Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Waste Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MassDEP reports expanded food-waste inspections and modest enforcement under 2022 ban
Summary
MassDEP told the Solid Waste Advisory Committee it has increased inspections under the 2022 food-waste disposal ban, issued mostly notices of noncompliance and a smaller number of consent orders with penalties, and is focusing next on residential and small-business collection capacity and municipal programs.
John Fisher, speaking for MassDEP, gave a detailed update on organics and food-waste diversion efforts, inspections and enforcement following the 2022 food-waste disposal ban.
Fisher said food material represents just over 20% of the solid-waste stream — roughly 900,000 tons a year — and that MassDEP’s 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan seeks to increase diversion from a 2018 baseline by about 500,000 tons annually. “Our goal in our 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan... was building off a 2018 baseline,” Fisher said, describing past estimates and the role of regulatory packages.
On enforcement, Fisher said MassDEP increased inspections after the 2022 ban; inspectors have examined many load-level inspections (the presenter cited tens of thousands of loads inspected over multiple years) and reported roughly 150 enforcement actions for food material, most of which were notices of noncompliance, and 14 consent orders with penalties. Fisher said MassDEP is expanding inspections and has issued formal requests for information to about 50 companies covering roughly 700 locations.
Fisher described municipal and residential programs: in 2023 about 90 municipalities reported municipally supported food-waste collection (mostly drop-off); 72 reported drop-off programs, 12 curbside and several combined programs, together collecting roughly 20,000 tons in 2023; 167 municipalities sold home-compost bins. He also highlighted the Green Team school program and Recycling Works technical assistance as supports for municipal and institutional diversion.
Fisher said MassDEP will continue to weigh how far voluntary programs can go versus additional regulatory steps, and will discuss options in 2025.
