Reducing and Redirecting Commercial Waste in Devens

Businesses in Devens generate a wide range of waste materials—cardboard, pallets, shrink wrap, organics, electronics, packaging, manufacturing by-products, and more. The waste stream also includes unneeded supplies, excess inventory, outdated furniture, and obsolete fixtures. Managing these materials responsibly isn’t just about staying compliant; it’s about improving efficiency, cutting costs, and finding new value in what’s often seen as waste. 

The Devens Eco-Efficiency Center has been working behind the scenes to help local businesses rethink what they throw away. Through waste audits, materials reuse matchmaking, and collaborative programming, the Center has supported efforts to reduce, recycle, and redirect waste and unneeded materials across the business community. 

In Devens, the industrial and commercial waste stream presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Recyclables like paper, cardboard, and plastics often make their way to the right bins—but other materials are harder to capture. Food scraps, packaging film, or construction materials may still end up in landfill when they could be recovered or reused. Many waste streams also have reuse potential: plastic parts and pieces with creative potential, clean packing materials that could be used by others for outbound shipments, and unneeded supplies or furniture that could benefit schools, nonprofits, or other entities. 

That’s where the Eco-Efficiency Center steps in. By connecting businesses through programs like the Great Exchange and sharing practical case studies, the Center helps identify reuse options, local recycling partners, and even business-to-business (B2B) collaborations. These efforts help companies cut disposal costs, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen the local circular economy. 

For businesses ready to dig deeper, the DEC and Eco-Efficiency Center’s upcoming Green Team Roundtable will focus on this very topic. This event is part of a larger Green Team effort to foster peer learning and action around waste reduction in the commercial sector. 

• Devens Eco-Efficiency Center Green Team Roundtable 

• Reducing and Redirecting Waste Streams – Opportunities for B2B and Community Collaboration in Devens 

• Thursday, September 18, 2025

• 8:00AM–9:30AM  
  Location: DEC and Devens Eco-Efficiency Center Offices, 33 Andrews Parkway, Devens, MA 
  RSVP: dawnbabcock@devensec.com  

These efforts align with broader infrastructure goals in Devens. As outlined in the Devens Forward plan and this sustainability dashboard, sustainable materials management is a key part of the community’s long-term resilience. Reducing commercial waste and improving reuse supports not only businesses but also Devens’ environmental and social goals. 

To learn more about the Eco-Efficiency Center’s work, visit tgedevens.com and explore the programs and services available to Devens businesses. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes, and it’s shaping a more efficient, collaborative, and sustainable Devens.