Berkshire Businesses Awarded Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grant

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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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Hoosac Valley School Committee Holds First Meeting of Academic Year

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley School Committee Monday reflected on the recent loss of a high school graduate and looked at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
 
"It's been a tough couple of weeks in the school," Superintendent Aaron Dean told the committee at its monthly meeting. "Our team has done a great job supporting the kids, supporting the family.
 
"It's a really tough thing to go through. It's not the way we wanted to start the school year in any way. Condolences go out to all who were impacted."
 
The committee heard that memorials on the middle-high school campus are being considered to recognize 2026 graduate Jayquan Williams. The district is planning to let his family and students be part of the process in deciding how to honor Williams.
 
A major part of the committee's first meeting of the school year was hearing updates from the district's three building principals about the start of classes.
 
The newest principal, Dwayne Chamble, told the panel that he is "laser focused" on building relationships at the middle school.
 
Chamble said he has made a point of being present during recess, lunch, pickup and dropoff and transition times in the hall.
 
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