Frederick County Executive Announces Legislation to Encourage Food Waste Composting in Private Sector

Stakeholders to hold roundtable discussion on draft bill.

FREDERICK, MD.  –  Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner on Thursday announced legislation to allow limited food waste composting on agricultural land. The bill is designed to decrease the amount of waste that is sent to the county’s landfill by making it easier for the private sector to compost food waste. Executive Gardner will host a televised roundtable discussion with stakeholders on the proposal at 7 p.m., on Monday, Aug. 6, at Winchester Hall.

“This is a good first step to facilitate food composting in Frederick County,” commented Executive Gardner. “Composting extends the life of landfills, conditions soil, reduces the need for irrigation, improves water and air quality, and creates jobs on a commercial level.”

The proposed legislation was recommended by a work group that reviewed county ordinances and regulations to find ways to encourage the collection and composting of food waste in the private sector.  The review was suggested as part of the Solid Waste-What’s Next initiative.  The steering committee for Solid Waste- What’s Next was charged with overseeing development of a long-term plan for Frederick County’s solid waste.  County residents and businesses throw away an estimated 137,000 tons of waste each year.  Of that total 24,000 to 25,000 tons are from food waste.

The roundtable discussion is open to the public.