• Assisting MassDEP in communicating with municipal waste and recycling officials by providing the necessary organizational framework for conducting workshops, meetings and tours, and by publishing MassDEP information in the newsletter.
• Being a voice of the recycling community in the state legislature. MassRecycle’s efforts focus on the state budget, the organization consistently tracks waste and recycling related legislation and mobilize the recycling community in support of legislation deemed beneficial.

What is the problem?

Today, Massachusetts residents and businesses

• Create more waste than ever before: 1.3 tons per person a year.
• Throw out more than half of all recyclable and compostable items.

Not recycling means

• Exporting 1.5 million tons of trash to other states every year.
• Causing local governments to spend over $100 million to landfill and burn recyclables.
• Contributing to climate change as landfilling and incineration creates more greenhouse gases than recycling.

What do we do?

MassRecycle provides the following programs and services:

• For the professional and volunteer recycling community: Conferences, seminars, and other training and networking opportunities, a website with extensive information and resources, tours of recycling facilities, professionally developed educational materials, an active listserv, and a quarterly newsletter.

• For businesses and other organizations: Annual green office conference and mercury management workshops, a comprehensive website.

• For the general public: A comprehensive website providing easy access to information on recycling and waste reduction, educational tours, and a newsletter. 

• Leadership and advocacy: Advocacy for recycling and other forms of waste reduction in the state legislature, with governmental agencies, and through the media. 

• Annual awards: MassRecycle holds an annual awards ceremony providing recognition to individuals, businesses, municipalities and institutions that have gone above and beyond to promote recycling and resource conservation

Board of Directors

President

Dmitriy Nikolayev, Ma Operational Services Division

Vice President

Craig Lovett, Capital Paper Recycling

 

Treasurer

Zoe Neale, Save That Stuff Organics

 

Secretary

Stephanie Collins-Rankin, Grafton Recycling Committee

Member-At-Large

Terry Grady, Electronic Recyclers International

Jeff Cabral, Sustainable Winchester

Morgan Clark, Citizen

 

Phil Goddard, Town of Bourn ISWM

 

Kim Grant, Town of Southbridge

 

Michelle Lee Guiney, Consultant

 

Ben Harvey, E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc.

 

Laura Kozar, Sustainability Guild Int.

 

Lisa McMenemy, Casella Recycling

 

Meg Morris, Covanta Energy

 

Kara Sergeant, Green Restaurant Assoc.

 

Jefferson Smith, Citizen

 

Rebeccah Wells Sparkes, Citizen

If you are interested in serving on MassRecycle's Board of Directors please complete the BoD Application and email to director@massrecycle.org.

Board of Directors Elections
Elections for the Board of Directors are held in May by electronic ballot and the new board is announced at the Annual meeting on the last Wednesday in May.

Recycling Council Chairs

MassRecycle's Councils were created to address particular needs, interests, and timely issues of its members who share common concerns and unique recycling experiences. The Councils advance the mission and goals of MassRecycle. For upcoming meetings, check out the Events page.

Central Municipal:

Irene Congdon, Municipal Assistance Coordinator /Central District
Tessa David, MassToss
Jessica Wozniak

Northeast Municipal:

Ann Dorfman, MassRecycle Interim Operations Manager
Carolyn Dann, MassDEP Municipal Assistance Coordinator /Northeast District
Sharon Kishida, Municipal Assistance Coordinator /Northeast District

Southeast Municipal:

Kathy Mirza, Municipal Assistance Coordinator /Southeast District
Doris Burtman, Town of Norwood

Western Municipal:

Arlene Miller, Municipal Assistance Coordinator /Western District

Staff