METHUEN — A manufacturer in the old Malden Mills complex hosted an Earth Day factory tour on April 16 that brought together leaders focused on building cleaner, more beautiful, and more sustainable communities.
The company, Bigbelly, partnered with MassRecycle Inc. for the tour that included attendees from across New England, including municipal and university leaders, sustainability professionals, and business leaders, Bigbelly officials said.
Miguel Figueroa of Lawrence, left, and Geuris Garcia of Lawrence, during the April 16 Bigbelly Earth Day tour.
MassRecycle is a nonprofit that advances sustainable materials management by bringing together municipalities, institutions, and businesses.
“At MassRecycle, we focus on creating opportunities for people to experience sustainable materials management firsthand,” MassRecycle Executive Director Abbey Massaro said. “Today’s tour was a great example of what sustainable materials management looks like in practice.
“Seeing how Bigbelly’s products are made and having the chance to connect with others in the field made this a really valuable experience for our network.”
MassRecycle regularly hosts such tours to help members and partners see solutions in action, share ideas, and strengthen collaboration across communities and organizations, she said.
In the historic former Malden Mills complex that straddles the cities of Methuen and Lawrence, Bigbelly’s facility is the company’s sole manufacturing location, where every unit deployed around the world is assembled.
Bigbelly supports more than 4,000 customers across 65 countries bringing locally built innovation to communities around the globe, officials said.
Wilkento Therlant of Lowell at work during the April 16 Bigblly Earth Day tour with MassRecycle Inc.
During the tour, attendees learned how Bigbelly’s systems are designed to deliver both operational performance and environmental impact.
Fully enclosed bins eliminate overflow, litter, and pests—helping maintain cleaner, more welcoming public spaces.
Solar-powered compaction technology delivers up to five times the capacity of traditional bins, while real-time “know when to go” data enables cities and campuses to reduce collections by up to 80% —cutting truck traffic, lowering emissions, and improving efficiency.
The benefits extend beyond operations.
By preventing litter at the source and improving containment, Bigbelly systems help protect waterways, reduce plastic pollution, and support recycling and composting programs. Smart compost solutions further enable communities to divert organic waste from landfills—reducing methane emissions and advancing climate goals.
“Public spaces are where life happens—and how they look and function shapes how people experience a community,” said Michelle Firmbach, Bigbelly’s director of marketing and a MassRecycle board member.
“This tour is about showing how better infrastructure can create cleaner, more beautiful, and more welcoming environments. When we bring together performance, sustainability, and design, we can transform everyday spaces—All Together Better.”
She said together, these solutions support a more holistic approach to public space management—one that combines sustainability with placemaking. Cleaner, well-maintained environments improve environmental outcomes and create spaces that feel safer, more inviting, and more vibrant for residents, visitors, and communities alike.
Bigbelly, a manufacturer in the old Malden Mills complex, hosted an April 16 Earth Day factory tour that brought together leaders focused on building cleaner, more beautiful, and more sustainable communities. The company partnered with MassRecycle for the tour that included attendees from across New England, including municipal and university leaders, sustainability professionals, and business leaders, Bigbelly officials said.
Article written by Jill Harmacinski, jharmacinski@eagletribune.com. Originally published by The Eagle Tribune at eagletribune.com.
