Grocery Shopping While Keeping Waste In Mind – Part I

February 6, 2019 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

Today’s post is a guest post from Nathalie Heyden. Nathalie Heyden is a student at the University of Waterloo, who is currently completing a co-op placement here with our team. Nathalie will be writing about sustainability, waste & recycling, compost & so much more. We invite you to read along and follow her on this exciting journey with our team. This post is the first in a two-part series about how waste reduction and waste diversion can play a crucial way in the way we grocery shop. Stay tuned for the second part of this series, to be published here next week.

Your “Waste Budget”

Does hearing the words “Your Waste Budget” make you say: “My what?” You’re not alone. A Waste Budget means that instead of exclusively focusing your Sunday grocery shopping on low prices, you shop with the waste-factor of your products in mind. To limit household waste, you need to be mindful of what you bring into your home in the first place. This includes what sort of packaging your products come in, and how much food you are consuming compared to how much you actually buy.

The Importance of Bulk Stores

Before we dive-in, I want to start by stating that not all foods stores are created equal in terms of waste production. If you are truly looking to go waste-free, I would highly recommend starting to shop at bulk-food stores. Bulk-food stores sell a large selection of dry goods including (but not limited to) pastas, nuts, spices and dried fruits. At bulk-food stores, you are able to bring your reusable containers from home to fill up, and you can buy the exact amount of a product you need.

Bulk Barn has released its reusable container program where you can bring your own containers – gone are the days of plastic bags and locating a pencil… Well, the pencil issue is unresolved (maybe in 2019 we will remember to bring our own?). Not only can you reduce plastic waste, you can also save money by browsing their weekly coupons.

Grocery Stores

There is a new category of groceries stores popping up around Canada. These are Zero Waste grocery stores. For these stores, you bring your own bags and containers, and the products you buy do not contain wasteful packaging.

Now… Back to navigating our ‘typical’ grocery store. Someone once told me that the healthiest way to shop, is to shop around the perimeter of the store. The perimeter of the store contains all of your fresh items including produce, breads, and refrigerated goods. If your grocery store has a bulk section, it too will be along the perimeter (usually near the bread section). I would encourage you to focus your shopping around the perimeter this week, as fresh products often contain less packaging (and less preservatives).

How Often Should I Shop?

There are four types of shoppers that I know: those who have specific days to shop, those who shop when they run out of food, those who shop per nightly recipe and those who have no sweet clue when the shopping is done, they just know that the fridge refills itself every so often. No matter which one of these shoppers you are, this week I want you to aim to go to the grocery store at least twice a week. Why? This way, you will not over-buy during your once-a-week Sunday outing. Did you know that Canadian households waste on average $1,700 yearly on avoidable organic waste? If we shop more often, we are less likely to over-estimate how much we are going to eat in a week, and instead we will finish what we have in the fridge and then go back for more.

Three goals I’d encourage you to set for your shopping routine this week:

Try incorporating reusable containers programs
Reduce browsing the package-heavy center section of the grocery store
Add an extra grocery shopping day to reduce food waste

Telling Our Story – Meet Our Founders

December 5, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

Telling Our Story is a new series of blog posts from MASS Environmental Services Inc., sharing the history of our team, our people, and how our company came to be. Each featured post of this series will introduce readers to a different part of the story that has brought us to where we are today. Our first post, Meet Our Founders features George and Marnie Brown, our President and Vice-President who’ve been leading MASS since the very start.

In 2001, George and Marnie Brown were a married couple with two kids, who’d recently moved to Lakefield, Ontario. Both having built successful careers – George in the corporate world, and Marnie in the healthcare field – they’d made a very bold choice. Together, they made the decision to launch MASS Environmental Services Inc., a company that would change the way that we think about waste.

Largely inspired by their personal sense of family focus, the pair looked at their two children – Mac and Alex – and wondered about the future of our planet and how it would impact the next

generation. They looked around at the beautiful country and the province in which they lived, and recognized that we, as Canadians, are so ‘nature-rich,’ that we can sometimes take it for granted. Looking ahead, they could see how this privilege could easily be lost in the future, if no body stepped up the the plate and made a difference.

