An initiative of New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension
An initiative of New Jersey Agricultural Experiment
Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension
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FOOD RESIDUALS DIVERSION PROJECT |
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The USDA reports that currently, food residuals
constitute 21.9 million of the roughly 217 million tons of solid waste
nationwide, or approximately 10.1%. Of
the 21.9 million tons of food residuals generated in America, only 569 thousand
tons of food residuals--2.6% of the total--was diverted to recycling options
such as composting or animal feeding A much larger segment of this waste stream
could easily be recycled, if larger generators, i.e. those from the processing, wholesaling,
retail and food service sectors of the food industry could be matched with the existing and
developing markets within the state. These markets include food banks, animal feeding
applications (fresh and pelletized), composting (open air and in vessel) and fuel production.
Initial research suggests that it can be extremely cost effective, beneficial from aesthetic
and health perspectives, as well as environmentally beneficial, to divert food residuals away
from landfills and incinerators into these markets.
This project is meant to bring larger generators and markets together, through a program of outreach to make generators aware of recycling possibilities. Outreach will operate through county recycling coordinators, affected food industry groups, health officers, county and state, haulers and other potentially affected solid waste/recycling industry representatives, and other affected institutions and businesses. At the same time, the project will examine regulations affecting food residual recycling to achieve a balance between protection of the public and burden placed on the recycling markets. We hope to be able to marry science and regulation in this aspect of the project.
Contact hayes@aesop.rutgers.edu with questions and comments. |
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