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