So, Marnie and George set out to do just that. Driven by the mission to ‘Be The Change You Want To See In The World,’ they launched MASS Environmental Services Inc., with one key focus: To help Canadian businesses send less material to landfill through Waste Diversion.

The company has never wavered from this mission, nor has it wavered from the original set of company values that were embedded within the company from the very start. In fact, the company name itself, “MASS,” is an acronym standing for the first initial of the names of their son, Mackenzie, their daughter Alexandra, and their two nephews, Spencer and Sidney.

Marnie and George lead by example, exhibiting the MASS Values in everything they do. Family focus underlines the work-ethic of the entire company. This drives their motivation to leave a legacy of a more economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable future.

They are committed to maintaining a reputation for reliability and accountability, and ensuring a continued vested interest in the success of MASS clients, partners, and team members. These values form the structural integrity of every element of Marnie and George’s life, including the company.

From the earliest days of 2001 when the company was based out of their home in Lakefield, to a nationwide portfolio of clients being served out of our Cobourg, Ontario headquarters, the company has grown exponentially. Marnie and George have been at the helm of the ship every day of the journey.

In recent years, Marnie and George welcomed the second generation into the company. Their son and daughter, Mac and Alex, both completed their university education in 2014, and now hold management roles at MASS. Embodying everything that it means to be ‘family-owned-and-operated,’ the Brown family works closely every single day towards a purpose that is larger than themselves.

Looking back on the early days of MASS, it is incredible to recognize how far the company has come. Today, there are 13 individuals who

make up “The MASS Team,” and each of them contribute every single day towards a more sustainable future. MASS now provides a multitude of services to more than 1,000 businesses across the country including: Non-Hazardous Waste Services, Hazardous Waste Services, Biomedical Waste Services, Waste Audits, Confidential Shredding and Destruction, Used Cooking Oil Collection, Grease Trap Services, and Solid Waste Consulting Services.

The MASS team achieves: Cost Control, Education, and Compliance for our clients through the MASS Methodology, and continues to guide every single one of our locations to do the right thing.

At the beginning of every day, Marnie Brown reminds the team of the MASS motto: Change Begins With Just One Step. In the same way that we remind our clients of this, she reminds us. Every single one of us must hold ourselves accountable to take that single step, and do the right thing..

Marnie and George live and lead by example, not just ‘talking the talk,’ but by ‘walking the walk.’ Their leadership is what continues to make MASS successful, which allows us to achieve waste diversion success on behalf of our clients, and make a difference every single day.

Stay tuned to read more stories about the MASS team, our history,
and the pieces of the puzzle that have brought us to where we are today.

For More On Our Story … Follow Us On Instagram!

Why Outsource The Management Of Your Waste Services?

November 15, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

Using an expert to support different parts of your business, is an expert way to manage your daily operations.

Many people hire accountants for their taxes. They utilize brokers for their insurance. They hire consultants for areas of their business that they need support in. For many businesses, one of those areas is waste management.

Why Waste?

Waste, recycling, and all the other services we offer can be confusing when they are outside of your area of expertise. Utilizing an expert to manage these programs for you gives you the opportunity to eliminate that confusion and streamline your processes. This frees up your time and energy to focus on the other areas of your business!

MASS provides management services for:

Non Hazardous Waste, Recycling, Organics
Hazardous Waste
Biomedical Waste
Grease Trap Services
Used Cooking Oil Collection
Confidential Shredding & Plastics Destruction

Save Time – By outsourcing the management of your waste services to MASS Environmental Services Inc., you will have a single point of contact for all of your waste diversion needs. This will save you time and make your operations management much simpler as we take care of these contracted services on your behalf.

Protect Your Business – MASS is an expert in the field of waste diversion. It is what we do all day long, and because of this, we know the ‘ins-and-outs’ of legislation, and are prepared to ensure your business is in regulatory compliance. This will protect you from the risk of violation notices and fines.

Control Costs – Operating a business is costly, there is no question. But when you come under the “MASS Umbrella” you have the benefit of receiving the ‘best-cost & best-service’ commitment that we’ve achieved on behalf of our clients through our nation-wide portfolio of business.

