MassDEP reviews food waste diversion strategies and risks in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) held a meeting on April 10, 2025, to review the Organics Action Plan and discuss the challenges and progress in organic waste management. Key discussions focused on the capacity of compost facilities, the impact of food waste disposal bans, and the need for improved infrastructure and policies to support organic waste diversion.

During the meeting, participants highlighted that the current statistics on organic waste diversion do not account for all types of organic materials, such as compostable paper and yard waste. Phil Goddard, a member of the Organics Subcommittee, emphasized the significant drop in composting capacity, noting a loss of approximately 50,000 tons per year since 2018. He urged MassDEP to engage with facility operators to understand their challenges and motivations, suggesting that clearer policies and streamlined processes could encourage the development of new compost facilities.

The meeting also addressed the effectiveness of the food waste disposal ban, which was revised in 2022 to lower the threshold from one ton to half a ton per week. This change has doubled the number of businesses subject to the ban, increasing compliance efforts. However, there are concerns about the plateau in organic waste diversion rates over the past few years, prompting calls for renewed strategies to boost participation in food waste collection programs.

MassDEP representatives provided updates on the diversion numbers, indicating a steady increase in anaerobic digestion but a decline in composting operations. The discussion included the importance of accurately accounting for materials processed through depackaging operations and the need for transparency in reporting the fate of diverted organic materials.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the ongoing challenges in organic waste management in Massachusetts, including the need for better infrastructure, community engagement, and policy alignment to enhance organic waste diversion efforts. Participants expressed optimism about future initiatives aimed at improving the state's capacity to manage organic materials effectively.