Resolve, To Increase Recycling in Maine through Increased Composting and Energy Recovery from Organic Wastes
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0659
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: WELSH, SAVIELLO, CAMPBELL, DUCHESNE, HARLOW

Legislative Document 
No. 659 
H.P. 440 
House of Representatives, March 3, 2015 
Resolve, To Increase Recycling in Maine through Increased 
Composting and Energy Recovery from Organic Wastes 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative WELSH of Rockport. 
Cosponsored by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin and 
Representatives: CAMPBELL of Orrington, DUCHESNE of Hudson, HARLOW of Portland. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the State has achieved significant improvements in recycling over the past 
years but did not achieve the goal of 50% recycling by 2014, as called for in Maine 
law; and 
Whereas, studies have shown that organic waste is one of the largest remaining 
segments of the waste stream that could be diverted toward recycling and energy 
recovery systems in order to assist the State in achieving higher overall rates of recycling, 
perhaps meeting or exceeding the 50% goal; and 
Whereas, development of a comprehensive plan for increased composting and 
energy recovery must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the 
comprehensive strategy established in this resolve and related recommendations may be 
developed and submitted in time to be considered in the next legislative session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  Development of comprehensive strategy.  Resolved:  That the 
Department of Environmental Protection shall develop a comprehensive strategy to 
encourage composting and energy recovery from food waste and other organic wastes.  
The strategy must seek to encourage organic waste diversion by large generators of food 
waste, composting at the municipal level through bans on the disposal of leaves and yard 
waste and expansion of facilities to compost and convert compostable materials into 
energy resources.  As part of the development of a comprehensive strategy, the 
department shall evaluate options for establishing a commercial food waste ban for large 
generators of food waste that are located within 40 miles of a food waste composting or 
processing facility that has been approved by the department for receiving commercial 
food waste.  For purposes of this section, "large generators" means entities that generate 
more than one ton of food waste per week and includes hospitals, colleges and 
universities, large secondary schools, restaurants, nursing homes, retail food stores and 
resort facilities.  The department shall also explore strategies for keeping food waste out 
of the solid waste stream through collaborative initiatives with large generators to divert 
food products that are at or beyond their manufacturer’s expiration dates toward hunger 
relief programs and toward farm animal consumption. The department shall also evaluate 
impediments to and opportunities for increasing the number of facilities in the State that 
provide anaerobic digestion of organic waste; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Stakeholder input.  Resolved:  That, in developing a comprehensive 
strategy under section 1, the Department of Environmental Protection shall actively seek 
input from a broad range of interested parties, including waste management facility 
operators, large institutions that generate significant amounts of food waste, experts in the 
composting 
of 
organic 
materials, 
agricultural 
representatives, 
environmental 
organizations, municipalities and operators of anaerobic digestion facilities; and be it 
further 
Sec. 3.  Recommendations and report.  Resolved:  That the Department of 
Environmental Protection shall submit the comprehensive strategy developed pursuant to 
section 1, including recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment 
and Natural Resources by January 15, 2016.  The joint standing committee is authorized 
to report out legislation related to the comprehensive strategy. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve requires the Department of Environmental Protection, with input from 
stakeholders, to develop a comprehensive strategy to encourage composting and energy 
recovery from food waste and other organic wastes.  It requires the department to submit 
the strategy and related recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources by January 15, 2016.