Rest Easy – If a Ministry of the Environment inspection occurs at your site, do you have the answers and documentation you need to present to them? If your location has a sudden event that causes increase in waste production, do you have a plan to handle the influx? MASS takes these concerns off your plate, and let’s you rest easy.

We’re On Your Side – When MASS is contracted to manage the waste programs for your business, we become your number one advocate. We are on your side! Your success is our success, and your problems will be our problems. This means we will work tirelessly to implement an immediate resolution, and you’ll always be able to count on our 24 / 7 / 365 team. MASS is reputed for reliability and accountability – and we are determined to keep it this way by maintaining our vested interest in the success of each of our clients. We protect you, look out for you, control your costs, and always ensure your staff are doing what’s right for your business AND the environment!

We Are Experts – If there is anything you are unsure of or have a question about, we will take care of it. Our goal is to ensure your programs are easy to understand and participate in, andto educate, engage, and motivate your team so that they want to comply. When you are hiring a new employee, extensive knowledge in the field of work is one of the factors that makes them invaluable. This is the same style of extensive knowledge that we bring to the table, making us an excellent fit for your team!

It’s Good For Your Brand – In today’s day and age, your can be certain that your customers care about the environment. They expect you to do the same! Working with Canada’s leading solid-waste advisory company gives you the opportunity to do the right thing for planet earth, which will most definitely be music to your clients ears!

You’ll Have A Full Team Behind You – MASS Environmental Services Inc. is made up of a team of professionals – each of whom will get to know your operations closely as we work with you on a daily basis. You’ll become familiar with our team and vice versa, and you’ll come to see that we are 100% committed to providing value to each of our clients on a daily basis.

Need We Say More?

If you still have questions, or aren’t clear on how this works, visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page, or Contact Us today to get started.

MASS Environmental Services Inc. is a forward-thinking company built on investing in the future. We believe that change begins with just one step, and we walk side-by-side with our clients each and every day to take theirs.

What Happens If You Don’t Manage Your Waste

November 2, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.” – Victor Hugo

Just like your time; your waste must be managed. If not, in the wise words of Victor Hugo, ‘chaos will reign.’ However, many of us don’t realize the importance of managing our waste until there’s a problem, and by that point it can be utterly overwhelming. That’s why MASS works with our clients to implement streamlined systems that prevent problems before they occur and proactively resolve them if they do. Why does this matter? Keep Reading.

Un-managed Waste In Chaos

If you don’t manage your waste, you are risking your liability.

As a business, did you know that you are responsible for absolutely everything that goes into your waste bin? That means you could be held accountable if your business places material that is banned from landfill in your garbage. Or maybe your staff have contaminated your recycling by putting non-recyclable material in it … Did you know that your service provider could issue you a very hefty fine? Violation of material bans and legislation is incredibly risky and could have a severe impact on your operational costs. This is why one of the most valuable benefits of managing your waste is that you are mitigating your liability.

It is important for businesses to be up-to-date with every legislation in their region at the municipal and provincial level. Upon development of a thorough understanding of this legislation, it is imperative to ensure the programs you have on-site meet or exceed these requirements. MASS considers Regulatory Compliance to be paramount in everything that we do. We work tirelessly to protect our clients by future-proofing their operations. We also track each of the programs our clients participate in, so that if there is ever an issue, we can provide documented validation proving that they are in compliance as required. This eliminates the risk of violation notices and fines, and ultimately reduces a lot of headaches down the road.

If you don’t manage your waste, you are risking major operational cost increases.

Protect Your Business From Increasing Costs

Across the country, landfill rates are increasing, surcharges are being issued, and recycling contamination fines are being charged to business in all industries. Business owners and operators who have well-managed waste programs are prepared to combat these obstacles control their costs. But if you don’t have a strong waste management plan, your business is at risk.

MASS utilizes industry-leading protective language in the contracts we negotiate on behalf of our clients. We negotiate exceptional rates and monitor programs with extensive care. Every single monthly invoice from our subcontractors to our clients is closely audited to ensure compliance with the master contract. It is imperative to ensure cost control in an era of massive change in the waste and recycling industry. If your waste program is not being managed, it’s not a question of whether or not you will be negatively
impacted by cost increases – but when.

If you don’t manage your waste, you are not doing your part.

