Why Recycling Stagnates

 Environment, January/February 2026, Recycling  Comments Off on Why Recycling Stagnates
Dec 172025
 
Why Recycling Stagnates

Belmont’s options for dealing with waste woes By Jeffrey North Dr. Jonathan S. Krones, associate professor of engineering at Brandeis University, gave a virtual presentation titled “Garbage 101: How the waste system actually works, and what we can do to achieve a more circular economy” sponsored by the Belmont Public Library last November. The talk offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at how waste and recycling systems actually function in Massachusetts and around the country. It also delivered a clarifying message to communities like Belmont: our recycling system is struggling not because residents are necessarily doing it wrong, but because the [READ MORE]

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Meet Belmont’s New Recycling Coordinator

 July/August 2025, Recycling  Comments Off on Meet Belmont’s New Recycling Coordinator
Jun 302025
 
Meet Belmont’s New Recycling Coordinator

By Terri Goldberg Joseph Sten started working for Belmont three months before we sat down for a meeting on April 9. He is still learning how Belmont’s programs work and getting support and help from Jay Marcotte, Belmont’s Department of Public Works director. Sten worked at Needham’s transfer station and has a background in political science and urban studies. He’s friendly and approachable. Here’s a summary of what we talked about. Goldberg What are you working on these days to help improve Belmont’s recycling? Sten Helping answer questions from residents about recycling and waste. Most of the questions are about [READ MORE]

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The Best Recycling Choices Aren’t Always Obvious

 January 2024, Newsletter  Comments Off on The Best Recycling Choices Aren’t Always Obvious
Jan 052024
 

By Barry Kaye, MD You are a good person. You recycle everything that you can and feel good about that. But have you wondered what happens after that big blue bin is picked up? I just assumed it was all recycled until my son told me some inconvenient truths about recycling. If you read no further—just remember that because something is recyclable, it does not mean that it will be recycled. Unless it is economically feasible and there is a market, it’s just trash. It turns out that the only things that are genuinely recycled at the present time are [READ MORE]

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