Earth Bio Technologies and Harvard University

November 20, 2023

We are pleased to welcome Earth Bio Technologies as a new Supporting Advisory Members to the Northeast Recycling Council

In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that annual food loss and waste in the United States equaled the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), “when food ends up in landfills, it generates methane, an even more potent greenhouse gas.”


“The connection between food loss and waste and climate change is increasingly recognized as important,” USDA observed.

New NERC Advisory Member Earth Bio Technologies states, “Our mission is to enhance environmental initiatives, improve operations through prevention, and return bottom-line savings to our clients who drive the food service industry.” The company offers several proprietary formulas to biologically break down organic wastes in drain systems, grease traps & lift stations. The company also manufactures drain system safeguard solutions to prevent solids from causing blockages.


Noting that “roughly 35% of all food produced goes uneaten with most ending up in landfill as one of the largest waste streams by weight,” Earth Bio Tech developed a product it named Compolizer, which it describes as “as a remediation agent by accelerating the decomposition of organic material.” A recent development in the company’s extensive line of products is the ScrapDrain – Sink Solids Separator.


ScrapDrain “captures food scrap before it enters the drain line with greater capacity & finer collection,” the company states. “It keeps drains and septic systems clear from solids while helping to promote landfill diversion using compost options.”


A local new source in Earth Bio Tech’s hometown of Glendale PA covered the product launch in an article entitled Glenside’s EarthBio Technologies launches ScrapDrain.


The article reports:

“There is a long-standing belief that garbage disposals are eco-friendly. As Douglas Horner, managing director of EarthBio points out, ‘The operating facts suggest otherwise since garbage disposals use lots of electricity, loads of extra water, and produce a slurry of solids.’ This slurry, according to Horner, travels into our waterways to our wastewater treatment plants where the solids are screened out and trucked off to landfill.” “A cycle of futility”, Horner says.


ScrapDrain delivers 8x more capacity than the average sink strainer, the company reports. For residential applications, the food waste rinses into ScrapDrain where it is collected and strained. In a single motion, the stainless collection basket allows for simple transfer to the collection bin. For commercial applications, ScrapDrain prevents food solids from clogging the drain line and building up in the grease trap. As a result, the grease trap works more efficiently, and the drain lines stays clear and flowing.


Building upon its long history of addressing food waste and practical solutions to it, NERC welcomes Earth Bio Tech to its growing roster of Advisory Members. We look forward to cooperating with Earth Bio Tech in finding solutions to the issue of food waste.


For more information about Earth Bio Tech click here

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RecycleMe

February 20, 2025
As a leader in sustainability, RecycleMe has become an expert in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Globally, they are relied upon by leading brands to help them achieve sustainable product packaging with top-tier EPR consulting. This expertise is fueled by their four guiding principles: Innovation, Sustainability, Global Best Practices, and Teamwork. As an innovator, RecycleMe ensures its team of experts remains ahead of the curve, using the latest solutions when working with their clients to meet their needs at the highest level. Conserving resources and closing loops is a longstanding leading commitment of theirs. By keeping those commitments at the forefront, sustainability is always at the foundation of their work. Recycle ME has locations in 10 countries worldwide, allowing them to build a strong global community network.  NERC is excited to welcome RecycleMe to its team of Advisory Members. We look forward to working with them and supporting their extensive engagement and dedication to sustainable practices.

Drop in Commodity Values and Expansion of Participating States and Material Recovery Facilities

By Megan Fontes • February 11, 2025
NERC’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Commodity Values Survey Report for the period October - December 2024 showed a drop in the average commodity price for Q4. The average value of all commodities decreased by 23% without residuals and 26% with residuals compared to last quarter. Single stream decreased by 28% without residuals and 32% with residuals, while dual stream / source separated decreased by 15% without residuals and 17% with residuals compared to last quarter. This is the 23rd quarterly report in NERC’s series of reports on the market value of commodities from MRFs in the Northeast. This report includes information from twelve (12) states with the addition of Connecticut: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. The number of participating MRFs increased from 15 to 19 as compared to last quarter. These survey results reflect the differing laws and collection options in the participating states. Five of the states included in this report have beverage container deposit laws. As a result, fewer glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminum cans are processed in MRFs in those states. Those MRFs are also likely to have less revenue from those recyclables. In addition, the report reflects a mix of single stream, dual stream, and source separation to collect recyclables with single stream being the most common approach. The type of collection used will have an impact on MRF design and operation. Thus, the data from this report reflects the unique blend of facilities and statewide laws in the reporting states. Residual refers to the incoming material that cannot be marketed and goes to disposal. The value without residuals reflects the value of a perfect ton of marketed material, while the value with residuals reflects the value of each ton processed with the costs associated of disposing unmarketable material. Note: In many cases, recovered glass goes to market but at a negative value. This data is not intended to be used as a price guide for MRF contracts. NERC’s database represents single and dual stream MRFs, states with and without beverage container deposits, a wide variety in markets and geographic access to markets, and variety of materials collected for processing at the participating facilities. As a result, it represents the diversity of operating conditions in these locations and should not be used as a price guideline for a specific program. For more information, contact Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, at megan@nerc.org .

Northeast Recycling Council’s Fall Conference Focuses on Environmental Issues and Embraces Waste Challenges

By Waste Advantage • December 19, 2024
Waste Advantage  During the last week of October, the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) held their annual Fall Conference in partnership with State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s (SUNY ESF) Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM), and in collaboration with Syracuse University’s Institute for Sustainability Engagement in Syracuse New York. The conference featured three days of great discussion about the complex challenges that come with waste and recycling, circularity, packaging, sustainability, and other important topics around the industry. View the Full Article Here
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