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MassRecycle Podcast

by MassRecycle

The MassRecycle Podcast is hosted by Gretchen Carey, MR President (New England Recycling and Organics Coordinator for Republic Services) and Waneta Trabert, MR Vice President (Director of the Sustainable Materials Management Division, City of Newton). Waneta and Gretchen discuss 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.MassRecycle is always looking for great topics for our podcasts! If you have a great idea, send it along to [email protected]!

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Episodes

  1. Episode 61: EPR Explained: Policy, Product Stewardship, and Producer Responsibility

    Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is a valuable legal tool to shift the costs of a product’s waste management away from taxpayers and onto the manufacturers. In this episode, Gretchen interviews Waneta, MassRecycle’s resident EPR expert, on her experiences with EPR and product stewardship...

  2. Episode 60: When the Funding Dries Up

    When a key state grant vanished, one Cape Cod town’s marine debris recycling program nearly sank. Mike Cicale, foreman of the Wellfleet transfer station and former MassRecycle Board member, joins Gretchen and Waneta to share how the town responded, navigating messy reimbursement rules, vendor...

  3. Episode 59: When Sustainability Meets Social Justice

    The Boston University “Goodwill, Not Landfill” team faced a recurring challenge after student move‑out: thousands of pounds of good-quality bedding left behind that Goodwill couldn’t accept due to sanitary concerns. In response, Maria Gorret Nampiima, a graduate student in the BU School of...

  4. Episode 58: Litter, Legislation, and the Path to a Cleaner Commonwealth

    Do you suffer from “Extreme Litter Awareness”? Neil Rhein does, and he has turned that constant noticing into a statewide mission. As the founder and executive director of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful (KMB), Neil joins Gretchen and Waneta to talk about the litter he cannot help but see in public...

  5. Episode 57: The Changing Face of Recycling: Insights from Recycling Today’s Brian Taylor

    Want a bird’s‑eye view of how far recycling has come in the last 30 years, and where it’s headed next? In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta chat with Brian Taylor, senior editor at Recycling Today Media Group. Brian shares how recycling trends have changed since he entered the industry in 1997…

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  6. Episode 56: Don’t Call It a Dump!: Inside a Modern Landfill

    Source: Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta talk with Anthony Novelli, executive director of the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, about what it takes to operate a modern landfill. From the initial design, to the...

  7. Episode 55: Designing for Zero Waste: How Space Shapes Behavior

    What if spaces were intentionally designed to optimize waste diversion and zero waste practices? In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta talk with Cory Page, landscape designer and alum of the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). As a student at GSD, Cory noticed that the setup of the waste and...

  8. Episode 54: The State of Plastics Recycling

    Few recyclable materials generate as much skepticism as plastics. In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta welcome Steve Alexander, president and CEO of the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR), to paint a clear picture of the current state of plastics recycling. The US recycles 5-7 million pounds...

  9. Episode 53: Putting Our Best Foot Forward: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Shoes

    Shoes are not just an item of clothing; they are our main form of transportation. In this episode, Gretchen and Waneta welcome Dr. Yuly Fuentes, Project Manager for Fiber Technologies at MIT and Program Director of the MIT Climate Project, to talk about shoes and sustainability. Did you know that...

  10. Episode 52: Cell Phones for Soldiers

    In this episode, we spotlight Cell Phones for Soldiers, a nonprofit that’s been bridging the digital divide for over 20 years. With 10,000 devices collected monthly from unique sources like MBTA lost and founds, funeral homes, and municipalities, they give forgotten phones a second life –...

  11. Episode 51: The Hidden Carbon Cost: How Our Stuff Fuels Climate Change—And What We Can Do About It

    In this episode of the MassRecycle Podcast, Waneta and Gretchen are joined by MassRecycle Board member and former NEWMOA Executive Director Terri Goldberg and Dave Allaway a senior policy analyst in the Materials Management Program at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).…

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  12. Episode 50: Disaster Debris Management

    In this episode Waneta and Gretchen are joined by John Fischer, Deputy Division Director for Solid Waste Materials Management at MassDEP, and Delia Camacho, a Vice President at AshBritt. A disaster management plan is something every municipality needs, but is also something that gets pushed to…

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  13. Episode 49: An Insider’s View with Mary Ann Remolador

    In this episode, Waneta and Gretchen sit down with Mary Ann Remolador, of the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), to discuss her decades of experience in waste reduction and recycling. Mary Ann shares her insights on the evolution of recycling programs across the Northeast and the role of NERC in...

