Boston Area Lab Sustainability: Plastic Recycling and Decarbonization Under BERDO & BEUDO
Boston is aiming for citywide net-zero status by 2050, and the necessary steps are already underway. BERDO (Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance) and BEUDO (Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance) establish binding limits on building emissions. Meanwhile, Boston Community Choice Electricity makes clean power the default, Zero Waste Boston raises the bar for diversion, and Resilient Boston Harbor is hardening the coastline.
Together, these moves create real momentum for Kendall Square, Longwood, the Seaport, and Watertown. This guide translates that momentum into lab-ready actions, especially around plastics, so you can reduce carbon emissions, control costs, and stay compliant without slowing science.
Carbon-Neutral Boston & the Climate Action Plan
Boston’s Climate Action Plan is the city’s guide for reaching net zero emissions by 2050. It connects building performance, clean electricity, waste reduction, and coastal resilience so that everyday decisions add up to real progress. For labs in Kendall, Cambridge, Longwood, the Seaport, and Watertown, the plan explains why leaders request better data, why recycling rules are stricter, and why electricity choices matter. Think of it as the playbook that turns city goals into practical steps you can take in your building.
What labs can do: List your energy, plastics, and travel actions for the next year and set simple targets that roll up to the city's goal for 2050.
BERDO 2.0: Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance
BERDO 2.0 is the Boston law that sets a cap on the amount of climate pollution large buildings can release each year, with standards that become stricter over time until all covered buildings reach net zero by 2050.
If you operate a lab in Boston, you are required to report your building data annually and demonstrate steady progress. The rule does not mandate specific projects; instead, it sets a building-level emissions limit and expects progress over time. That means better ventilation control, smarter scheduling, and cleaner electricity all count, as long as the building meets the limit.
What labs can do: Create a simple plan for each building that shows your current emissions, your gap to the standard, and the projects you will complete in the next two years.
BEUDO: Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance
BEUDO is the Cambridge rule that requires large buildings to report energy use and to meet new limits on greenhouse gas emissions on a clear schedule. Many research buildings in Kendall Square fall under this rule.
The city expects owners and tenants to share data so reports are accurate and so upgrades are targeted where they matter most. Document who supplies whole-building meters, process load submetering, and plant allocations so reports are consistent. If you use heavy process loads or ultra-low-temperature freezers, you will want to track them closely and plan upgrades that reduce emissions without slowing down science.
What labs can do: Confirm whether each site is covered, verify your baseline year, and set a near-term project list that closes your gap to the next target.
Boston Community Choice Electricity
Boston Community Choice Electricity allows you to choose more renewable electricity by default, up to Green 100, which matches all use with Massachusetts Class I renewable energy. Rates are set for a defined period, allowing facilities teams to budget effectively. This is one of the fastest ways to reduce the emissions associated with the power you use, and it complements on-site solar and battery storage for backup and peak shaving.
What labs can do: Enroll eligible meters in Green 100 and review whether rooftop solar or a small battery can protect critical cold storage.
Zero Waste Boston
Zero Waste Boston is the city program that raises recycling and composting performance and reduces what goes to landfill or incineration. For labs, this means clear sorting rules, better signage, and more attention to clean plastics that can be recycled. It also encourages tracking during moves and renovations to prevent metals and equipment from being discarded with the trash. The goal is straightforward: reduce waste, increase recovery, and maintain cleaner streams that meet quality standards.
What labs can do: Add organics bins in break rooms, right-size trash service, and require diversion logs for projects, allowing you to demonstrate year-over-year improvement.
Green Labs Culture at Harvard and MIT
Harvard and MIT have long-running green labs programs that show how research spaces can save energy and reduce waste without risking safety. Their checklists cover simple habits, such as closing the fume hood sash, setting freezers to a reasonable temperature, defrosting on schedule, and choosing products that are easier to recycle. These programs also offer recognition for labs that complete actions, which helps teams stay engaged.
What labs can do: Adopt one local checklist and aim for an entry-level certification this year, then build from there.
Mass Save Support for High Performance Buildings
Mass Save offers incentives that lower the cost of energy upgrades in both new construction and major renovation. Early design support can help labs incorporate heat recovery, smarter controls, and efficient equipment, which will also facilitate meeting BERDO and BEUDO limits later. The program can also assist with specific lab needs, such as cold storage upgrades and ventilation scheduling.
What labs can do: Contact Mass Save during schematic design or early planning and build an incentive stack that improves payback on your top projects.
Decarbonizing District Steam in Longwood and Kendall
Boston’s steam network is starting to deliver carbon-free thermal energy. Vicinity Energy brought a 42 MW electric boiler online in November 2024 and is rolling out eSteam, steam made with renewable electricity, over its existing underground network that serves many life-science buildings in Longwood, Fenway, and parts of Back Bay and Kendall.
The plan includes an industrial electric boiler, river-sourced heat pumps, and thermal storage at the Kendall facility. For labs on district steam, this is a direct pathway to lower building emissions, aligning with BERDO and BEUDO goals.
What labs can do: Ask your property team or steam provider about eSteam availability and interconnection, add or verify steam submetering for clear carbon accounting, and map a phased conversion plan, floor by floor.
MBTA Access and the Green Line Extension
The Green Line Extension and strong Red and Green Line connections make it easier for people to reach Kendall, Longwood, and nearby districts without a car. When labs support transit benefits, bike rooms, and showers, more staff can opt for lower-carbon commutes. This reduces parking pressure and can also help with recruitment.
What labs can do: Offer pre-tax transit benefits, set up secure bike storage, and align shift times with common train schedules.
Data Guided Cleanups and Recycling Resources
Massachusetts Recycle Smart and local watershed groups publish clear guides and data on what belongs in each bin, as well as the most frequently appearing items in litter. That information is also useful in a lab.
If you sponsor a cleanup and compare the top items with your own supply list, you can identify products that leak into the environment and switch to more sustainable options. Simple changes in purchasing can remove common problem items from your site.
What labs can do: Run one cleanup as a material audit, then update your standard products and bench signage based on the findings.
Circular Biotech with Polycarbin
Polycarbin offers Closed-Loop lab plastic recycling across Boston and Cambridge, with service in Kendall Square, the Longwood Medical Area, the Seaport, and Watertown. Polycarbin diverts clean, single-use lab plastics from landfill or incineration and remanufactures them into the next generation of low-carbon lab products.
For higher-volume facilities, Polycarbin’s CORE service enables high-throughput customers to save on costs while benefiting from bespoke service contracts that include hardware, training, local transportation, and data management.
What labs can do: Want an easy, compliant recycling plan that also fits your BERDO and BEUDO package for the year? Polycarbin will identify your lab-plastic streams, help you set up recycling bins, and arrange local pickups. We also provide a real-time diversion tracking dashboard with pounds diverted and CO₂ emission avoidance, ready to be included in your Boston and Cambridge annual leadership memo and sustainability appendix, without adding work to your team.
Ready to get started? Request a Boston assessment, and we will share a clear plan, pricing, and everything you need to get your team and leadership on board.
