Boston — Starting in 2014 there will be no more throwing food wastes into the garbage for hospitals, universities, hotels, large restaurants, and other big businesses and institutions if Massachusetts officials are able to carry out their aim of turning a liability into a resource, including energy and fertilizer. “When in place, Massachusetts would be the first state to require diversion of all organics, with the caveat that as currently envisioned only commercial and institutional companies would be required to adhere to it. It would not extend to residents,” explained Patrick Serfass, executive director of Washington-based American Biogas Council. “It is a really good beginning because there is a lot of organic waste in the commercial and industrial section.” Massachusetts officials said the proposed rule is aimed at diverting a third of the nearly 1.4 million tons of organic waste produced every year in Massachusetts from landfills by the end of the decade. Instead, it would go to composting sites and a new generation of specially designed plants that convert waste into energy, heat, and fertilizer. They acknowledge the expense of a new system, but they say diverting food waste to the plants or compost facilities would ultimately save most businesses and large institutions money. The restaurant industry views it differently, saying that any additional expense could be a big issue, and that timely disposal of food waste could become a real concern. There is already a well-developed network of farm composting of commercial food wastes in western Massachusetts that includes over 70 business locations diverting approximately 22,000 tons of organic materials to seven composting farms, which advocates point out is saving valuable disposal capacity and is helping the environment.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain