The bill would have required large food waste generators to donate excess edible food and recycle all other food scraps, rather than the landfilling it – addressing both food waste and food insecurity in the state.
MAINE – The state legislature has adjourned, effectively ending the legislative session. The session ends with the legislature failing to take the final step necessary to enact a pivotal bill (L.D. 1009) that would have required large food waste generators to divert their food waste from landfills. The bill, which passed both the House and Senate earlier this year, would have established a comprehensive program to address food waste across Maine.
“This is a huge disappointment,” said Peter Blair, Policy and Advocacy Director at Just Zero. “Maine generates more than 230,000 tons of food waste each year. Most of that food, much of which is still edible, gets buried in landfills where it produces methane. The rest burns in climate-damaging incinerators. There is no excuse to waste all this food. Especially when hundreds of thousands of people across the state, including children, struggle with hunger daily.”
If enacted, LD 1009 would have required large food waste producers to donate or recycle their food waste instead of sending it to landfills. Beginning in 2026, the law would affect businesses and institutions that generate two or more tons of food waste per week and are located within 20 miles of an organic recycling facility. By 2028, the law would expand to include generators that produce one ton of food waste and are located within 25 miles of an organic recycling facility.
Despite passing both the House and the Senate, the legislature declined to provide any funding for the bill. Failure to provide the funding prevented it from being sent to the governor for final review and adoption. Failure to fund and adopt this program means almost all the food waste generated in Maine will continue to be sent to landfills and incinerators.
“We know that this policy works,” said Blair. “Nine other states, including every other state in New England, have enacted similar legislation – and with astounding results. These laws are proven to drastically cut food waste, reduce landfilling, increase food donations, and expand access to organic recycling services. And all while creating green jobs and benefiting the local economy. L.D. 1009 would have been pivotal for Maine in addressing food waste and food insecurity.”
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