Massachusetts has had a commercial food waste disposal ban in place since 2014. In 2016, the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) hired the consulting firm ICF to conduct an economic impact analysis of the ban. Results of that analysis showed growth in jobs generated, tonnage diverted, labor income, industry activity, value added and tax revenue compared to 2010 baseline data in the Commonwealth’s 2010-2020 Solid Waste Master Plan.
This year, ICF completed another economic impact analysis for MassDEP, using 2024 data. MassDEP distributed surveys to 117 contacts in the organics industry and received 37 unique responses from 30 companies. Those responses were categorized by industry segments: organic waste collection/hauling, organic waste processing, food rescue organizations, and other organizations, such as food manufacturers, emergency food pantries and compostable products distributors. ICF reported averages and extrapolated survey results to the full industry segments. Combining the three sectors surveyed, the quantity of food waste rescued, collected/hauled or processed was about 713,300 tons.
Among key trends identified, the study notes growth in both institutional and residential customers. In terms of tonnage, the food rescue segment has grown the most since the 2016 study — 93%. Total employment by the industry has continued to grow. From 2010 to 2024, the average number of employees increased by 97% for haulers, 30% for processors, and 6% for food rescue organizations. The biggest jump in employment in those three segments occurred following the ban implementation in 2014. (“Other” was not included as an industry segment in the 2010 and 2016 studies.)…