Landfill space across Canada is running out. In Ontario alone, we will need to build 16 new landfills by 2050 if we do not change course. This means it up to us – as citizens, entrepreneurs, managers, employees, business operators, and more – to change the way we think about garbage. A strong waste management program focuses on Waste Diversion. This means considering what you could divert away from landfill and process through an alternative source (think: recycling or compost). If you do not have a good waste management program in place, chances are your business is sending a lot of unnecessary material to landfill.

We must each take responsibility for our environmental impact. We will all leave a footprint on this earth. It is your choice whether that will be a positive or negative one.

Wondering Where To Begin?

MASS Environmental Services Inc. has a proven track record of success working with businesses across Canada.
If you’re looking for an easy way to manage your waste, look no further!
Contact our team today for your no-charge, no commitment cost-savings analysis.
Or, if you’d just like to learn more, visit our FAQ Page by clicking here!

An Inside Look At How MASS Manages Your Waste Programs

October 30, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

At MASS, we understand that as a hard-working business operator, garbage is probably the last thing on your mind.

In the day-to-day operation of your business, it may be surprising to you how much waste, recycling, and other residual material is being produced by your team. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – waste is the direct result of production, and in many cases is unavoidable. But, that doesn’t mean we should ignore it! What’s important is that we take focused action to reduce & divert our waste, all while ensuring we are in regulatory compliance with a continued focus on cost control. This will protect your business, save you money, & engage your staff. Sound like a lot? We get it. That’s where MASS comes in as Canada’s leading solid waste advisory company, with turn-key solutions to make your job easier.

How Does It Work?

MASS Environmental Services Inc. has a proven track record for serving businesses across the country. We service over 1,000 businesses from coast-to-coast, providing them with 24 / 7 / 365 service and expertise. Through the MASS Methodology, these businesses have come to count on our ‘best cost + best service‘ commitment, for all their waste diversion needs. This encompasses many of their services including: waste collection, recycling collection, organics collection, hazardous waste management, biomedical waste management, confidential shredding, confidential plastics destruction, grease trap services, and used cooking oil collection.

To phrase it casually, we are our clients ‘one-stop shop’ for anything and everything to do with waste & garbage. Wondering how this all works? Keep reading!

Step One – Find Out Your Cost-Savings Opportunity

When a new client approaches MASS, it is usually for one of two reasons. Reason One: They’ve had trouble in the past with a traditional waste hauler, and are looking for a way to relieve the stress of managing their waste by utilizing a trusted partner to manage the programs on their behalf. Reason Two: They’ve seen their waste disposal costs rise significantly in the face of increasing landfill rates, contamination charges, and issues with regulatory compliance; and they are looking for a way to control those costs and mitigate their liability. This is where our industry expertise comes in.

Typically, the first of our many programs that MASS sets up for new clients is Non-Hazardous Waste. This refers to waste, recycling, and organics. The first thing we do is provide potential clients with a cost-savings analysis. This is no-commitment and no-charge. The inquiring business will send MASS a copy of their three most recent waste disposal invoices. Our team of professionals will then put together a report identifying what your cost-savings would be upon entry into the MASS program. This report will give you the opportunity to decide whether or not to proceed with our team. If you are happy with the cost-savings opportunity, we will move on to the next step.

Step Two – Making the Move

MASS will review your current contract and will work to make the change-over from your current supplier to the newly selected one as seamless as possible. In this process, we will provide you with 24 / 7 / 365 support, and communicate closely with your staff so they know everything they need to about the change. Our goal is for minimal disruption to your daily operations on change-over day. Once the new service provider is in place, MASS will become your single point of contact for anything you need!

Whether it is extra services, service inquiries, additional containers – anything that comes up pertaining to waste and recycling falls directly in our wheel house, and we will take care of it without hesitation. You will quickly become familiar with our exceptional Customer Service Team as they get to know you and your location in detail.

MASS will also ensure that all of your programs are in compliance with regulations in your area. This will mitigate your liability and eliminate the risk of fines and violation notices. In an increasingly monitored industry, this is more important than ever. Our team will protect your business on a daily basis.

