Home & Garden

Framingham Couple Wins National Award for Their Recycling Efforts

Barbara and Dave Sherman launched ReFoamIt in 2009 at an event at Grace Congregational Church, and now it is a full-time business with a national award.

ReFoamIt creators Barbara and Dave Sherman of Framingham, were recognized nationally for their efforts to make the planet greener for their Framingham-based company's efforts to recycle Styrofoam.

ReFoamIt was recently award a 2014 Excellence in EPS Recycling Award, its first national award.

The Excellence in EPS Recycling Award was created to recognize outstanding achievements and best practices in foam recycling, including special initiatives, innovation and technology advancement. 

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Other award winners in 2014 included The City of Houston, NOVA Chemicals and the Pennsylvania Resource Council and Nine Live Products.

The Shermans launched their Styrofoam™ recycling program in Massachusetts in 2009. They now have a corporate office in Framingham and a processing facility is located in Leominster.  In 2013, the new venture became a full-time, family-run operation and their primary source of income.

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The Shermans, who live in Framingham, developed the programs to encourage individuals, businesses and municipalities to recycle foam. 

Their first hurdle was to change people’s perception and convince them that foam could be recycled and used to make new products. 

They have participated in multiple Earth Day festivals, and made presentations to recycling groups, students and businesses. 

Grace Congregational Church in Framingham, hosted ReFoamIt's first event and provided the couple with space, volunteers and help to publicize its venture. 

"Not having any idea how much foam we would get, we borrowed a tractor trailer for storage and collected about 20 cubic yards of foam," said Barbara Sherman. "People traveled over an hour to bring us foam. Those who came that day proved to us that the public was ready and willing to recycle their foam. ReFoamIt® was born!"

Since their first event, they have expanded their efforts to include events at municipalities, sponsored by Girl Scouts, recycling committees and other special interest groups. 

Typically, they collect between 30 and 40 cubic yards at each event. They also have been a partner with Framingham Earth Day Festival every year since its inception. 

Events provide the easiest way for individuals to recycle their foam and we provide services at about 60 weekend events each year, said Sherman. 

Last year, ReFoamIt worked with two Cadette Girl Scouts to bring recycling to their municipalities. These girls volunteered more than 50 hours each and earned their Silver Award. Jane, a high school Girl Scout has committed over 80 hours to bring foam recycling to her town and should receive her Gold Award this spring, said Sherman.

It was becoming clearer to us, that given the amount of foam we were collecting, and the hours we were committing to it, we needed to find a way to process it ourselves and make ReFoamIt a full-time business, said Sherman.

In January, 2013, we located a space, leased a densifying machine, purchased additional equipment, and we were on our way! However, we soon realized that our machine was not big enough to keep up with the amount of foam we were receiving, AND our landlord informed us that he had sold the building so we had to relocate, explained Sherman.

In August, we moved into our current location; installed a larger machine, purchased two additional collection trailers, and a second box truck; and hired a part-time employee, she said.

By the end of 2013, we densified approximately 65 tons of EPS Foam. 

"To our knowledge, ReFoamIt is the only family owned company in MA which accepts both white and colored foam for recycling. Although we cannot process 'peanuts,' we do accept them and give them to vendor for re-use," said Sherman. 

We have provided pick up or collection services to 12 percent of Massachusetts municipalities, 3 major foam manufacturers, 2 movie sets, 4 medical facilities, 2 government agencies, and 13 businesses, said Sherman. 

"There is a big need for companies like ReFoamIt. People will recycle their foam if given the opportunity," said Sherman. "We provide that opportunity by scheduling collection events throughout the state, pickup service from businesses & municipalities, and drop off service as well. This, in addition to education and advertising has been key to our growing business. We are committed to continue our concentration in all of these areas."

Sherman was Framingham Patch's 2011 Woman Who Made A Difference Award winner.

In March 2012, Sherman  received the Distinguished Citizenship Award from the Framingham Elks.


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