Recycling and composting organics and other waste materials is good both for the environment and for business.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA), through a Memorandum of Understanding, have partnered to establish a voluntary Supermarket Recycling Program Certification that encourages supermarkets to develop sustainable programs for recycling and reusing organics and other materials.

Participating stores not only save money, but also improve their compliance with existing Massachusetts waste disposal bans (rules that prohibit disposal of certain materials that can be recycled). MassDEP developed this page to help supermarkets establish and grow sustainable recycling programs.

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By obtaining Supermarket Recycling Program Certification (SRPC) status, a full-service grocery store can qualify for relief from some regulatory requirements. To participate in the voluntary program, a supermarket needs to set up and maintain a comprehensive recycling and reuse program, and document its efforts by submitting a certification to MassDEP. The benefit: truckloads of trash from that store will not be be subject to comprehensive inspection when they arrive at transfer stations or disposal facilities.

Fact Sheet

Learn about the program, participation criteria, and more.
Web page

Forms

Certification (August 2008)
MS Word 222 KB | PDF 48 KB

Waxed Cardboard Waiver
MS Word 76 KB | PDF 36 KB

Frequently Asked Questions

Web page |  MS Word 79 KB | PDF 39 KB

List of Certified Supermarkets

Web page

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Fact Sheet: Supermarket Organics Recycling in Massachusetts

MS Word 62 KB | PDF 43 KB

Supermarket Composting Handbook

Please note: MS Word version and hard copies also available. Please contact Sumner Martinson at 617-292-5969 or sumner.martinson@state.ma.us for the version you need.
PDF 1.4 MB

Organics Haulers for Supermarkets

Web page

Organics Waste Recycling Facilities for Supermarkets

MS Excel 23 KB | PDF 15 KB

Food Donation Resources

Web page

Related: Donation & Reuse of Recyclables
Web page

Application for Technical Assistance from MassDEP

MS Word 82 KB | PDF 43 KB

MassDEP Web Pages

Organics & Food Waste
Web page

Recycling Assistance for Businesses
Web page

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Home Page
Web page

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Memoranda of Understanding Between MassDEP & Massachusetts Food Association

Targeted Reduction in the Distribution of Grocery Bags, March 2009
MS Word 277 KB | PDF 25 KB

Related: "Sack the Bag" Consumer Brochure
Web page

Enhancing Recycling in Supermarkets, August 2005
MS Word 37 KB | PDF 18 KB

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Success Story: Shopping for Change

Highlights the MassDEP Supermarket Recycling Program
EPA web site

Supermarket Organics Recycling Network (SORN)

MassDEP Phase I Report to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), January 2006
MS Word 183 KB | PDF 139 KB

Attachment F: Store Organics Tracking Form
PDF 186 KB

Attachment G: Store/Chain Annualized Organics Recycling Tonnage, 2003-2004
PDF 85 KB

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