  14. Episode 48: Vaping Device Disposal

    Waneta and Gretchen are joined by Jan Ameen, Executive Director of the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District to discuss her research into what to do with vape devices. Complicated regulatory issues surround the components of these devices, from controlled substance concerns to battery...

  15. Episode 47: Organics Diversion in K-12 Schools

    Waneta and Gretchen are joined by Gail Sowerder Garron, Regional Planner for MassDEP, and Alison Beucler, Sanitation and Hazardous Material Program Manager for the City of Somerville, to discuss food waste diversion in K-12 schools. Food waste contributes significantly to the overall waste...

  16. Episode 46: Contracting for Zero Waste

    11/16/22 — Boston, Massachusetts Center for Computing & Data Sciences at sundown Nov 16.Photo by Cydney Scott for Boston University Photography Waneta and Gretchen are joined by Sarah Healey, MassRecycle Board member and Zero Waste Manager at Boston University, to discuss building your Zero Waste...

  17. Episode 45: Why Can’t I Recycle This?

    Waneta and Gretchen answer the perennial question “Why can’t I recycle this?”. Recycling is a commodity, and not only does it need to be collected and sorted, someone needs to want to buy it. To understand what is recyclable and what is not, it is important to understand the system: Who has…

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  18. Episode 44: Recycling Programming in Multilingual Communities

    Waneta and Gretchen are joined by Jessica Camarena, City of New Bedford Recycling Coordinator, and Rosanna Deldosario, City of Lawrence Recycling Coordinator, to discuss their work to make recycling more accessible to residents. Both of their positions extend past recycling into waste reduction,...

  19. Episode 43: Unveiling the Invisible: PFAS and Compost

    Embark on a revealing journey as Gretchen, Waneta, and Andrew Brousseau of Black Earth Compost delve into PFAS. Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances, or PFAS, is a group of human-made chemicals found in countless everyday items that has permeated our daily lives for decades. Learn about the…

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  20. Episode 42: Demolition vs. Deconstruction: Careful Practices for a Sustainable Future

    Woodbridge Project Team at Rockland Psychiatric Center demolition. Future Data Center. Photo Credit: STO Building Group Join Waneta and Gretchen as they delve into deconstruction and mercury with Mike Orbank from STO Building Group and Danielle Myers of the Thermostat Recycling Corporation. Ever...

  21. Episode 41: Make Paper out of Paper: Johnny Gold

    Recycling legend Johnny Gold joins Waneta and Gretchen to talk paper recycling – where it all began and how we got here. Have you ever wondered how paper drives earn money? How did paper recycling start? What happens to the paper you throw in your bin? There is an entire industry behind that…

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  22. Episode 40: Sustainability on Campus: 2023 Edition

    In this episode, Waneta and Gretchen are joined by four experts who have dedicated their careers to reducing waste and promoting sustainability on college campuses. Laurie Simmons of UMass Amherst, Sue Higgins of Northeastern University, Sarah Healey of Boston University, and Rob Gogan, retired...

  23. Episode 39: The Recycling Miracle: MassDEP’s RecycleSmart

    In 2018, China National Sword cut off imports of foreign recyclables and brought recycling in the US to a screeching halt. In Massachusetts, MassDEP created RecycleSmart: the one stop resource to turn the Wild Wild West of recycling collections into material streams that could be processed...

  24. Episode 38: An Insider’s View of Recycling, Solid Waste, and Pollution Prevention.

    Pull up a chair and join Gretchen and Waneta in conversation with Terri Goldberg. Terri has had an extensive career in recycling, solid waste, and pollution prevention. She is retiring from her role as Executive Director of the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEMOWA). Join us…

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  25. Episode 37: Lithium Batteries: Blowing Up!

