Press Release: 10/16/2026

Senator Eldridge and Representative Cataldo announce an $80,000 grant for food reuse programming by the Boston Gleaners in Acton

 

Oct 15

Boston Gleaners has received $80,000 in funding through the Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grants Program, which will be used to expand Boston Gleaners’ surplus food collection and reuse operations.

ACTON – State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and State Representative Simon Cataldo (D-Concord) are happy to announce that the Boston Gleaners in Acton have received $80,000 through the Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grants Program from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as part of its Fiscal Year 2026 cycle. 

The grant funding will be used to expand Boston Gleaners surplus food collection and reuse operations for the region. Specifically, the Gleaners will be able to purchase an additional refrigerated truck to enhance their efforts in both collecting and distributing surplus food. This work not only curbs unnecessary food waste, but also fills current gaps in food services and distribution supply chains.  

The Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grant is funded through the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program Expendable Trust which was enacted by the legislature in 2008 with the passage of the Green Communities Act. The aim of the grant program is to strengthen the green transition by supporting business lead efforts that keep valuable materials in use and out of landfills. Embracing repurposing practices generate clear economic benefits for communities alongside enhancing public health and environmental sustainability. MassDEP looks to encourage businesses to invest in these practices to improve their communities and develop innovative waste reduction strategies. 

The Boston Gleaners work across eastern and central Massachusetts to support local farmers, reduce food waste, and foster food services that provide healthy options to all. These intersectional goals all work toward creating a strong local food service sector that breaks down historical barriers and inequities faced by low-income residents. The Boston Gleaners operations include leading farm-level food recovery work and robust intersectional programs that address food insecurity across the region. 

“I was thrilled to see the Boston Gleaners receive a Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), to expand their food recovery and reuse program through the purchase of an additional refrigerated truck. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and MassDEP for recognizing and supporting the important mission of the Boston Gleaners,” said State Senator Eldridge (D-Marlborough). “This grant will reduce food waste, curb food insecurity, and increase environmentally sound supply chains for the district that I represent.” 

“At a time when many families are struggling with the cost of groceries, we should be doing everything we can to supply healthy, unprocessed, high quality food to people who need it,” said State Representative Simon Cataldo (D-Concord). “This investment will help Boston Gleaners reach more of our neighbors. I’m grateful to MassDEP for supporting this work and to the Gleaners’ staff and volunteers for the care and dedication they bring to it.”

“We are deeply grateful to Mass DEP for their continued support of our food recovery activities.  This grant will allow us to purchase a larger capacity truck increasing our ability to recover and distribute more fresh produce to our communities,” said the Boston Gleaners’ Executive Director, Usha Thakrar. “With recent additional changes to SNAP benefits, our food access partners are seeing more demand and this funding will allow us to serve them better.”

Visit the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grant page to learn more information about the grant and the allocation of funds. 

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