Approximately 40 percent of the food produced in the United States goes uneaten.  Much of this organic waste is disposed of in solid waste landfills, where its decomposition accounts for over 15% of our nation's emissions of methane.  Jurisdictions that incinerate MSW emit roughly one ton of greenhouse gases for every ton of MSW.   Food waste not recycled not only squanders natural resources, it also contributes to climate change.

Recognizing the importance of food scraps to our environment, I recommend that 9VAC 20 130-165 and DEQ form 50-30 be modified to require collection and resorting of food waste recycling, whether by composting, diversion to animal feed, anaerobic digestion or other means of segregating and recycling food waste from MSW streams.

9VAC 20 125, 120-165 and DEQ form 50-30 should be modified to encourage the prevention of food waste generation by commercial generators and residents, directing recovery of edible food from high volume commercial food waste generators, and ensuring that a significant portion of inedible food waste from large volume food waste generators is managed in a sustainable manner and does not end up sent to landfills or incinerators.   All solid waste planning units should be required to report annually on the tonnage of food waste and other vegetative waste not otherwise reported as Yard Waste or Waste Wood on DEQ form 50-30 that is recycled.   The report should summarize the amount of food scraps that are recycled.