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Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Web Academy Webinar: State and Local Organic Bans - Implementation Planning, Lessons Learned and Updates

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Description

Thursday, February 21, 2019, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET

The state of Vermont and the commonwealth Massachusetts both implemented regulations in 2014 to promote food recovery and to decrease the disposal of food scraps in municipal solid waste. Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law (Act 148) Exitset a time line for food scrap diversion, beginning on July 1, 2014. Massachusetts implemented the Commercial Food Waste Disposal Ban Exiton October 1, 2014.   

Metro, the regional government for the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area, recently adopted a policy that requires food-generating businesses to separate food scraps from garbage. The new code language Exitrequires the largest food service businesses to separate their food scraps from other garbage starting in 2020 and smaller food service businesses will be phased into the policy over the following three years.

What is the progress to date for both Vermont and Massachusetts, including jobs created, food recovery infrastructure and take aways from their programs? How has Metro prepared before the implementation date? What metrics are they using to drive food scrap recovery? This webinar featured presenters from state and local government who are at the forefront of organics recovery policy at the state and local level. 

YouTubeVideo: State and Local Organic Bans - Implementation Planning, Lessons Learned and Updates Exit

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Speakers

This is a photo of John Fischer, one of the speakers in the presentation.John Fischer, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
John Fischer is the Branch Chief for Commercial Waste Reduction and Waste Planning at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). In this position, he coordinates MassDEP’s programs to advance waste reduction, recycling and composting by businesses and institutions in Massachusetts. Mr. Fischer also oversees development and implementation of the state’s Solid Waste Master Plan, solid waste and recycling data, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and disaster debris planning. He has a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology from Connecticut College and a Master in Science in City Planning, focusing on Environmental Policy and Planning, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This is a photo of Josh Kelly, one of the speakers in the presentation.Josh Kelly, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Josh Kelly is the Section Chief of the Materials Management Section at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. He joined VDEC, which is part of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, in 2013 to help implement Vermont’s Universal Recycling law. Previously, he spent nearly a decade working to conserve land in northern New England, and then worked for the Highfields Center for Composting, building composting programs in Vermont.

This is a photo of Holly Stirnkorb, one of the speakers in the presentation.Holly Stirnkorb, Metro
Holly Stirnkorb is the Senior Solid Waste Planner for Metro the regional government in the Portland metropolitan area. She is responsible for leading projects, implementing policies and collaborating with others to advance efforts to reduce food waste. That work has included leading the development of the food scraps evaluation system and facilitation of collaborative partnerships with industry associations, food donation agencies, and local and state government. Prior to joining Metro, she spent two decades working with public and private sectors on a wide range of materials management issues. Holly has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Oregon State University.

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Slides

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