Mass Called s National Leader in Food Waste Reduction

In the MassDEP chart above, dark blue represents food waste's share of all solid waste.

A new peer-reviewed report from researchers at the University of Texas and the University of California-San Diego cites Massachusetts as a nationwide leader in food waste reduction. The findings recommend a re-assessment of food waste bans in other states, using Massachusetts as a benchmark for success. The report, published in Science, calculated a significant 25.7 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions per ton of disposal after the state’s commercial food waste ban was put in place. The ban has caused more than 380,000 tons of food waste to be diverted and repurposed each year, resulting in more than 3,300 tons of avoided methane emissions annually.

“In Massachusetts we pride ourselves on being leaders. This new research is another example of the competitive advantage we have here in our state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Kudos to the team at MassDEP for the hard work they’ve put in to make this initiative so successful and a special credit to our state’s businesses and institutions that have stepped up to the plate to innovate and reduce their waste.”

“Our cities and towns stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the fight against climate change,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “When we partner with them and provide tools and resources, we’re unstoppable. This news re-affirms that dynamic and is yet another reason to be proud of Massachusetts.”

In 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) implemented a waste ban, requiring generators of more than one ton of food waste per week to divert those materials to uses like composting, rather than disposing of it in landfills. In 2022, that limit was adjusted to a half-ton of food waste per week, bringing in a significant number of additional entities required to divert rather than dispose. Diverted materials see new life as useable foods are donated or used as animal feed, composted, or otherwise repurposed. The state has invested more than $7.3 million in businesses and communities to support infrastructure and programs to make the policy a success – creating new jobs and economic opportunities along the way.

“Reducing food waste is a critical component of both our climate goals and our waste reduction goals,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This report is a testament to the hard work of state and local officials, and our local businesses and institutions.”

“Methane is a climate killer, trapping heat at more than 28 times the rate of carbon dioxide,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “An estimated 34 metric tons of methane emissions are released for every 1,000 tons of food waste that is landfilled. Keeping food waste out of landfills helps our fight against climate change and protects the immediate and long-term health of Massachusetts residents.”

The report notes that food waste and loss account for about 50 percent of the global food system’s emissions. It also emphasizes that significant emission reductions can be achieved through recycling methods like composting, which produces 38 to 84 percent less methane emissions than landfilling. Such measures are critical to limiting global temperature rise, and also help conserve limited landfill capacity in Massachusetts. The report specifically cites MassDEP’s inspection efforts as reason for the program’s success. The agency has inspected more than 45,000 loads of trash since 2014 and taken more than 140 enforcement actions against violators. This compliance activity was more than 200 percent higher than the next highest state.

A copy of the report can be found at www.aaas.org.

MassDEP’s 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan has established aggressive waste reduction goals of reduced disposal statewide by 30 percent (from 5.7 million tons in 2018 to 4 million tons in 2030) over the next decade and a 90 percent reduction in disposal to 570,000 tons by 2050. Drastically lowering the amount of food that is wasted in the first place and the amount that is sent to landfills, is a key component of the strategy for meeting those goals.

For more information on MassDEP’s solid waste master plan and the food waste ban, please visit the MassDEP 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan.

MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and to ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.