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The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have presented the Massachusetts WasteWise Waste Reduction Leadership Awards to Lemuel Shattuck State Hospital and to Raytheon Co. in recognition of their incentive-based solid waste contracting techniques, which have helped to reduce trash and to increase recycling in their operations.

Lemuel Shattuck State Hospital and Raytheon use an approach known as resource management (RM) contracting, through which they have given their solid waste contractors clear financial incentives to manage resources in economically and environmentally responsible ways to reduce their disposal costs and to dramatically increase the amount of material they recycle.

MassDEP Commissioner Robert W. Golledge Jr. says the organizations are "prime examples of how incentive-based contracting can be implemented in the waste management industry."

Lemuel Shattuck, a 278-bed, inpatient hospital in Jamaica Plain, Mass., is in the second year of its contract with Save That Stuff, a Charlestown-based recycler. During the first year, Shattuck generated 11 percent less trash, saved roughly $11,000 in avoided disposal costs and more than quadrupled recycling from 14 tons to 58 tons by collecting five new materials.

Based in Waltham, defense contractor Raytheon sent out bids for solid waste and recycling services at eight of its Massachusetts facilities, giving its new contractor incentives to help the company throw away less and recycle more and for continuous improvement.

Through the award program, MassDEP and EPA annually recognize organizations that demonstrate recycling leadership, sustainability and innovation. They jointly fund the Massachusetts WasteWise Program, which provides waste reduction assistance to businesses and organizations.