Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility is a source separated facility that helps to give items a second life and keep them out of landfill. Now prohibited from trash disposal, nearly 100% of textiles, mattresses, old T-shirts and socks, footwear, curtains, sheets and stuffed animals donated to Wellesley RDF are reused or recycled. Join us on our trip to the Town of Wellesley and see this operation with over 30 sorts for yourself!

12:30pm – 3:00pm

This tour will include an overview of testing for PET, HDPE Rigid, PP Rigid, and PE Film, covering both laboratory and processing equipment. It will begin with a general introduction to the test methods commonly used at PFE to meet global plastics recycling requirements. All equipment is designed to adapt to the varying standards and expectations set by RecyClass and the APR (Association of Plastic Recyclers). PFE laboratory is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, ensuring the highest standards of testing quality and reliability. This tour is for CGPs, Retailers and Plastic Packaging Manufacturers only. Dress code: Closed toe shoes only.

12:30pm – 5:15pm

Tour Casella Waste Systems’ newly upgraded Boston facility, the largest MRF on the East Coast and the fourth-largest in the country! This $20 million renovation expanded capacity from 500 to 1,500 tons, integrating more operating flexibility, new artificial intelligence and sorting capabilities, cleaner commodities and a lower headcount. First, visitors will convene in the MRF education room for an overview of Casella’s recycling program and a description of the recently renovated Charlestown facility. Next, they will walk through the facility with a guide to observe the operation. Finally, the group will return to the education room for questions and discussion. You won’t want to miss this!

12:45pm – 2:45pm

Fall is harvest season! Cranberries reach their peak of color and flavor and are ready for harvesting. That’s when Ocean Spray’s growers harvest millions of pounds of cranberries, and you can learn more about their process. This tour will begin with light snacks at the Ocean Spray office, followed by an informative presentation where you will get to learn about OSC’s sustainability strategy and initiatives. Then, a bus will transport attendees to tour a local cranberry bog, where you will get to meet an Ocean Spray Grower-Owner and experience the beautiful harvest! This tour will be rain or shine so we recommend dressing in layers and closed toed, flat shoes or boots.

1pm – 6:30pm

Take a trip to Somerville, MA to see the sustainable sourcing and processing practices at Taza Chocolate and Portico Brewing! On the first part of the tour, you’ll be able to see Taza Chocolate’s grinding and depositing rooms from their factory store. You’ll learn about the growth and harvesting of cacao, Taza’s Direct Trade sourcing methods and our unique stone ground chocolate making process. You’ll also sample lots of chocolate along the way with their awesome team of Chocolate Guides! Next up, the tour group will walk over to Portico Brewing nearby to get a behind-the-scenes look at their small but mighty 3.5-barrel brewhouse and small-batch fermentation setup, featuring both 3.5- and 7-barrel tanks. Learn how they blend craft, creativity, and a love of design to create their rotating lineup of beers — then enjoy a pour in Portico’s taproom, just steps from where it was brewed. Along the way, you’ll hear about their brewing philosophy, how they name their beers (spoiler: it’s often inspired by architecture and design), and what makes their process unique.

1:20pm – 4:30pm