Bentley University Named Educator Of The Year

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is pleased to announce that Bentley University was recently honored for their leadership in sustainability at the inaugural Casella Sustainability Leadership Award Ceremony.

Bentley was honored as the 2020 Educator of the Year for creating robust markets for implementing educational campaigns to engage their communities, customers, employees, and/or students in good recycling and food waste programs.

“It gives us a sense of great pride to honor the entire Bentley University team for their leadership and outstanding work in advancing sustainability,” said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO. “We hope that by bringing attention to their efforts, others will be inspired by their passion, commitment, and success.”

Bentley was among 30 Casella customers, including municipalities, colleges and universities, industrial manufacturers, food and beverage producers, and others nominated for their efforts. Winners were chosen by a panel of Casella executives and sustainability experts, including True Zero Waste Advisors, who evaluated each nominee on several criteria.

“This fall we had an opportunity to implement a post-consumer composting program in our dining halls to try and divert some of the additional waste which was being generated due to COVID-19,” said Sophie Rodgers, Manager of Sustainability at Bentley. “Casella, our food service provider, our facilities management team, and our sustainability team came together to implement the program which required A LOT of education. Our waste minimization task force through partnership with Casella has helped us manage this heavy lift project and create buy-in across campus.”

Bentley has created a model that today shapes the way Casella interacts with all of its university customers. With its Waste Minimization Task Force, Bentley convenes stakeholders monthly to discuss and advance waste minimization programs, ensuring an ongoing focus and strong campus-wide education and outreach. One of this group's most significant and visible successes has been the campus' ambitious green move out program, a huge operational undertaking requiring seamless logistics, education, and coordination over the course of several days at the end of each semester.

“We’ve spent more than 45 years working towards a more sustainable future, and as we strive to help our customers reach their sustainability goals it is an honor to recognize their collective efforts. The customers and communities we have the privilege of serving are leading the way and inspiring others to live and work more sustainability and that continues to be the most rewarding part of our work,” Casella said.

View all of the 2020 Casella Sustainable Leadership Award Winners