new VERMONT STUDY findS food waste disposal ban has cut tons of food in landfill
Recognizing the lost useful resource, wasted money and harm that organic waste creates when it is burned and buried, a number of states have enacted organic waste disposal bans, which aim to keep organic waste out of the landfill and can catalyze greater food donations, valuable compost to improve soil quality and local jobs. More than 20 states have enacted yard waste disposal bans. Washington, California and Vermont have all enacted residential and commercial organic waste recycling programs. And states such as Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island have all adopted state organic waste bans for large commercial organic waste generators under certain circumstances.
A new study by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation tracking the impact of their organics waste disposal ban, has some notable results:
Food waste tonnage in landfills decreased: In Vermont, which has a full residential and commercial organics waste ban as of 2020, the study found that, “although the percentage of food scraps disposed in MSW decreased very little (18.8% in 2023 vs. 19.4% in 2018), the underlying tonnage has decreased by 13%.” “This supports the effectiveness of the mandated food waste disposal ban,” according to DEC.”
Many Vermonters are composting, along with other diversion options: The study found that a whopping “43% of households compost in their backyards, 12% have curbside service, 13% use drop-off sites, 12% divert to animal feed (and 9% to pets), and 12% put food waste in the garbage disposal.”
It’s critical to track the actual impact of policies to maximize their effectiveness -
