New Agreement Links State and Industry to Compost More Food Residuals
Posted on: Saturday, 1 October 2005, 03:01 CDT
By Anonymous
Boston, Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Food Association (MFA) and the state's Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) have agreed to push grocery stores to increase recycling participation - particularly composting of spoiled fruits and vegetables, floral and deli residuals, and waxed cardboard. The collaborative effort will advance recycling at supermarkets by expanding their Supermarket Organics Recycling Network (SORN). MassDEP will provide technical assistance to stores that want to start new programs. Said DEP commissioner Robert Golledge: "Supermarkets save money, recyclers receive a steady stream of clean organic materials so they can produce good compost to sell, and the less we need new waste disposal facilities." Added MFA president Chris Flynn about the program for the supermarket industry: "It is an opportunity for us to support state efforts to increase recycling and avoid the need for more landfills." Food and bulk packaging wastes account for up to 90 percent of material that supermarkets have thrown away.
The 57 grocery stores that participated in SORN last year - including Big Y, Roche Bros., Shaw's/Star, Stop & Shop, and Whole Foods supermarkets composted and recycled between 60 and 75 percent of their residuals, diverting 8,900 tons of organics; 26.200 tons of cardboard; and more than 1,000 tons of plastic - saving an average of more than $45,000 per store. Mass DEP and MFA hope at least 100 grocery stores in the state will be recycling organics by next year. Ultimate goal is for all 400 supermarkets in Massachusetts to have active recycling programs in place within three years.
Copyright J.G. Press Inc. Sep 2005
Source: BioCycle
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