Taskforce Meeting

March 4, 2011

Focus on food waste Also other organics such as leaves and

yard waste and agricultural wastes Food waste about 15-20 % 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 20113-5 year timeline to develop220-480 kw generatorsGenerate 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)