THAT FOOD THAT IS NO LONGER GOOD TO EAT, CLOTHES THAT NO LONGER FIT, MATERIALS TOO COMPLEX FOR TRADITIONAL RECYCLING.
TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY CAN TURN IT ALL INTO SOMETHING USEFUL.
FOR PROOF, TRAVEL TO IPSWICH AT THE NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS OF AN AUSTRIAN-BASED MANUFACTURER OF PLASTI RECYCLING SYSTEMS.
>> THE COMPANY WAS STARTED BASED ON RECAPTURING IN-HOUSE SCRAP, BUT LATELY THE FOCUS HAS CHANGED.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRODUCE A MACHINE THAT CAN CAPTURE THE DIRTIEST MATERIAL.
SHAYNA: HE IS THE AMERICAN SALES MANAGER.
>> A LOT OF PRODUCERS DO NOT WANT TO BE BOTHERED WITH THE EXPENSIVE OF CLEANING MATERIAL ITSELF.
WE DO OUR BEST TO TAKE THE DIRTIEST MATERIAL AND CLEAN IT AND FILTER IT TO BE REUSED.
SHAYNA: THEY BUILD MACHINES THAT PRODUCE -- CONVERT DIFFERENT FORMS OF PLASTIC.
IN THIS CASE, SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS, INTO PELLETS, EASY TO REUSE IN THE PRODUCT.
>> IT IS BROUGHT TO THE CONVEYOR AND FED AUTOMATICALLY INTO THIS UNIT.
THIS HOMOGENIZER IS AND MELTS -- HOMOGENIZES AND MELTS IT.
SHAYNA: THEY PAY $400,000 PER MACHINE.
>> THEY TAKE A MILK JUG FLAKE AND RECYCLE IT INTO PELLETS AND MAKE CHAIRS OUT OF IT.
SHAYNA: IT IS TIGHTLY GUARDED, BUT WE CAN SHOW YOU SOME OF THE THINGS THEY MAKE.
DECKING, TRASH BAGS AND CAR BATTERY CASINGS.
>> THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY IS GIGANTIC.
WE PROVIDE EQUIPMENT TO DO RECYCLING.
IT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY.
SHAYNA: NOW WE MOVE TO FREETOWN, HOME TO STOP & SHOP’S’S 1.5 MILLION FOOT DISTRIBUTION CENTER.
TALKED AWAY IN A CORNER BUILDING IS WHAT THE GROCERY CALLS ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART GREEN ENERGY FACILITY.
ROGER IS THE DISTRIBUTION SERVICES MANAGER.
>> ONCE A TRUCK DELIVERS PRODUCT TO THE STORE, MATERIALS NO LONGER USED, INCLUDING ORGANIC MATERIALS, ARE PUT BACK IN THE TRAILER AND BROUGHT BACK TO FREETOWN.
SHAYNA: CORN HUSKS ARE CENTER FARMS FOR COW FEED.
PLASTIC BAGS SHIPPED TO BECOME DECKING.
FOOD PAST THE POINT OF DONATION GOES HERE TO THE ANAEROBIC DIGESTER.
>> INSIDE THE HOPPER IS THE CONVEYOR THAT RINGS THE MATERIAL UP AND INTO A MIXING BOWL.
SHAYNA: THE DIGESTER CONVERTS 95 TONS OF FOOD EVERY DAY.
ITEMS LIKE PRODUCE, DELI MEATS AND EGGS.
>> THEY CAN COME BACK THE SAME WAY THE PRODUCT IS SOLD ON THE SHELF.
IT WILL COME BACK IN THE BAG, IT IS PACKAGED IN THE PROCESS.
SHAYNA: IT TURNS OUT EXTRACTED MATERIAL INTO A SLURRY THAT IS PROCESSED AGAIN.
>> YOU END UP WITH THREE BYPRODUCTS.
YOU END UP WITH WATER, BIOGAS, WHICH IS METHANE GAS, PRODUCES ABOUT 40% OF THE ENERGY WE USE ON SITE.
THE LAST PIECE IS COMPOST.
SHAYNA: THE ENERGY THIS FACILITY HAS PRODUCED SINCE 2016 IS ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO POWER 1800 HOMES FOR YEAR.
>> WE ARE DOING IT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTS, THE ENERGY, AND BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR MASSACHUSETTS.
SHAYNA: ABOUT 6% OF WASTE SENT MASSACHUSETTS INCINERATORS CONSIST OF TEXTILES.
>> TEXTILES ARE THE FOURTH MOST CARBON INTENSIVE ITEM IN THE SOLID WASTE STREAM.
IT IS MORE CARBON INTENSIVE.
SHAYNA: HE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT AT WASTE ZERO.
HE HELPS REDUCE WASTE AND INCREASE RECYCLING.
>> 8% OF TEXTILES ARE IN THE TRASH AND IT IS ONE OF THE TOP CONTAMINANTS.
SHAYNA: HE IS WORKING WITH SIMPLE RECYCLING TO KEEP CLOTHES OUT OF TRASH AND RECYCLING BARRELS.
>> SIMPLE RECYCLING IS A FREE SERVICE TO RESIDENTS, CITIES AND TOWNS.
SHAYNA: THEY PASS OUT PINK BAGS TO RESIDENTS.
THEY PICK THEM UP FROM THE CURB ON TRASH DAY.
>> ALL THE RECYCLING OPTIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE GOOD, BUT THEY ONLY COLLECT 15% OF THE MATERIAL.
THE RECYCLING RATE FOR THIS IS LOW.
THE CONVENIENCE OF CURBSIDE CAN MOVE THAT UP TO 45%.
SHAYNA: DENIM IS MORE THAN 30 CITIES AND TOWNS SIGNED UP.
THEY SAY RECYCLING CONTAMINATION IS DOWN 7% SINCE JANUARY.
>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THE MATERIAL, IF IT CAN BE REUSED, 95% CAN.
IF A STOCK HAS THREE HOLES, PUT IT IN.
IF THERE IS A BEDSPREAD YOU DO NOT WANT, WE WILL FIND A HOME FOR IT.
SHAYNA: RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES IN MASSACHUSETTS DISPOSE OF 230,000 TONS OF TEXTILES A YEAR.
>> IF WE CAN REUSE IT THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
SHAYNA: CLOTHING THAT CANNOT BE RE-WORN OR REPAIRED CAN STILL BE RECYCLED.
ITS FIBERS CAN BE USED TO MAKE THINGS LIKE SOUND INSULATION IN A CAR OR THERMAL INSULATION FOR YOUR HOME.
BACK TO STOP & SHOP.
IN ADDITION TO TURNING FOOD WASTE INTO ENERGY THE COMPANY IS , ONE OF THE LARGEST DONORS TO BOTH THE GREATER BOSTON AND THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD BANKS.
NEXT, THIS TRASH HEAP IS A TREASURE T