Berkshire Businesses Awarded Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grant

08:10AM / Friday, September 25, 2026Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded?more than $1.7 million in Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grants to 16 companies.

In Berkshire County, Second Chance Composting of Savoy was awarded $60,000, Casella Waste Management of Cheshire was awarded $449,721 and Tommy's Compost Service of Lanesborough was awarded $145,500.

These grants, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), will allow recycling companies across Massachusetts to expand their collection and processing capabilities.

"Massachusetts businesses are finding smart, practical ways to reduce waste and keep valuable materials in use," said Governor Maura Healey. "These grants will help local companies grow, expand recycling and reuse options, and support cleaner, healthier communities across our state."

MassDEP's Reuse Business Development Grants (RBDG) program awarded $818,595 to 12 businesses to improve recycling collection for materials prohibited from disposal, including mattresses, textiles, and commercial food waste. The program awarded $919,436 to 4 businesses for new or expanded reuse, recycling, or composting operations.

Awardees must demonstrate a clear economic benefit for Massachusetts. Equipment purchased with grant funding must be used only to collect or process the approved material in Massachusetts for at least three years. RBDG collection grants support projects that collect targeted materials such as food for donation and food waste. RBDG processing grants support projects that reuse or process targeted materials including plastic films and wraps, reusable materials, household hazardous waste, textiles for recycling, food materials, solar panels, and bulk rigid plastics.

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Cheshire Select Board Centralizes Public Records Requests Under Town Administrator's Office

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
03:03PM / Monday, November 02, 2026

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Amid an increase in public records requests, the Cheshire Select Board designated the town administrator's office as the town's records access officer to streamline the process.

Public records requests have become increasingly complex and time-consuming, with some involving litigation, requiring redactions, or qualifying for response extensions and fees, Town Administrator Jennifer Morse said during the board's meeting Tuesday

One recent records request would have taken three hours of the fire chief's time, Morse said, when the individual withdrew it after being informed of a $25 fee.

Morse said the current process can create confusion because Town Clerk Whitney Flynn will distribute the requests to everyone, making it difficult to track which requests have been responded to.

"I think that having a lot of people involved in the process makes it more difficult to have that accountability, and it's a liability if we're not on top of it. So, certainly, it is important to streamline it," Flynn added.

The board clarified that designating the town administrator's office as the records access officer would not change responsibility for maintaining town records, which will remain with the town clerk's office.

Under the new arrangement, the Town Administrator's office will serve as the central point for incoming requests, route them to the appropriate departments, and track responses, Morse said.

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