The Maryland State Senate has passed
SB599 On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program by a vote of 42-0. The bill creates new grant programs to reduce food waste in Maryland. The grants would be used to support on farm composting, organics recycling, compost use, and food waste prevention or rescue.
Read more in Waste Advantage.
This is a bill that MRN strongly supports
(read statement). Food waste is the biggest part of Maryland’s waste disposal stream with Marylanders sending 849,756 tons of food waste to disposal in 2024. That’s 18.8 percent of the solid waste generated in the State just that year. Methods such as composting or edible food recovery programs could alleviate this problem; however, there are unique challenges associated with collecting and composting food waste.
SB599 tackles this through grants specifically designed to increase organics recycling and composting along with waste food prevention and food rescue programs.
On February 11, MRN Legislative Chair Chaz Miller testified
(read statement) on behalf of the House version
HB429. On March 12,
HB429 passed by a vote of 126-7.
The bill now faces a final vote in both chambers before going to the Governor's desk for signature.
*Stay up-to-date on current legislation including our statements and actions taken via the Legislative / Regulatory page.