There's nothing in it:
"Commercial food waste to be banned" May 04, 2012|David Abel, Globe Staff
State
environmental officials are preparing to ban hospitals, universities,
hotels, large restaurants, and other big businesses and institutions in
Massachusetts from discarding food waste in the trash beginning in 2014,
a measure that in coming years they hope to extend to homes as well.
I'm all set; I throw it into the woods. I suppose that's what accounts for the endless wildlife sightings 'round h're.
Officials
said the proposed rules, designed to save space in landfills and reduce
emissions of gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, will make
Massachusetts the first state with such a comprehensive prohibition on
commercial food waste.
I'd rather not be a trailblazer on this one, but the space at the dump is a problem.
Their
immediate goal is to divert a third of the nearly 1.4 million tons of
organic waste produced every year in Massachusetts from landfills by the
end of the decade. Instead, it would go to composting sites and a new
generation of specially designed plants that convert waste into energy,
heat, and fertilizer.
It sounds good even if it must smell awful.
State officials said they want to begin diverting household waste to the new plants by the end of the decade.
“This
is clearly one of the most ambitious plans of its kind in the
country,’’ said Patrick Serfass, executive director of the American
Biogas Council, a Washington-based group that represents the industry.
State
officials envision a new, parallel waste system that would have its own
transportation network to deliver the organic waste - which includes
refuse such as weeds and manure - to a host of so-called anaerobic
digesters. Those plants, one of which already exists on a farm in
Rutland, convert methane from degraded food into power that feeds into
the region’s electrical grid. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas that
contributes to global warming, is contained by the plants.
As the state prepares to issue the new rules this summer, some business groups have raised questions about the potential costs.
They
note the new system will require a sophisticated transportation network
and special containers and compactors to store the waste safely between
pickups. They worry that some restaurants and other businesses lack the
space to keep the food waste on their lots, fear it could attract pests
and rodents, and are concerned a new system would end up being more
expensive than officials expect.
They don't care.
“The devil is always in the
details,’’ said Peter Christie, president and CEO of the Massachusetts
Restaurant Association, which represents about 5,000 restaurants
statewide. “Any additional expense can be a big issue for restaurants,
and food safety is non-negotiable. You can’t have it hanging around.’’
Oh, I AGREE!!!!
State
officials and biogas industry advocates acknowledge the expense of a
new system, but they say diverting food waste to the plants or compost
facilities would ultimately save most businesses and large institutions
money....
They ALWAYS SAY THAT and it NEVER HAPPENS!!!!
“Converting organic waste to energy through anaerobic digestion is
not just a win-win; it is a quadruple win,’’ said Ken Kimmell,
commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection. “The
process creates a biogas that generates safe, reliable, and cost
effective renewable electricity and heat. It saves cities and towns
money by lowering waste disposal costs. It reduces greenhouse gas
emissions by taking rotting food waste out of landfills and
incinerators, and it conserves scarce landfill space.’’
**********************************
Kimmell has not quantified how much eliminating organic waste in
landfills would reduce greenhouse gases. But as an example of the fuel
benefits, he cited the state waste water treatment plant on Deer Island,
which saves about $15 million in fuel and nearly $3 million in
electricity costs by converting sewage into energy....
The new
disposal rules come as the Patrick administration faces criticism for
falling behind in its efforts to blunt the effects of climate change....
I'm so sick of that stinky cudgel being waged at every opportunity.
--more--"
Ah, I'm kind of full-up anyway.
For those of you who still have room:
The Boston Globe Says Wasting Food is Good Money
Earth Day: Food For Fuel
Cleaning Up the County
