Reminder:  Updates to Waste Bans Effective November 1

Bans expanded to mattresses, clothing & food waste (1/2 ton)

All members are reminded that effective November 1, the state has expanded its waste bans to include a ban on the disposal of mattresses and textiles, and has lowered the threshold for compliance with the state’s existing commercial organics/food waste ban to generators of more than ½ ton per week.  The waste bans are implemented and enforced by the MA Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). 

Beginning in October 2014, MA adopted regulations to ban the disposal of commercial organics/food waste, requiring any entity that disposed of at least one ton of organic waste per week to donate or re-purpose the useable food, or dispose of via anaerobic digestion (AD), composting or as animal feed.  The updated regulation now lowers that threshold so that it applies to entities that generate one-half (1⁄2) ton or more of organic waste for disposal per week.  The previous threshold likely exempted most restaurants, convenience stores, and small markets, who may now be impacted under the lower threshold. 

For additional info from MassDEP see:

• Lowering the threshold on commercial organic/food waste to facilities generating more than one-half ton of these materials per week; and
• Adding mattresses and textiles to the list of materials banned from disposal or transport for disposal in Massachusetts.

For members seeking technical assistance, RecyclingWorks, is a recycling assistance program funded by the MassDEP (and your tax dollars) that helps businesses and institutions reduce waste and maximize recycling, reuse, and food recovery opportunities.  For assistance, contact them to learn more at (888) 254-5525 or [email protected].