Taskforce Meeting March 4, 2011

Focus on food waste Also other organics such as leaves and yard waste and agricultural wastes Food waste about % of disposal – just over 1 million tons /year from Massachusetts Has value first as food Then can be used to create compost, soil amendment, fertilizer, and clean, renewable energy

Reduce total disposal by 2 million tons/year by 2020 (30 percent reduction in disposal tonnage) Capture additional 350,000 tons per year of food waste (about 35% of generation) Develop at least 250,000 – 300,000 tons per year of processing capacity and supporting collection infrastructure

Increase percent of energy need met by renewable sources Reduce GHG emissions Support farms by providing additional energy and revenue source & manure management option Increase energy production and revenue at wastewater digesters

Windrow composting In vessel aerobic composting Anaerobic digestion – various technologies Outputs can include compost, soil amendment, liquid or solid fertilizer and heat/electricity

Farm-based and commercial food waste capacity (100,000 tons per year) 2010 – 70 composting operations registered with DAR 200 additional leaf and yard waste compost sites – municipal and private Five active wastewater digesters Industrial AD operations

six agricultural anaerobic digesters – two scheduled to begin operations by summer year timeline to develop kw generators Generate fertilizer and bedding material Also significant commercial and wastewater facility proposals

Nearly 300 supermarkets recycling/composting Convention center and hotels composting projects Pilot projects for residential and school composting Large commercial generators (food processors, colleges/universities, large businesses)

Work with targeted generator sectors to increase diversion Residential and school collection programs Renewable energy incentives Targeted grants and loans for capacity development Integrate food waste into wastewater treatment digesters Clarify and better enable the development of facilities using these new management technologies while ensuring proper oversight Waste ban by 2014

Capturing valuable resource that can improve soil quality, reduce runoff, and conserve water Generate clean renewable energy Support jobs and economic development in Massachusetts Provide cost effective material outlets for businesses, institutions, and municipalities

Support viability of farms by providing energy, soil materials and alternative revenue source Increase the efficiency ad reduce costs at wastewater treatment plants Reduced need for landfill capacity (which will decrease over time)