Hi BEST members,

In the United States, about 40 percent of all food is thrown away each 
year. Food production include 10 percent of the US energy budget, 50 
percent of its land use, and 80% of its freshwater use. Massachusetts 
announced plans on solving the food waste situation that beginning in 
October, businesses that produce more than one ton of food waste per 
week will not be allowed to send their food waste to the landfill.
Affected businesses will have to donate their edible food and the food 
that cannot be donated will go to composting facilities or anaerobic 
biogas operations. The goal is to reduce food waste by 450,000 tonnes 
annually by 2020.


Massachusetts is working with the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), a 
non-profit organization, to initiate the new policy. They have developed 
Recycling Works which is a program that will help businesses in 
Massachusetts help maximize recycling and reuse. If all works out, it 
helps make food recycling profitable and reduce waste.


http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/massachussetts-food-waste-ban-zero-percent

"What the Massachussets Food Waste Ban Means for Businesses." Bruce 
Watson. The Guardian.
March 4 2014


Thanks,

Natalie Chavez
Undergraduate Intern
2014 BioEnergy & Sustainability School
Soil and Water Science Department
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