Step Three – Engaging Your Staff

Now that your programs are up and running, you can take advantage of the MASS Education Methodology. We will provide you with visual signage, and you can even schedule an online webinar with our Waste Diversion Educator for your staff. Our goal is to teach your staff how to recycle, but more importantly why it matters. This will motivate and engage your staff to do the right thing, and you will quickly see the results!

Step Four – Taking the Next Steps

Are you interested in participating in a Waste Audit? Are you looking for help with your Hazardous Waste? Do you have a problem with Confidential Shredding or Grease Trap Service? MASS offers a wide range of services to our clients, and we encourage each business we work with the consider these as their next steps to streamlining their services, all while saving money and doing the right thing for the environment. It truly is a win-win!

MASS has a team of professionals who are here to make your life easier.

Let us measure, manage, and oversee your waste programs on a daily basis. Our commitment to industry leading service has earned us a strong reputation for reliability and accountability with our nation-wide clients. We work with businesses in a variety of sectors including: food-services & restaurants, higher education, retail & property management, office spaces, manufacturing & health care.

If you are interested in learning more about MASS or want to get started with our methodology, Contact Us today.

Why Waste Reduction Could Be A Game Changer For Your Business!

October 15, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

Here in Canada, we are currently celebrating #WasteReductionWeek, although at MASS this is the theme of everything we do 365 days a year. However, this week is special nonetheless so in this spirit, we are bringing to you several blog posts featuring this theme. Today, we are focusing on how Waste Reduction could be a game changer for your business, and why it must be focus of the modern work place.

Landfills Are Reaching Capacity

As a privately-owned business, MASS Environmental Services Inc. celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship each and every day. We are proud of our small business roots, and recognize the challenges that business owners face in a changing marketplace. At MASS, we understand how business owners and operators can get so busy with planning for company growth, managing the day-to-day, and setting and achieving their most important goals, that the benefits of Waste Reduction may not always be realized. We understand that sometimes, Waste Reduction may not appear to be the most important priority for businesses. However, we also understand that when Waste Reduction is overlooked, businesses miss out on an opportunity to achieve massive results. Today, we want to open this conversation about why your business should prioritize Waste Reduction, with a few key benefits that are being realized by companies like yours!

Cost Savings – The cost to send material to landfill is significant, and is only going to continue to rise. A focus on Waste Diversion and Waste Reduction will provide your company with the opportunity to achieve significant operational cost savings right away!
Efficiency – Efficient use of materials, packaging, and technology contribute to the efficiency of your team. When looking to Waste Reduction as an opportunity to improve results for your company, prepare for an increase in overall efficiency.
Regulatory Compliance – Are you up to date on the current and upcoming regulations for Waste and Recycling in your area? It is important to be aware of the requirements in your region, or you could be at risk of violation notices and fines. As the industry becomes more highly regulated and monitored, Waste Reduction efforts are one of the very best ways to mitigate the liability of your business.
Team Engagement – Study after study has proven that employees are more engaged when they are connected to the larger purpose of the company they work for. If the larger purpose of your company includes a commitment to leaving behind a thriving earth for the next generation, you can be assured that your team will appreciate this. When they become a part of the mission through staff education, they will embrace their valuable role in Waste Reduction, thus creating a strong sense of purpose and engagement within your company culture.
Reputation – In an era where climate change is in the headlines of our media every single day, companies are expected to do their part to have a positive impact. By committing to reducing your waste, you will reduce the environmental footprint of your company, and have an exceptional accomplishment to share with your clients.
It’s the Right Thing to Do! – Perhaps the most important reason of all, Waste Reduction is the right thing to do. It is imperative that we take focused action to protect our planet. As landfill space becomes more and more limited, we need to make a decision to waste less, and re-use more. As a business, this is an important social responsibility for each of us to take ownership for.

As we celebrate Waste Reduction Week in Canada, we encourage businesses and individuals alike to do their part to reduce their waste and make a difference. Change begins with just one step. Make the choice to take that step today!

If you are looking for information on how MASS can guide you on the path to Waste Reduction, while achieving: Cost Control, Education, and Compliance for your business, please Contact Us today. Our team will be happy to provide a complementary cost-savings analysis to see how the MASS methodology could enhance your operations!

