An Act To Increase Organic Waste Recycling in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0712
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: HARLOW, SAVIELLO, CAMPBELL, CHIPMAN, DUCHESNE, WHITE
Amends: 38 MRSA §1303-C, 38 MRSA §2133-A

Legislative Document 
No. 712 
H.P. 488 
House of Representatives, March 5, 2015 
An Act To Increase Organic Waste Recycling in the State 
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HARLOW of Portland. 
Cosponsored by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin and 
Representatives: CAMPBELL of Orrington, CHIPMAN of Portland, DUCHESNE of Hudson, 
WHITE of Washburn. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §1303-C, sub-§19-D is enacted to read: 
19-D.  Organic waste.  "Organic waste" means solid waste that is of biological origin 
and is biodegradable, including, but not limited to, agricultural waste, animal and human 
waste and food waste.  "Organic waste" does not include hazardous waste, biomedical 
waste or septage. 
Sec. 2.  38 MRSA §2133-A is enacted to read: 
§2133-A.  Organic waste recycling 
The department shall track state, regional, municipal and local organic waste 
recycling efforts and, as resources allow, may develop, implement and administer 
programs to encourage or support organic waste recycling in the State.  The department 
shall, by January 15, 2017, and annually thereafter, submit a report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environmental and natural 
resources matters detailing its findings and any recommendations related to organic waste 
recycling, including any proposed legislation to implement its recommendations.  After 
receiving the report, the committee may report out a bill relating to organic waste 
recycling. 
Sec. 3.  Department of Environmental Protection; organic waste recycling 
pilot program.  The Department of Environmental Protection shall develop, implement 
and administer an organic waste recycling pilot program as described in this section. 
1.  The department shall invite municipalities to participate in the pilot program and 
shall select as participants at least one municipality from each of the 3 following groups 
of counties: 
A.  Androscoggin, Cumberland, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and York; 
B.  Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford and Waldo; and 
C.  Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and Washington. 
2.  The department shall invite the Legislative Council to participate in the pilot 
program with respect to the State House facilities.  The department shall invite the 
Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of General Services to 
participate in the pilot program with respect to the Cross State Office Building facilities. 
3.  The department shall provide technical assistance, and may provide financial 
assistance, to each participating entity to develop and implement an organic waste 
recycling program.  Each participating entity shall collect data on and document the 
amount of organic waste diverted from the waste stream by the program, the related cost 
savings realized by the participating entity and any problems encountered in 
implementing the program.  Each participating entity shall compile this information into a 
report and transmit the report to the department on or before a date determined by the 
department. 
4.  The department shall analyze the reports submitted by the participating entities 
and, by January 15, 2017, shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over environmental and natural resources matters detailing 
the data collected by each participating entity and any additional findings and shall 
include any recommendations for legislation to implement permanent organic waste 
recycling programs at the state, regional, municipal or local level or to otherwise increase 
the rate of organic waste recycling in the State. 
SUMMARY 
This bill enacts a statutory provision directing the Department of Environmental 
Protection to track state, regional, municipal and local organic waste recycling efforts 
and, as resources allow, to develop, implement and administer programs to encourage or 
support organic waste recycling in the State.  The department is directed to submit by 
January 15, 2017, and annually thereafter, a report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over environmental and natural resources matters detailing 
its findings and any recommendations related to organic waste recycling, including any 
proposed legislation to implement its recommendations.  After receiving the report, the 
committee may report out a bill relating to organic waste recycling.  The bill also directs 
the department to develop, implement and administer an organic waste recycling pilot 
program.  For the pilot program, the department is required to invite as participants at 
least 3 municipalities and the Legislative Council and the Department of Administrative 
and Financial Services, Bureau of General Services.  The department is directed to 
provide technical assistance and may provide financial assistance to each participating 
entity in developing and implementing an organic waste recycling program.  Each 
participating entity must collect data on and document the amount of organic waste 
diverted from the waste stream by the program, the related cost savings realized by the 
participating entity and any problems encountered in implementing the program, and 
must compile this information into a report for the department.  The department is 
directed to analyze the reports submitted by the participating entities and, by January 15, 
2017, submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over environmental and natural resources matters detailing the findings of the 
program and including any recommendations for legislation.  This bill also adopts a 
definition for the term "organic waste."