John Fischer of MassDEP presented an action plan to divert additional organics from disposal in Massachusetts by 2020. The plan aims to divert 350,000 additional tons per year to meet solid waste and clean energy goals. It involves expanding data collection, developing more collection infrastructure for generators, increasing processing capacity through facilities and loans, growing compost markets, and implementing a commercial food waste ban by 2014. The plan details steps in each area, such as surveys of generators, collection route development, permitting assistance for facilities, and compost procurement policies.

1. John Fischer, MassDEP
MassRecycle Conference
March 27, 2012

2. Organics Diversion Goals
 Solid Waste Master Plan and Clean Energy Results
Program
 Share goal to divert additional 350,000 tons per year
organics by 2020
 Additional CERP goals
 Ensure that at least three AD/CHP projects are
operating by 2014
 Increase AD capacity to 50 megawatts by 2020

3. Organics Diversion & SWMP
 Part of goal to reduce overall disposal by 2 million tons
per year by 2020
 Baseline estimated organics disposal – more than 1
million tons per year – about 20 % of MSW
 Compostable paper – about 6% additional – about
300,000 tons
 Additional 350K tons/year by 2020 requires about
250,000-300,000 tons/year of additional capacity
(some existing available capacity)

4. Action Plan: Organics in Solid
Waste
 CERP goal for AD may be met through multiple
feedstocks – food waste, sewage sludge, agricultural
materials
 MassDEP action plan focused on goal of diverting
additional 350,000 TPY of food waste from solid waste
 Process
 Solid Waste Master Plan workgroups
 Organics Task Force/Workgroup
 Organics Subcommittee meetings

5. Organics Action Plan/Study
 4 inter-related sections
 Data Analysis
 Collection Infrastructure
 Processing Capacity/Market Development
 Regulatory Reform/Waste Ban

6. Data Analysis
 Updated food waste generator database
 Analysis of waste characterization data for organics
 Survey key food waste generator sectors
 State facilities, supermarkets ongoing, others to come
 Baseline and evaluation protocol

7. Collection Infrastructure:
At Generators
 BMPs to reduce food waste generation
 Determine sectors/businesses most likely impacted by
waste ban
 Establish sector-based BMPs for food waste diversion
 TA/grant programs for public facilities
 TA/loan programs for private facilities
 Pilot programs and share case studies
 Specific TA/loan program for food
manufacturers/processors

8. Collection Infrastructure:
Collection Services
 Additional information on food waste processors &
haulers
 Recycling Loan Fund loans to haulers
 Work w/regional groups to develop small generator
collection routes
 Support municipal residential collection programs
 Disseminate information about success stories
 Training for public health officials on
dumpster/collection requirements

9. Processing Capacity Development
 Disseminate information on technologies/assistance
programs
 Develop education and outreach strategy
 FAQ document
 Partner with MassCEC
 BMPs for facility development & siting
 Support municipal site development – both existing
expansions and new
 Develop AD facility on state property

10. Processing Capacity Development
(cont.)
 Support private facility development through:
 Recycling Loan Fund prioritized low interest loans
 Pre-permitting assistance
 Provide more capitalization and TA to farm
composting/AD operations to help meet local capacity
needs
 Work with MassCEC, DOER, and DAR to leverage and
coordinate multiple funding sources
 Assess and support development of on-site food waste
management solutions

11. Market Development
 Work with OSD/MassPORT to enhance use of
compost products in highway applications
 Work with agricultural sector to identify additional
compost market outlets
 Encourage modified procurement practices by
municipal highway/public works depts. and large users
such as golf courses
 Hold compost marketing workshops
 Assess market outlets for AD solid and liquid products

12. Regulatory Reform/Waste Ban
 Promulgate final revisions to solid waste facility
regulations
 Implement final regulations
 Establish proposed waste ban on
commercial/institutional food waste by 2014
 Proposed ban approach/framework by Sept. 2012
 Promulgate regulations June 2013
 Effective date July 2014
 What will ban look like – focus of 2012 subcommittee
discussions

13. Contact Information
John Fischer
MassDEP
John.fischer@state.ma.us
617-292-5632