5 Qs with Erik Varner

September 6, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

In the spirit of celebrating our wonderful staff, we sat down with Waste Audit Technician, Erik Varner to learn more about him, and of course, share this with you! Keep reading for his answers to ‘5 Qs with Erik Varner.’

Mount Marcy

Q1. If you could describe a “day-in-the-life” of a MASS Waste Audit Technician in just three words, what would they be?

“Organics. Are. Everywhere”

When it comes to a day in the life of a Waste Audit Technician, you must be prepared to dig through plenty of food organics. Embrace the alone time you and those organics have together. You learn to become best friends with it. Your clothes and the organics will form a special bond that never really goes away. No seriously, the smell never goes away, just buy a new shirt and move on. And remember – every tonne of food-waste we send to landfill creates six metric tonnes of methane gas. The cause is bigger than ourselves. A good Waste Audit Technician never forgets this.

Q2. What has been the most rewarding moment of your work with MASS so far?

For me personally, the most rewarding experience is when you finish a long streak of audits and then finish all the reports. You get to take a deep breath and know with confidence that you did a good job, and have made a difference. Then, it all starts over the next day, but it’s always a new and refreshing experience.

Fredericton, NB Waterfront

Q3. What have you learned or how have you changed since working for MASS?

I’m sure this goes for all employees at MASS: Once you start working here, you really have to learn to recycle properly. If not, be prepared for a barrage of people running around the office asking “Who threw the pop can in the garbage?!” and then you sit in your cubicle quietly contemplating all your life’s mistakes. You learn quickly that there are no excuses for bad waste diversion.

Q4. What do you like best about working with our clients?

I love working face to face with people to whom recycling is a new concept. That’s the best part. You get to educate people on how to know better, and then do better. The world needs more people who aren’t afraid to ask questions and try to make a difference.

Lake Ontario

Q5. What is the one thing about you that may surprise your co-workers and / or clients to hear?

I’m sure all of our clients would be surprised to hear that we really do love going through their garbage. There really is so much to learn about a location based on what goes into the waste and recycling. It’s fascinating work, and allows us to gather valuable data that can really make a difference!

For more about Erik and the rest of our team, CLICK HERE!

MASS Environmental Services Inc. is a family owned and operated company built upon a value system of integrity and accountability. Our staff proudly exhibit these traits & make our company continually successful. Thank you to each of our team members for all that they do!

5 Qs with Jesse Moring

September 4, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

The Moring Family

Our Administration Manager, Jesse Moring has a big role to fill here at MASS! Since joining our team in October 2017, he has become a crucial asset to what we do. In his position, Jesse is responsible for Accounts Receivable and Payable, Human Resources, and Information Technology – which means that he keeps very, very busy!

When Jesse goes home at the end of the day, the busyness definitely doesn’t stop! Jesse, and his fantastic wife Laurel are parents to three adorable young boys, and are actively involved in their community.

In recognition of all that Jesse does, we wanted to take this opportunity and celebrate him and his hard work. Keep reading for “5 Questions with Jesse Moring,” and CLICK HERE to learn more about him and the rest of our team!

Q1. What first sparked your interest in working for MASS Environmental Services Inc.?

I first applied for after a recommendation that the Brown’s were looking to fill a position with someone with my skill set and background. The person who recommended the position to me also told me how wonderful the family is, which was great to hear. I quickly became interested in learning more. After meeting George and Marnie (our President and Vice-President), I started to really see how it could be a great fit. The passion they both show for their work is contagious, and after that first meeting, I was able to develop a better grasp of what MASS offers, and who MASS is as a team, and family, I knew it would be a fantastic place to work.

Q2. What do you like to do outside of work?

Lately, most of my ‘outside-of-work’ hours have been devoted to renovating our house. When we aren’t busy renovating, my wife, Laurel and I enjoy relaxing together and playing board games. Of course, this is all in-between taking the kids to their baseball and jujitsu practices. Parenting definitely keeps us busy!

Q3. When you envision how Canada will evolve as we move into the future, what do you hope to see change (in terms of waste, recycling, and environmental initiatives) for our country?

When I look to the future of Waste Diversion in Canada, I believe more people will become aware of their own impact. Individually, we each have a role to play, and we should be trying our hardest to minimize our footprints. I know a lot of people tend to think their individual environmental impact is too small to make a difference, but this could not be further from the truth. Large changes are made up of many smaller ones coming together. As Canadians, I hope we can shift our perspective to see that that every little bit helps, no matter how small.

