NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A Boston-based app, that works like checking out a book from a library, is expanding to Western Massachusetts to help reduce waste from takeout orders, using reusable containers instead of single-use packaging.

Recirclable, which launched four years ago, helps track and manage reusable containers between restaurants and customers. Ana Bandeira Chocolates in Northampton is the most recent addition to the list of participating restaurants.

“Developing sustainable practices for us is super important,” said David Haughey, owner of Ana Bandeira Chocolates.

Haughey said the shop puts sustainability into practice by farming their own cacao on their farm in Brazil, which they turn into the chocolate they sell in store.

“That allows us to eliminate a lot of waste along the way because we’re kinda just sending it to our self, less packaging, we’re not using a bunch of plastic then sending it on its way,” Haughey said.

Margie Bell, co-founder of Recirclable, said expanding to areas like Northampton is important in an industry where reducing waste can be difficult.

“Our goal from the beginning really was how do we make it as easy as possible, for them to continue to grow their businesses, but at the same time reduce waste and hopefully reduce costs,” Bell said.

The expansion comes as New England faces significant waste challenges, according to Amber Schmidt, New England Zero Waste Organizer for Clean Water Action’s Rethink Disposable program.

“We’re in a waste crisis, right? All of New England is,” Schmidt said. “We need to tackle this problem and single use take out containers and to go cups pose a significant source of that trash.”

Schmidt works out of Northampton, where she has paired Recirclable with other restaurants through the Rethink Disposable program.

“We know that clean water members are really excited about this program, so we know that there is a drive already for reducing single use disposables and plastics, and microplastics,” Schmidt said.

The system is designed to be user-friendly for customers. Users download the app, scan a QR code, and receive a return date for their container.

Each green container can be used about 1,000 times and returned to different participating restaurants, creating a network across the state while reducing waste.

“So the containers are sort of owned by the community if you will, instead of being purchased once and trashed immediately after,” Bell said.

Haughey hopes the program will gain broader community support.

“I hope that other people pick it up because obviously the more people involved the easier it gets and the more its a part of the communities awareness,” Haughey said.

With billions of pounds of waste produced every year, organizers say a simple scan of a QR code can help reduce waste in New England.

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