Universal Recycling Law phase 4: Food scrap collection

On July 1, 2017 part of the fourth phase of Act 148: the Vermont Universal Recycling Law goes into effect.  Transfer stations/ drop off facilities must start accepting food scraps, but the requirement for curbside haulers accepting food scraps has been postponed until next year, according to Deane Wilson at Rutland County Solid Waste District/RCSWD.  Food scrap generators of 18 tons/year or half ton per week will be required to divert materials to any certified facility within 20 miles.  

“The Killington transfer station will be ready to collect compostable materials on July 1,” said Killington Town Manager Deborah Schwartz.  She went on to say; “like recycling, there will be no charge for residents to bring their composting to the Town’s Transfer Station.  However, the Town will be paying a currently unknown amount to have the material hauled off.”  The hauling will be provided by Casella, and the special toters (food scrap containers) provided by RCSWD, said Schwartz.

Until July 1, 2020, residential diversion of food scraps from landfills is voluntary.  After that, food scraps will be banned from state landfills.  Wilson said, residents will be required to separate their food scraps from their household waste for drop off at their local transfer station, pick up by their hauler, or process the food scraps themselves.  Food scraps may be fed to live stock, or composted.  He went on to explain, composting is only for plant based food and yard waste products, but a digester can process both waste from both plant based and animal food products, like meat, bones and dairy.  Wilson said, The SoilSaver Composter, Green Cone Digester and Kitchen ScrapCarrier are available year round at RCSWD offices for considerably less than at most stores.

Food Scraps make up a third to half of the total waste produced by a typical Vermont family or food related business, (referenced from dec.vermont.gov website).  Food scraps along with leaf and yard waste can be reused to provide compost, garden mulch, and animal bedding instead of taking up valuable space in landfills.

The goals of Universal Recycling are to decrease the amount of waste disposed and increase the state’s recycling and composting rate through a phased in timeline that started in 2012 and finishes in 2020. Recycling materials conserves resources while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The law achieves this by providing more consistent and convenient services for recycling and composting services, wherever trash is managed, throughout the state referenced from the dec.vermont.gov website.