Massachusetts Commercial Organic Waste Ban - MassDEP

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Massachusetts Commercial Organics Waste Ban

John Fischer, MassDEPMay 28, 2014

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Waste Bans Background

Purpose:Implement as part of a comprehensive

approachEnsure materials available for recycling &

composting facilitiesLimit need for disposal capacity

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Waste Ban Background

Who do they apply to?310 CMR 19.017(3)(a): “No person shall

dispose, transfer for disposal, or contract for disposal of the restricted material…”

Solid Waste FacilitiesHaulersGenerators

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Banned Materials Recyclable Paper/CardboardGlass, Metal, Plastic Containers Leaves and Yard Waste Asphalt Pavement, Brick, Concrete, Metal,

Wood and Clean Gypsum WallboardLead Acid Vehicle Batteries and TiresCathode Ray TubesWhite Goods (large appliances)* Tires and Wood can be accepted at municipal

waste combustors

Overall, waste ban materials = about 40% of trash disposed

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MassDEP Waste Ban Compliance StrategyUsing facility and third party data

Outreach and targeting inspectionsIncreased inspections and enforcement

Inspections at solid waste facilitiesLooking for large amounts of banned materialsMore than 150 enforcement actions since

January 2013RecyclingWorks resources and assistance

Cardboard

Paper

Bottles and Cans

Leaves and Yard Waste

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Organics Policy and GoalsSolid Waste Master Plan

Overall goal – reduce disposal by 2 million tons (30 %) annually by 2020

Reduce disposal by 80% by 2050Primary Goal – Divert additional 350,000 tons

per year of organic materials from disposal by 2020

Clean Energy Results ProgramSupport the development of renewable energy

in Mass. Goal to have 50 MW of anaerobic digestion in

place by 2020

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Why focus on food waste/organics?Food waste and other organics >25% of

disposal in Mass. > 1 million tons per yearIn 2010 (fall & winter sampling)

Food waste estimated 15% of MSW disposalCompostable paper 6 % of MSW disposal

In 2013 (spring & summer sampling)Food waste 19% of MSWCompostable paper 8% of MSW

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BenefitsOpportunity to digest for energy and/or

compost to produce soil amendments/fertilizers

Management solutions for dairy manure & wastewater residuals

Opportunity to generate energy at farms, waste water plants, other locations

Cost effective materials management for businesses/institutions

Reduced reliance on disposal capacity

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Organics Action Plan Overview Comprehensive, integrated set of strategiesDeveloped working with stakeholdersFocused on 2020 goal – 350 K tons additional

diversion annuallyData AnalysisCollection InfrastructureProcessing Capacity/Market DevelopmentRegulatory Reform/Waste Ban

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Current Status/Progress to DateEstimate baseline 100,000 tons of food waste

diversionComposting – farms and small commercial

sites – about 30 locationsPig farms/animal feedOn-site systemsEstimated 1,400 businesses/institutions now

diverting food waste – includes 300 supermarkets

Growth in organics hauling services

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Improved DataFood waste density mapping study – updated

2011Waste characterization studies – food waste

summary available online – 2013 data available

Completed survey of food waste management at state facilities

Will be reviewing facility reports to update diversion data

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Food Waste Generators

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Building Collection InfrastructureGuidance on food waste reduction/donationBest management practices guidance

By business sectorFor local health departments/haulers

Recycling Loan Fund – haulers eligibleResidential/small business collection pilot

programsRegionally focused projects

Pioneer Valley, Devens, WorcesterBuild route density

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Food Waste Collection BMPsCover:

Kitchen (back of the house) separationHauler collection practices/frequencyOutside storage practices

Expect to change and update over time as needed

Available on RecyclingWorks web site

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Technical Assistance to GeneratorsRecyclingWorks in Massachusetts

WebsiteService provider databaseGuidance/fact sheets/case studiesSite specific TAWasteWise and other workshops

Assistance to targeted sectorsSupermarketsHotels/large restaurantsColleges/universitiesState facilitiesFood manufacturers/processors

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Growing Processing Capacity/MarketsSolid waste regulations siting changes

Promulgated November 2012Clarify requirements, reduce siting barriersFacilities taking source separated materials do

not require solid waste facility site assignmentAllow waste water plants to accept food waste

to AD w/o being solid waste facility

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Market DevelopmentFinancial assistance matrix available online

MassDEP Recycling Loan FundMassDEP Municipal GrantsMass Clean Energy Center Organics to Energy

programRecent net metering changesOther funding sources can be leveragedSiting facilities on state propertyUse state contracts as opportunity to build

demandMarketing workshops

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Commercial Organics Waste BanWill take effect October 1, 2014Food waste and vegetative materialDoes not apply to management in wastewaterCommercial/institutional organics – dispose >

1 ton/weekEstimate – 1,700 businesses/institutions

subject to the banFocus now on outreach and compliance

assistance

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Additional GuidanceWaste bans monitored/enforced @ solid

waste facilitiesProposed threshold is 1 ton/week disposed,

not generatedQ&A for generators/haulersResources on how to comply on

RecyclingWorks web site

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Common QuestionsPre-consumer/post-consumer?How applied to university campus?Exceed threshold seasonally?How can my facility comply?Is packaged food subject?

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Contact Informationwww.mass.gov/dep/public/committee/swacorg.htm

www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/commorg.htmhttp://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanenergy.htmwww.recyclingworksma.com

John Fischer, MassDEPJohn.fischer@state.ma.us 617-292-5632