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Public Works, Energy & Utilities DEP seeks to modify organic waste rules
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on proposed regulatory changes intended to improve the management of organic waste and divert it from the solid waste stream.
Massachusetts generates more than 1 million tons of food and other organic waste material every year, according to the DEP. About 90 percent of this is thrown away, either burned in combustion facilities or buried in landfills. Only about 10 percent is currently diverted away from the solid waste stream and sent to farms and commercial composting operations.
Organic waste accounts for nearly one-third of the solid waste stream, according to the DEP. Any reduction of this has the potential to provide significant savings in solid waste disposal costs for communities.
The DEP is seeking to update its solid waste facility site assignment regulations, which were developed 20 years ago to ensure the safe development of landfills, incinerators and trash transfer stations.
The regulatory amendments would set up an alternative permitting scheme to facilitate the siting of operations that handle organic and other material that has been separated from other waste, while retaining high environmental standards and local oversight, according to the DEP.
The DEP is also proposing to revise its regulations governing the operation and maintenance of municipal and regional wastewater treatment plants that use anaerobic digestion to add food waste from nearby food processors and other sources to their sludge treatment unit. This will boost the energy generation from these facilities, while providing another recycling option for organic waste material.
The regulations being amended are 310 CMR 16.00, 310 CMR 19.000, and 314 CMR 12.00.
Public hearings will be held on the following schedule:
• Dec. 20, 1 p.m., DEP office, 1 Winter St., 2nd floor conference room, Boston
• Jan. 9, 5 p.m., DEP office, 627 Main St., Worcester
• Jan. 10, 5 p.m., Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke
• Jan. 11, 5 p.m., DEP office, 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville
• Jan. 12, 5 p.m., DEP office, 205B Lowell St., Wilmington
Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the public hearings.
Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Jan. 23. Written testimony must be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Prevention, 1 Winter St., 8th floor, Boston, MA 02108, Attn: James Doucett.
The MMA was part of the Task Force on Building Organics Capacity, which developed the proposed regulatory changes in the spring.
The proposed amendments to regulations and a background document can be found on the DEP website (www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm).
Public Works, Energy & Utilities DEP seeks to modify organic waste rules
DEP seeks to modify organic waste rules
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on proposed regulatory changes intended to improve the management of organic waste and divert it from the solid waste stream.
Massachusetts generates more than 1 million tons of food and other organic waste material every year, according to the DEP. About 90 percent of this is thrown away, either burned in combustion facilities or buried in landfills. Only about 10 percent is currently diverted away from the solid waste stream and sent to farms and commercial composting operations.
Organic waste accounts for nearly one-third of the solid waste stream, according to the DEP. Any reduction of this has the potential to provide significant savings in solid waste disposal costs for communities.
The DEP is seeking to update its solid waste facility site assignment regulations, which were developed 20 years ago to ensure the safe development of landfills, incinerators and trash transfer stations.
The regulatory amendments would set up an alternative permitting scheme to facilitate the siting of operations that handle organic and other material that has been separated from other waste, while retaining high environmental standards and local oversight, according to the DEP.
The DEP is also proposing to revise its regulations governing the operation and maintenance of municipal and regional wastewater treatment plants that use anaerobic digestion to add food waste from nearby food processors and other sources to their sludge treatment unit. This will boost the energy generation from these facilities, while providing another recycling option for organic waste material.
The regulations being amended are 310 CMR 16.00, 310 CMR 19.000, and 314 CMR 12.00.
Public hearings will be held on the following schedule:
• Dec. 20, 1 p.m., DEP office, 1 Winter St., 2nd floor conference room, Boston
• Jan. 9, 5 p.m., DEP office, 627 Main St., Worcester
• Jan. 10, 5 p.m., Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke
• Jan. 11, 5 p.m., DEP office, 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville
• Jan. 12, 5 p.m., DEP office, 205B Lowell St., Wilmington
Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the public hearings.
Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Jan. 23. Written testimony must be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Prevention, 1 Winter St., 8th floor, Boston, MA 02108, Attn: James Doucett.
The MMA was part of the Task Force on Building Organics Capacity, which developed the proposed regulatory changes in the spring.
The proposed amendments to regulations and a background document can be found on the DEP website (www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm).
Written by MMA Senior Legislative Analyst Tom Philbin
