Shopping for Change
MassDEP Supermarket Recycling Program
Recycling food scraps is good for the environment
and business! Supermarkets in Massachusetts are
reducing, recovering, and recycling their food waste
and saving money by participating in the state's voluntary
supermarket recycling certification program.
How It Works
After identifying food waste diversion as a focus area for waste reduc-
tion in Massachusetts, MassDEP partnered with the Massachusetts
Food Association (MFA) to increase organics recycling at supermar-
kets in their state. Supermarkets are a major organics generator with
over 400 supermarkets in the state generating an estimated 90,600
tons of organic material per year. Mass DEP and MFA established
a voluntary Supermarket Recycling Program Certification (SRPC)
program to promote reducing, recycling, and reusing food waste
and other materials. Now, supermarkets in Massachusetts can obtain
SRPC status by annually certifying to the Mass DEP that they have a
comprehensive recycling and reuse program in place. Recycling and
reuse programs can include food donations to local food shelters and
diversion of food scraps, cardboard, paper, plants,
and wood boxes to composting. In turn, MassDEP
provides technical assistance to their supermarket
partners in developing their program, such as the
Supermarket Composting Handbook. Supermarkets
also can contact MassDEP for advice and more
information.
The main keys to Massachu-
setts's successful supermarket
recycling programs are senior
leadership support and com-
munication among all parties,
including feedback.
Everyone Benefits
As of August 2005, 62 supermarkets, nine haulers, and six compost-
ing facilities were recovering organics to achieve a 60-75% recy-
cling rate of food scraps and other organics in Massachusetts. On
average, participating supermarkets saved more than $4,400 per
year per store and collectively recycled 65.9% of supermarkets' total
waste stream avoiding $700,000 in reduced disposal costs.
MassDEP and MFA hope to have at least 100 supermarkets recy-
cling organics in their state by fall 2006, with the long-term goals of
all Massachusetts supermarkets participating in a voluntary initia-
tive by 2008.
What Makes SRPC Successful
Participating supermarkets save money, receive
positive recognition, and regulatory relief. Waste
disposal represents a significant and increasing op-
erating cost for the supermarket industry, especially
in Massachusetts where disposal fees range from
$80-$100 per ton. Since 75-85% of a supermarket's
waste stream is biodegradeable, composting can be
a lower cost alternative to disposal for these stores.
Participating stores also improve their compliance
with existing Massachusetts waste disposal bans
and receive relief from comprehensive inspection
of their store's truckloads of trash for prohibited
recyclable materials. Stores also reap the benefits of
resulting public recognition of their program, which
leads to positive motivation, community awareness,
positive public relations, and competitive advantage.
www.epa.gov/organicmaterials/fd-study.htm
Type of Recovery:
Source Reduction, Feed Animals,
Industrial Use, Composting
Program: MassDEP SRPC
Massachusetts state government
Website: www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/
supermkt.htm#srpc
Cool Facts:
j Supermarkets can save $3,000-
$20,000 per store annually
by recovering and recycling
their food residuals
PI The program achieved
a 60-75% recycling rate
of organics
in 2005.
October 2006
EPA530-F-06-036
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