Q4. What have you learned or how have you changed since working for MASS?

The world of waste and recycling is a system that is vital to everyone, but not something that many of us actually spend time thinking about.

The Moring Family

Since I have started working for MASS I have learned, and am still learning how this system operates. This is a part of each of our daily lives, and something we each should make an effort to become more educated on, in order to do our part for sustainability.

Q5. What is it like working in a family business?

Having a young family of my own, it is interesting to also get to experience the dynamic of working in a family business. My experience with MASS has really brought home what a “team” should be. Family is a huge part of who I am, and working in an environment where everyone is on the ‘same team’ in the way that a family is, is a very special experience, and one that I am glad to be a part of!

Waste Less At Work

August 13, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

As the waste and recycling industry continues to evolve and change, each of us has a responsibility to take control over our own individual environmental footprint. Our team at MASS has been heartened to see so much engagement from the global community, as people around the world make small changes in their daily lives to create less waste. Together, each of these little steps forward have the power to come together as a larger impact.

Beyond our daily lives at home, there is another – just as crucial – space in many of our lives that provides us with a great opportunity for environmental action. As indicated by the title of this blog, we are referring to our places of work.

Whatever your work environment may be, taking action to reduce the waste you generate and divert what’s left from landfill is a key step to true sustainability. Below, we have outlined our TOP 5 TIPS to reduce waste at work. After you’ve finished reading, don’t forget to comment and let us know what actions you and your co-workers have taken to reduce your environmental impact!

Reduce Paper Consumption

In many offices, going completely paperless just isn’t possible. But what can definitely be implemented is a focus on reduction! There are a few key ways to go about this:

Change the setting on your office printers so that they automatically print everything double-sided (this will cut paper usage in half). Just ensure there is an option to change this setting in case one of your colleagues is putting together a project that requires single-sided printing!
Put ‘Paper Usage’ on the agenda for your next team meeting. Ask your team to consider whether they are hitting that ‘Print’ button out of habit, or if the documents they are sending to the printer truly need to be in hard-copy form.
Digitize your inter-office communication! Memos, document sharing, scheduling & more can all be done online! Move towards a digital system for your inter-office communication, and keep hard copy printed documents to the bare minimum.

Start an E-Waste Program

Set a meeting with your IT department to launch a sustainable plan to handle Electronic Waste! This is crucial step to minimizing your environmental footprint. Items to consider include:

Ink Cartridges & Toners – Most of these will be accepted back by their manufacturer or distributor for recycling. If your office is not already participating in a program like this, ask whoever orders the supplies to inquire about program availability!
Laptops, Computers, Printers, Cell Phones & More – When your office equipment needs replaced, your old equipment can often be recycled! Investigate local opportunities (our tip: check out not-for-profit groups) in your area. Many organizations are constantly looking for old computer equipment to refurbish, and they will take yours at no charge. Just be sure to have your hard-drive wiped clean (we encourage you to have a professional take care of this) before handing off any IT equipment for recycling.

Start an Office Compost Program

In the face of a changing waste industry, the value of recyclables is declining. As recycling programs become more limited, one way that we can still be sure to have Waste Diversion success is through a compost program. Many regions offer commercial organics pick-up, which is a great option for businesses who wish to collect their food-waste and have it collected by an outside supplier. This is a program that MASS manages for many of our locations across Canada. Another option, however is implementing a compost system right on-site. For small-to-medium sized offices like ours, a
Food Cycler is a great solution! We have one of these set up in the kitchen area of the MASS office! Our team members load their food waste into it throughout the day. Every evening when we leave the office, the lid goes on, and we cycle the unit. When we return the next morning, we have a nutrient-rich soil-amendment that we can use on our own gardens!

Gather Data: Participate in a Waste Audit

One of the most important parts of the MASS Methodology is gathering, analyzing, and applying solutions based off data and evidence. This means that when we launch waste diversion programs, we love to conduct a Waste Audit first, thus giving us a detailed understanding of what the site is generating and sending to (or diverting from) landfill on a daily basis. A Waste Audit is your first step towards waste diversion success. We often say: “If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” and we truly believe this to be true! In Ontario, many businesses are actually regulated to complete Waste Audits on an annual basis by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. Learn more about how your workplace may benefit by participating in a Waste Audit by
contacting us today.

