Dive Brief:
- Maine introduced a bill to promote composting instead of continuing to accept organics in the trash. LD 659 was backed by Democratic Rep Joan Walsh of Rockport, ME, and co-sponsored by Senator Tom Saviello of Wilton, ME.
- Sarah Lakeman of the Natural Resources Council of Maine would like to see organic waste avoid the landfill and put to "better use." A study four years ago by the University of Maine found that 40% of the state's waste is organic.
- The bill is expected to use the Department of Environmental Protection to create a strategy that encourages composting and energy generation via organic waste such as food, but not including medical or sewage waste.
Dive Insight:
With so much organic waste, the state could see financial benefit from composting and converting it to energy. If passed, the law could go into effect by Jan. 15, 2016. Maine did not meet its set goal of recycling half of its solid waste in 2014.