Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $1.7 Million to Expand Reuse and Recycling Businesses

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today awarded more than $1.7 million in Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grants to 16 companies. These grants, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), will allow recycling companies across Massachusetts to expand their collection and processing capabilities. 

“Massachusetts businesses are finding smart, practical ways to reduce waste and keep valuable materials in use,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will help local companies grow, expand recycling and reuse options, and support cleaner, healthier communities across our state.” 

“Cities and towns are looking for more cost-effective ways to manage waste, and these investments will help give them more options,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By supporting local recycling, reuse and composting businesses, we’re helping communities reduce what they send to landfills and lower disposal costs.” 

MassDEP’s Reuse Business Development Grants (RBDG) program awarded $818,595 to 12 businesses to improve recycling collection for materials prohibited from disposal, including mattresses, textiles, and commercial food waste. The program awarded $919,436 to 4 businesses for new or expanded reuse, recycling, or composting operations. 

“Massachusetts businesses are finding new ways to keep food, textiles, and other materials out of the trash and put them back into use,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These grants will help them process most material, reduce waste, and tackle climate change impacts while building a stronger reuse and recycling system across the state.” 

“This is a critical investment in Massachusetts’ circular economy,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “With limited landfill capacity across Massachusetts, this funding helps reduce the need for new landfills while building the sustainable infrastructure we need to extend the life of materials and support a more resilient future.” 

Awardees must demonstrate a clear economic benefit for Massachusetts. Equipment purchased with grant funding must be used only to collect or process the approved material in Massachusetts for at least three years. RBDG collection grants support projects that collect targeted materials such as food for donation and food waste. RBDG processing grants support projects that reuse or process targeted materials including plastic films and wraps, reusable materials, household hazardous waste, textiles for recycling, food materials, solar panels, and bulk rigid plastics. 

The RBDG collection grants are awarded to organizations to help purchase a collection vehicle or other equipment to expand surplus food collection efforts. The recipients are: 

• Against the Grain New England LLC (Medford) - $25,000 
• Boston Area Gleaners, Inc. (Acton) - $80,000 
• Cape Ann Food Pantry d/b/a The Open Door (Gloucester) - $81,811 
• Food Link, Inc. (Roxbury) - $97,470.31 
• Fruit Life d/b/a Fruit Fair Supermarket (Chicopee) - $100,000  
• Bright Feeds d/b/a Smart Feed (Oxford) - $100,000 
• Second Chance Composting (Savoy) - $60,000  
• Recycleworks Inc. (Braintree) - $50,000  
• Pedal People Cooperative Inc. (Northampton) - $25,000  
• Commonwealth Sustainability LLC (Granby) - $65,000  
• Garbage to Garden (Charlestown) - $100,000  
• The Estate Kings (Saugus) - $34,313.44  

The RBDG processing grant recipients are awarded to organizations to purchase processing equipment for bulk rigid plastics, textiles, food waste and other reusable materials. The recipients are:  

• HandUp US LLC (New Bedford) - $180,000  
• Black Earth Compost, LLC (Groton) - $144,215  
• Casella Waste Management, Inc. (Cheshire) - $449,721  
• Tommy's Compost Service (Lanesborough) - $145,500  

For more information about MassDEP’s RBDG Program please visit the Recycling & Reuse Business Development Grant webpage. 

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