Reduce, Reduce, Reduce!

Look around your workplace, and take a visual inventory on what type of garbage you can see being generated. Are people drinking out of plastic water bottles? Or perhaps there are a few too many disposable coffee cups filling your waste bin. Gather your team together to discuss what you see, and what practices you could enact as a team to minimize the amount of garbage you are actually creating. At MASS, we have eliminated disposable coffee cups and water bottles from our office (we have a water cooler and coffee pot with water glasses and coffee mugs available at all times!), and consistently review what types of one-time use packaging is being brought into our office. Whenever we see a problem we work together to find a solution. While it may not all happen today, change is a work in progress; and we are proud of the direction our office is headed in!

At MASS, we always say: Change Begins With Just One Step! We believe that taking just one of these steps will help you and your co-workers to create a more sustainable office environment one day at a time. Comment below and let us know what actions you have taken to reduce waste at your workplace. We would love to hear from you!

All Photos Used On This Blog Post Are From: https://unsplash.com/

A Guest Post From Our Summer Student – Paul Turcotte

July 26, 2018 by Heather Varner Leave a Comment

Paul Turcotte is a 2018 graduate from Cobourg Collegiate Institute. He will be heading to the University of Guelph in the fall, and has joined our Waste Audit Team for the summer. Joining us as a summer student has given Paul an opportunity to gain insight into the world of waste and recycling. In this blog post, he shares how this job has changed and enhanced the role of waste diversion in his daily life.

Working for the Waste Audit team at MASS Environmental Services Inc. has been a great summer job so far. Being on the road with the team has got to be one of the best experiences I’ve had. This is my first time working in a close team environment, and it’s been very positive.

Doing Waste Audits means that I am on the road anywhere from 2 days a week, all the way to 5 days at a time. Spending a lot of time on the road doing audits means that in just 4 weeks working with MASS, I have already had lots of experience with learning what goes into which bin when it comes to recycling, compost and waste. In this role, the lingo that you pick up will stick with you quickly. Terms and concepts like ‘Bin Volume,’ ‘PETE recycling’ and ‘HPDE recycling’ (the audit team abbreviates this to just ‘H’) have become a part of my daily vocabulary. I’ve learned about the differences between Single-Stream-Recycling vs. separated recycling programs – for example: Cardboard Only recycling.

So, what have these things changed in my everyday life when it comes to waste? I’ve started paying more attention to the little things. Before I started here, I was a pretty good recycler and composter and I knew what materials went into which containers (most of the time). Now though, when I place recyclables into the recycling bin, I will check the bottom of the container to see what type of plastic it is. Another part of life that this job has made me more aware of is my environmental footprint. By this, I don’t only mean the garbage at home, but the garbage that I am using and producing on-the-go. For example, when I eat at a restaurant, I now think about things like “what food packaging am I creating in the waste stream when I order this meal?” I’ve also learned to take actions like asking for my drink to be served without a straw, because I know that a plastic straw will end up in the waste.

Seeing the behind the scenes of waste & recycling has opened my eyes to how much waste we, as humans, are actually producing. In just four weeks, I know that I have only seen a sliver of what is actually out there. All this knowledge and insight to waste is not only something I will learn and hold onto while at MASS, but afterwards as well. For my post-secondary education, I am planning to study business. One thing a lot of entrepreneurs probably don’t consider when starting a business, is garbage. But personally, I believe that as we continue on as a society, and our landfills fill up, it is going to become even more of a problem. I believe waste and recycling should be one of the first things that entrepreneurs consider and plan for, when starting a business. As the landfills fill up, I believe people should become more aware of what their environmental footprint is. Having a strong recycling plan is a good safeguard for when those problems occur down the road.

Overall, this experience is one that I think people of all ages should have at least once in their life. We are all on this earth, and we all play a part in protecting it. It would make sense for everyone to know the size of the mark they are leaving. But for now, I will keep doing my part to reduce as much as I can.