    Lithium batteries are exploding in popularity, and literally exploding. Gretchen and Waneta welcome Stan Walczak, Rob Gogan, and Dave Ditata, to discuss the dangers of batteries in the waste stream. Stan Walczak is Facility Manager of ReSource Waste Services, Rob Gogan is retired Recycling and...

  26. Episode 36: Simplify the Holidays & Reduce Waste – a Re-Release for 2022

    Gretchen and Waneta talk with Kelley Dennings of the Center for Biological Diversity about simplifying the holidays and reducing waste. They discuss top holiday waste generators, alternative gift ideas, hosting and decorating, the role of public policy, and the perceived barriers to celebrating...

  27. Episode 35: Textile Recycling

    The MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans are quickly approaching, and MassRecycle has resources for you. In this episode, Waneta and Gretchen interview four textile vendors that take used items and recycle, upcycle, repurpose, or divert them for reuse. Epilepsy Foundation New England, Helpsy, Baystate...

  28. Episode 34: The Mining Act of 1872: still enforced and even worse than you think

    Robin Ingethron and Aaron Mintzes join Waneta and Gretchen to discuss the Mining Act of 1872. This historic push to populate the West with white settlers continues to subsidize extraction and while making it nearly impossible to legally limit mining. Robin Ingethron is CEO of Good Point Recycling...

  29. Episode 33: Upcycle. Reuse. Divert. Creative Waste Reduction with the Old Stone Mill

    This week Leni Fried joins Waneta and Gretchen to talk about the creative projects piloted by the Old Stone Mill Zero Waste Maker Space. Leni and her partner, Mike Augspurger, founded the Old Stone Mill as a community space for creative reuse, to divert materials from the waste stream, and make...

  30. Episode 32: Pet Peeves & Reasons for Hope from the Solid Waste World

    This episode is what we all need right now: reasons for hope from the world of solid waste, and also some commiserating with your fellow materials management professionals. MassRecycle board members join Waneta and Gretchen to share their pet peeves, serious concerns, and reasons to be hopeful...

  31. Episode 31: Urban Exchange

    Photo credit: Eater Boston This week Audrey Ng and Mike Orr join Waneta and Gretchen to explore sidewalk exchange, and the growing movement of community “Freedges”, around Boston. Audrey is the Water and Sustainability Project Manager for the Boston Public Schools District and organizer with the...

  32. Episode 30: Mattress Recycling

    In light of the upcoming 2022 mattress waste ban, Waneta and Gretchen interview MassRecycle member organizations UTEC, HandUp and Green Mattress about their mattress recycling programs. Waneta also discusses the role of Extended Producer Responsibility in this issue, and the potential for new...

  33. Episode 29: Recycling Romance

    In this Valentine’s Day special episode, Gretchen and Waneta, with the help of Board member Rob Gogan, interview three couples who found each other while following their passion for waste diversion. The post Episode 29: Recycling Romance first appeared on MassRecycle.

  34. Episode 28: Simplify the Holidays & Reduce Waste

    Gretchen and Waneta talk with Kelley Dennings of the Center for Biological Diversity about simplifying the holidays and reducing waste. They discuss top holiday waste generators, alternative gift ideas, hosting and decorating, the role of public policy, and the perceived barriers to celebrating...

  35. Episode 27: Reuse at The Great Exchange in Devens

    Gretchen and Waneta talk with Dona Neely of The Great Exchange in Devens, Mass about their amazing reuse program there. Business clean outs and manufacturing extras turn into resources for non-profits, schools, teachers, and daycares.

  36. Episode 26: Gleaning: Saving and Sharing Food

    Gretchen and Waneta talk with Paul Franceschi of the Boston Area Gleaners about gleaning: the harvesting of surplus farm crops to preventing waste and expand local food access. Paul talks about their work and how they were able to help when the world needed it most in 2020.

  37. Episode 25: Sustainability on Campus

    Learn about existing programs and new ways to help make colleges and universities become more sustainable. Gretchen and Waneta talk with Alex Freid, founder of the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN), In 2013 Alex and his fellow college students witnessed a systemic waste problem on their campus...

