Commercial Food Material Disposal Ban

The MassDEP Commercial Food Materials Disposal Ban was implemented on October 1, 2014, and expanded effective November 1, 2022, to include facilities with lower outputs. See Additional Resources below for:

• The most recent amendments to the 310 CMR 19.000: Solid Waste Facility Regulations, expanding the disposal ban.
• Compliance guidance for generators and haulers of commercial food waste, as well as facilities that accept it.
• Helpful fact sheets on reducing food wastes and associated disposal costs.

There is an array of options available for reducing food waste and diverting it from disposal. RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts can help your business or institution start or improve an organics diversion program.

There are also a number of on-site and off-site options for processing food wastes. These include composting, dehydration, pulping, anaerobic digestion, rendering for fats and oils, and use as feed for farm animals.

Follow the links in Additional Resources below to learn more.

Major generators of food waste in Massachusetts include food processors, wholesalers, grocery stores, institutional food service providers, and large restaurants.

Learn more about them, where they can send their food wastes, and what the state is doing to promote composting of organics.

If you need any of the data below in a searchable/sortable format, please contact us.

Learn about additional efforts by MassDEP, other government agencies, non-profit groups, regional associations, and universities to help reduce food waste and promote organics recycling.