June 20, 2019
MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Secretary Julie Moore invites the public to join her on June 25 from 4:00-5:00 pm to discuss a variety of environmental topics. The conversation will begin with a discussion on composting. The Secretary will provide more information about the universal recycling law which requires food and food scraps to be kept separate from trash by 2020, offer a recap of 2019 composting legislation, give tips for how to start composting and reducing food waste, and provide guidance for how to compost in a way that doesn’t attract wildlife.
“Starting July 1 of next year, everyone, including businesses, homeowners and renters will be asked to keep food scraps out of their trash as part of the Universal Recycling Law,” said Secretary Moore. “This is an important step in moving us closer to zero-waste state, but we’ve got some work to do. Vermonters currently throw away approximately 77,000 tons of food and food waste each year. If every Vermonter composted their food waste, it would be the same as taking over 7,000 vehicles off the road each year. As we move closer to the 2020 deadline, people have a lot of questions about composting. This meeting is a great time for Vermonters to voice their questions, ideas, and concerns.”
At the meeting, Josh Kelly with the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Waste Management and Prevention Division will discuss the July 2020 disposal ban on food and food scraps and the growing services available around the state to manage these materials for beneficial uses. Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter will discuss strategies for responsible composting to deter wildlife from getting into composting bins.
While the meeting will begin with a conversation on composting, the Secretary encourages attendees to bring natural resources questions and topics beyond the featured topic. The gathering will be held in the Dewey Building at 1 National Life Drive in Montpelier June 25 from 4:00-5:00 pm. For those not able to make it in person, a Facebook Live stream will be available at https://www.facebook.com/VTANR/