Waste Reduction

We’re tracking and reducing waste across the Aquarium and keeping more of it out of the landfill.

By the Numbers

• Diversion rates, the share of our waste recycled or composted instead of landfilled: 7% in 2023; TK% in 2025

Recent Successes

• A Gift Shop Free of New Plastic. Since 2024, nearly every product in our gift shop has been plastic-free, biodegradable, or made from recycled plastic. We continue to look for alternatives for any remaining plastics, like polyester, in apparel.
• A Plastic-Free Café. In 2026, we celebrated our Harbor View Café eliminating all single-use plastics, an effort we began in 2017.
• Furniture Recycling. When we renovated Harbor View Café in 2024, we partnered with Re-Stream to ensure all furniture was reused or recycled, diverting it from the landfill.
• Beach Cleanups. We partner with local organizations like Surfrider to help keep our beaches clean.
• Clothing Swaps. Staff trade clothes they no longer need. Leftover items go to Bay State Textiles for recycling or to Wellspring for reuse.
• Smarter Waste Sorting. Three new Oscar bins use AI to help guests and staff sort compost, recycling, and landfill waste correctly. Better sorting means less contamination and more waste diverted.

What's Next

• Waste Training and Resources. We’re developing guides and training to help guests and staff manage and sort waste at the Aquarium, and build habits they can take home.
• Consistent Bins and Signs. We are continuously looking for opportunities to improve our waste containers and signs across our campus so sorting is clear for everyone.
• More Composting. We’re exploring options with local haulers to expand composting, especially behind the scenes, by streamlining collection and making it a standard part of our waste protocols.