Organics recycling is the process of breaking down organic material, often food waste, to create compost, energy, and other beneficial by-products. There are a wide range of organics recycling methods, including anaerobic digestion, aerobic composting, and vermicomposting.
In a landfill, food waste and other organics break down in an uncontrolled anaerobic environment, releasing harmful greenhouse gasses directly to the atmosphere. About 30% of household waste in Maine is food waste, which means that organics recycling and following the Food Recovery Hierarchy can have a significant positive impact!
Brunswick recently received a Waste Diversion Grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This grant is partially funding Brunswick’s efforts to double residential food waste recycling from 200 tons to 400 tons per year by August 2023. We are promoting this initiative through public outreach and community-wide education efforts.