  38. Episode 24: Our Stormwater System: the Catch-all for Waste

    Gretchen and Waneta learn all about the stormwater system and its many intersections of waste management from MassDEP pro Laura Schifman. More info here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stormwater

  39. Episode 23: Maximizing Diversion: The Island of Nantucket

    Gretchen and Waneta interview Graeme Durovich, Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator on the Island of Nantucket about the specific challenges of creating waste on an island. They cover special rules, litter issues, seasonal changes, and other topics that make Nantucket a unique waste environment....

  40. Episode 22: How to recycle plastic bags: The Trex Story

    In MA, bags do not belong in the bin, but there is a system for recycling them. Gretchen and Waneta learn all about how plastic bags can find a second life as composite lumber during this interview with Stephanie Hicks from Trex.com Wondering if your local grocery store is really collecting for...

  41. Episode 21: A Regional Perspective of COVID on the Recycling Landscape

    Gretchen and Waneta are joined by Reagan Bissonnette of the NRRA (Northeast Resource Recovery Association) to talk about the effect of Covid 19 on recyclable material, the recycling industry, and the commodities markets.

  42. Episode 20: CET’s Free Resources for Waste Reduction and Energy Conservation

    Gretchen and Waneta interview Khrysti Smyth Barry from the Center for EcoTechnology about their many free resources available to businesses and property managers. Learn about opportunities for guidance and helpful tools to recycle more, lower food waste, save energy, and conserve water on this...

  43. Episode 19: Big Oil and Plastics Recycling: The Rest of the Story

    Recently the media has pointed out the connection between Big Oil and recycling, leaving you to believe that recycling is a scam. Guest speakers from Preserve, Rehrig Pacific, and GreenLabs Recycling explain how the industry has come a long way since then.

  44. Episode 18: Things your Waste-To-Energy Facility does Not Want

    Gretchen and Waneta get into the weeds with Patti Howard from Covanta, discussing unusual opportunities for reuse and diversion as well as things that really shouldn't go to a waste-to-energy facility.

  45. Episode 17: Community Relations from a Municipal Perspective

    Gretchen and Waneta talk to former Board Member, Phil Goddard about community relations from a municipal perspective.

  46. Episode 16: Compostable dishware, biodegradable plastic, and avoiding greenwashing

    Gretchen and Waneta talk with Board member Deb Darby about compostable dishware, the real meaning of the term "biodegradable", and the most sustainable way to run a Zero Waste event while avoiding greenwashing. Learn more from Biodegradable Products Institute.

  47. Episode 15: Recycling Bin Rejects

    Gretchen and Waneta discuss recent changes for recycling in Massachusetts: what doesn't go in, and what no longer goes in, and why. The conversation is based on www.RecycleSmartMA.org, the statewide guidelines for recycling in MA.

  48. Episode 14: Digging Deep into Composting

    Gretchen and Waneta invite MassDEP's Ann McGovern back to talk all about home composting.

  49. Episode 13: Overview: All About Food Waste

    Gretchen and Waneta talk about the many food waste systems: how they work, where it goes, what it becomes, and how to successfully set up a system that works for you (and your organization).

  50. Episode 12: Architectural Reuse: EcoBuilding Bargains

    Katherine Butler from the Center for EcoTechnology joins Waneta and Gretchen to talk about the coolest new opportunity for reusing and buying salvaged building materials. https://ecobuildingbargains.org/

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

The MassRecycle Podcast is hosted by Gretchen Carey, MR President (New England Recycling and Organics Coordinator for Republic Services) and Waneta Trabert, MR Vice President (Director of the Sustainable Materials Management Division, City of Newton). Waneta and Gretchen discuss 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.MassRecycle is always looking for great topics for our podcasts! If you have a great idea, send it along to [email protected]!

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MassRecycle

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does MassRecycle Podcast have?

MassRecycle Podcast currently has 53 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is MassRecycle Podcast about?

The MassRecycle Podcast is hosted by Gretchen Carey, MR President (New England Recycling and Organics Coordinator for Republic Services) and Waneta Trabert, MR Vice President (Director of the Sustainable Materials Management Division, City of Newton). Waneta and Gretchen discuss hot topics in...

How often does MassRecycle Podcast release new episodes?

MassRecycle Podcast has 53 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

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You can listen to MassRecycle Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts MassRecycle Podcast?

MassRecycle Podcast is created and hosted by MassRecycle.
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