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Bright Feeds, Connecticut’s New Food Waste Recycler, Opens Plant in Berlin
Bright Feeds Launch
Katie Dykes, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), cuts the ribbon at Bright Feeds' new plant in Berlin, CT
Bright Feeds, a New England-based green startup, opened its first food waste processing plant in Berlin, Connecticut, last week. Licensed to process 450 tons of food waste per day for the next 10 years, the plant is positioned to fill a waste processing gap left by the July 2022 closure of the MIRA plant in nearby Hartford.
"With Bright Feeds here, we have a bright future in Connecticut," says Katie Dykes, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). "I'm excited about what this could mean, not just for Berlin, but for helping Connecticut solve this waste disposal crisis in a really exciting way."
Bright Feeds' 25,000-square-foot plant uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence and drying technology to convert unwanted food into an all-natural, nutritious soy and corn substitute for animal feed. Bright Feeds developed its proprietary drying technology with engineers at Boston College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. It uses best-in-class technology sourced from around the globe, and manufactured and assembled in the U.S.
At capacity, the environmental impact of the Berlin plant is equivalent to removing 22,000 cars from the road every year. The carbon-negative process uses less energy and is more scalable than other food waste recycling solutions.
"Not only are we solving the food waste problem, but we're doing it in a way that's more efficient than anything else commercially available," says Bright Feeds President and COO Tim Rassias.
Food waste is a key contributor to climate change:
- Globally, if food waste were a country, it would be the third greatest greenhouse gas emitter after China and the U.S. (World Resources Institute).
- In the U.S., about 40% of food is never eaten—and nearly 70% of that waste typically ends up in landfills or greenhouse gas-emitting incinerators (USDA; EPA).
- New England produced over 2 million tons of food waste in 2019, with 520,000 tons produced in Connecticut, where food makes up about 22% of disposed waste (Connecticut waste study).
"41% of what we burn and bury every year is actually valuable material: It's food scraps, it's yard waste, it's all kinds of organics that are incredibly valuable and can be repurposed," says Dykes. "The Bright Feeds model is, for the first time, at scale, turning food waste into a food source for animals, which is one of the best uses for organic material under Connecticut's waste hierarchy."
According to the EPA, feeding animals is the top solution for reducing food waste after feeding hungry people.
"Yes, we can turn it into compost. Yes, we can turn it into energy. Those are all good—but the best thing is to take this stuff and preserve it as food and use it," says Bright Feeds Board Chairman and investor Scott Kalb. "That's what we're doing."
Thanks to its pioneering technology, Bright Feeds can accept a wider variety of food waste than its competitors: not just dry, grain-based waste, but also vegetables, fruit, and other wet waste.
"We're a one-stop shop for food waste," says CEO Jonathan Fife. "We built our whole process around taking a variety of inputs and producing a consistent, high-quality feed."
Using a variety of food waste enables Bright Feeds to consistently produce a highly nutritious product. Bright Feeds then sells the meal to animal feed manufacturers who use it as an ingredient in their feed.
Bright Feeds keeps food out of the waste stream—and saves money for food producers, waste management companies, and municipalities.
New England's ongoing waste crisis calls for creative solutions. With shrinking landfill space, higher gas prices, and multiplying tipping fees, businesses and municipalities face increasing challenges on what to do with their trash.
Bright Feeds enables the responsible disposal of unwanted food for a fraction of typical tipping fees.
The Berlin plant is located between I-91 and I-84, near USA Waste's new recycling center and with easy access to New York City and Massachusetts. Bright Feeds also has a collection point in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and others in the works. The company plans to scale up with additional plants first in New England and then throughout the country.
Contact Information:
Laxmi Wordham
[email protected]
917-319-9329
Press Release Service by Newswire.com
Original Source: Bright Feeds, Connecticut's New Food Waste Recycler, Opens Plant in Berlin
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The Race to the Diamond: Morristown’s Braunschweiger Jewelers is Giving Away a 1-Carat Diamond...
1-Carat Diamond Engagement Ring
Photo of a woman's hand with a diamond engagement ring in front of Braunschweiger Jewelers' storefront.
Braunschweiger Jewelers, a fifth-generation family-owned jewelry store and landmark in the downtown Morristown community for more than 50 years, is holding their second Diamond Dash this Saturday, Nov. 5, in Morristown, where one lucky couple will win a 1-carat diamond engagement ring.
"We're so excited to bring back the Diamond Dash this year," says Robin Braunschweiger Silva, Braunschweiger's Marketing and Events Manager. "After not being able to have it for a few years, we can't wait to see which lucky couple will get to the ring first."
The participants in Braunschweiger's Diamond Dash will be tasked with a series of clues as they race across Morristown. In 2019, couples visited other local businesses to participate in nearly a dozen challenges, ranging from guessing the type of wine in a blind tasting, a pasta eating challenge and dressing up in bridal gowns. This year, even more Morristown businesses have joined in on the fun and have offered great second- and third-place prizes, along with free gifts in the 'swag bag' that each competitor will receive.
The first couple to solve all the clues, finish the tasks and find where the ring is hidden will claim the ultimate prize - a solitaire 1-carat diamond engagement ring. But there's a twist - the winning couple must get engaged on the spot.
Braunschweiger Jewelers, located in Morristown for more than 50 years and in New Providence for 60-plus years, is known for featuring styles with modern yet timeless design, and for its impeccable use of exquisite-colored gemstones and diamonds and distinctive details. Its elite collections cater to a savvy clientele that seeks pieces from renowned designers like Marco Bicego and John Hardy, premier bridal selections, and unique estate pieces. The Braunschweiger philosophy guarantees the highest quality pieces that are born of superior craftsmanship and are consistently up to date with the newest trends. Braunschweiger Jewelers has been providing unparalleled service and selection since the 1930s. In 2021, Braunschweiger Jewelers won the NJ Family Business of Year award, coordinated by the Rothman Institute, part of Fairleigh Dickinson University. The company is regularly featured in top magazines and has received "best of" awards from NJ Bride, New Jersey Monthly, The Knot, Morris/Essex Health & Life Best of Morris Essex, and The Daily Record. Braunschweiger Jewelers recently earned distinction during the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards.®
For more information and store locations, visit www.braunschweiger.com.
Contact Information:
Robin Silva
Marketing & Events Manager
[email protected]
973-538-2189
Press Release Service by Newswire.com
Original Source: The Race to the Diamond: Morristown's Braunschweiger Jewelers is Giving Away a 1-Carat Diamond Engagement Ring to One Lucky NJ Couple