Food Waste Collection Services

Universal mandate (2)

• California — SB 1383 sets statewide organic waste reduction targets and requires organics collection service for businesses and residents.
• Vermont — Under the Universal Recycling Law (Act 148), food scraps have been banned from the landfill for every generator — businesses and households alike — since July 1, 2020.

Commercial mandate (9)

• Connecticut — Commercial organics recycling law covers larger generators located within a set distance of a permitted processing facility.
• Maine — Home state. Under LD 1065, large food waste generators near an organics recycler must divert food scraps, starting with two or more tons a week within 20 miles in July 2030 and tightening to one ton a week within 25 miles in 2032. Municipal food-scrap programs, including residential drop-off in Brunswick, are already running.
• Maryland — Since 2023 large generators located within 30 miles of an organics recycling facility must divert food residuals; the threshold has since tightened.
• Massachusetts — The commercial organic material waste ban tightened in November 2022, cutting the threshold from one ton to half a ton of food waste per week.
• New Hampshire — As of February 1, 2025, generators disposing of one ton or more of food waste per week must divert it if an authorised facility is within 20 miles.
• New Jersey — The Food Waste Recycling Law requires large generators to divert food waste when an authorised facility is within range.
• New York — The Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law requires large generators to donate edible food and recycle scraps when an organics recycler is nearby.
• Rhode Island — The food residuals law covers large generators located near a licensed composting or digestion facility.
• Washington — Organics management law phases in business requirements by volume.

Local programs & incentives (14)

• Colorado — City, county or incentive-led diversion.
• Delaware — City, county or incentive-led diversion.
• District of Columbia — Residential food-waste drop-off and commercial diversion programs.
• Florida — City, county or incentive-led diversion.
• Georgia — City, county or incentive-led diversion.
• Illinois — Composting infrastructure and local diversion programs, no statewide ban.
• Michigan — State organics management plan targets food-waste reduction by 2030.
• Minnesota — Metro-area counties require organics collection options for large generators.
• North Carolina — City, county or incentive-led diversion.
• Ohio — City, county or incentive-led diversion.
• Oregon — Portland metro requires business food-scrap collection.
• Pennsylvania — Philadelphia and other municipalities run organics programs; no statewide ban.
• Texas — Austin's Universal Recycling Ordinance requires food-permitted businesses to divert organics.
• Virginia — City, county or incentive-led diversion.

No statewide mandate yet (26)

• Alabama — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Alaska — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Arizona — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Arkansas — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Hawaii — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Idaho — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Indiana — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Iowa — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Kansas — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Kentucky — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Louisiana — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Mississippi — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Missouri — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Montana — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Nebraska — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Nevada — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• New Mexico — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• North Dakota — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Oklahoma — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• South Carolina — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• South Dakota — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Tennessee — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Utah — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• West Virginia — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Wisconsin — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.
• Wyoming — Diversion is still voluntary — and still worth it.