Food Waste Ban in Massachusetts will affect commercial businesses on July 1st

The State of Massachusetts has put forth one of the most aggressive food waste bans in the country, scheduled to take effect July 1, 2014.  If you are a commercial business operating in Massachusetts and you generate more than one (1) ton of food waste each week, you can no longer just throw it all in the garbage.  You must do one of the following with your food waste:

1. Donate leftover food
2. Repurpose leftover food
3. Send waste to a facility to be converted into energy via anaerobic digesters
4. Send waste to a facility where it is fed to animals
5. Send waste to a facility where it is turned into compost

This ban will go a long way towards helping the State reach its goals of reducing their waste stream by 30% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050.

If you own, operate or work at a commercial business in Massachusetts that generates a large amount of food waste, contact us today at (410) 877-1593.  We’ll not only help you meet these new guidelines but also help you take advantage of a growing recycling marketplace in the State.  For the past 12 years, we’ve helped organizations of all sizes with their waste and sustainability programs.  Our focus on on-site education and facilitation has helped our clients establish long-term, cost-effective programs.

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Other Resources:

Patrick Administration Announces Plan to Ban Disposal of Commercial Food Waste – Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Mass. Plans Commercial Food Waste Ban – Environmental Leader, July 2013

Commercial Organic Materials Waste Ban Guidance for Businesses, Institutions, and Haulers – Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Food Waste – Recycling Works Massachusetts: Recycling Assistance for Businesses and Institutions