HB264, Organics Recycling – Waste and Diversion – was introduced for its second year by Delegate Lorig Charkoudian. The bill’s effective date of January 2023 requires commercial generators of more than two tons of food scrap to either reduce, divert to food rescue organizations, farms for animal feed operations, or compost or anaerobically digest the residuals. In 2024, the threshold lowers to generators of 1 ton or more. The bill was introduced with the intention of creating demand for food scrap composting, as well as to assist increased food rescue operations, which has grown in need during the pandemic.
Maryland currently has 22 permitted compost facilities, with 20 facilities in operation, including the Prince Georges County Compost Facility, a facility serving the DC-Metro area. Out of the 20 facilities, 14 compost only yard trimmings, five compost a combination of food scraps, yard trimmings, manure etc., and one composts hay, straw, and manure, according to the Maryland Department of Environment.
