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?
Strengthen Local
Recycling Programs by educating municipal staff and
volunteer recycling committees, maintaining a recycling listserv and
organizing
bulk purchases of recycling hardware. Our Listserv is primarily used by municipal
officials exchanging ideas and seeking advice on
programs. This exchange allows
municipalities to replicate successful recycling programs without
"recreating the wheel."
Educate Business and the
Public through workshops on sustainable business practices,
green purchasing, coordinating the first ever statewide paper recycling
campaign and by organizing tours of recycling facilities.
Network and Communicate
with municipalities through regional Municipal
Recycling Council (MRC) meetings. MassRecycle publishes a
newsletter that encompasses state, regional, and local information on
recycling and waste management programs. The goal of our newsletter is to share information
and to educate our members on issues that affect recycling in the
Commonwealth.
Advocate for Recycling in
the Legislature by educating legislators, providing expert
testimony and working to preserve state funding for recycling
programs. During 2003 winter season, MassRecycle was successful
in generating 1,000 letters and phone calls to the Governor's office to
request level-funding for recycling in the state budget. This
action came about because the Governor had indicated that he was
completely eliminating recycling funding. Our efforts played a
large role in reinstating the funding. We also track legislation
that will affect recycling and will testify in committee hearings, when
apprpriate.
Reward Champions by
presenting the annual Green Binny awards to
individuals and
organizations that have made outstanding efforts in recycling and waste
reduction.
Who is MassRecycle?
Board of Directors
2007-2008 Officers
President: Angie
Sottile, City of Newton
Vice President: Dmitriy
Nikolayev, MA Operational Services Division
Treasurer: Tony Basile, Eagle Bottle &
Can Return
Secretary: Laurie
Sabol,
Ayer Recycling Committee
Member-At-Large: Ann Dorfman, Consultant
Peggy Ayers, Marlborough Recycling Committee
George Camougis,
Consultant
Christine DeRosa,
Integrated Paper Recyclers, LLC
Terry Grady, Electronic Recycler's International
Ben Harvey, E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc.
Claire Sullivan,
South Shore
Recycling Cooperative
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
Northeast Municipal:
Ann Dorfman, Concord DPW
Jennifer Almeida, Town of Chelmsford
Southeast Municipal:
Kathy Mirza, Municipal Assistance Coordinator/Southeast District
Doris Burtman, Town of Norwood
Western Municipal:
Jamie Cahillane, CET
Arlene Miller, Municipal Assistance Coordinator /Western District
Staff
Jessica Wozniak,
Executive Director
Contact for: website, fundraising, The
MassRecycler, memberships, Green Ribbon Friends and general
inquiries.
Karen Patterson,
Paper Campaign Manager
Contact for: Mass Recycles Paper
Megan Harrington,
Program Assistant
Legislative
Analyst
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