Organic materials are carbon based compounds that come from living things and are readily biodegradable, making them a valuable resource rather than a waste. It is the organic matter and nutrients in these materials that lead to the useful products (e.g., compost, biogas, digestate, etc.) created at organics recycling facilities. From farm wastes to residential lawns, cafeteria food scraps to biosolids, organic materials are a part of life. Managing these materials through reduction, reuse, and recycling is a high priority in New York State.
Recycling organic materials by composting, anaerobic digestion, land application, and other organics recycling technologies reduces the generation of greenhouse gases, creates soil amendments, energy, and jobs, and reduces reliance on waste disposal.
NYSDEC provides regulatory oversight, technical assistance, education and outreach, and funding for organics reduction and recycling in New York State.
Supported by the NYS Solid Waste Management Plan, DEC is committed to
- Prioritizing wasted food reduction, food donation, and food scraps recycling programs and initiatives in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors
- Supporting the continued development of the organics recycling industry in New York State
- Empowering and educate residents of New York State to properly manage excess food, reduce wasted food, and recycle their food scraps and yard trimmings
- Improving and expand markets for products made from organics materials such as compost and digestate.
- Engaging the farming and agriculture community in food donation, recycling organics waste, and using waste-derived organic products.
Types of Organics Wastes
Some of the common organic materials that can be recycled include:
- Animal Manure - Includes both manure and bedding materials.
- Animal Mortalities - Mortalities are an unfortunate but real component of managing farm animals, wildlife, and pets. Visit Cornell Waste Management Institute's mortality composting for more information.
- Biosolids - Biosolids are the solids or semi-solids resulting from wastewater treatment. When managed properly to destroy pathogenic organisms, biosolids can be used as a valuable soil amendment due to their organic matter and nutrient content.
- FOG (Fats, Oils, and Greases) - FOG is generated from commercial food preparation including frying foods, cooking meats, and managing creams, sauces, and dairy products. Many commercial food preparers are required to install and maintain FOG interceptors to avoid disposal to the sewer system.
- Food Processing Waste - Includes the preparation of produce, grains, dairy, and meats for human consumption. These businesses can generate a variety of organic wastes such as skins, rinds, pumps, whey, off-spec products, and process washwater/residuals.
- Food Scraps - Includes food unfit for human consumption, unwanted cooking preparation/kitchen scraps and table scraps, including items such as vegetable trimmings, banana peels, apple cores, bones, egg shells, etc.
- Food Soiled Paper - Includes paper products that are not recyclable due to contact with food residues or wax coatings, including napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes, uncoated paper plates, used coffee filters, etc.
- Yard Trimmings - Includes leaves, grass clippings, garden and other plant debris, tree branches and limbs, aquatic weeds, etc. resulting from the maintenance of lawns, gardens, and public spaces.
Organics Diversion Laws in New York State
- New York State Food Donation & Food Scraps Recycling Law
- New York City Commercial Organics Diversion Mandate
- Ulster County Food Waste Prevention and Recovery Act
Addressing Climate Change with Organics Management
Organic materials that end up in the landfill decay over time without oxygen, thus producing methane. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is 84 times more potent than CO2 (20-year global warming potential (GWP) basis). GHG emissions from the waste sector represent about 12% of statewide emissions, including landfills (78%), waste combustion (7%), and wastewater treatment (15%). Most of these emissions represent the long-term decay of organic materials buried in a landfill, which will continue to emit methane at a significant rate for more than 30 years.
With 17% of municipal solid waste in New York State coming from food scraps, sustainable materials management strategies such as wasted food reduction, food donation, and composting can play a major role in decreasing GHG emissions and rebuilding healthy soils that decrease erosion and store carbon by preventing wasted food in the first place and diverting organic material from disposal.
Organics management plays a significant role in addressing climate change impacts and DEC is embarking on a number of initiatives identified in the following plans:
NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act Final Scoping Plan: This plan addresses climate change and establishes a roadmap to meeting the law’s requirements, including greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of 40% by 2030, and 85% from 1990 levels by 2050.
NYS Solid Waste Management Plan: This plan guides actions to the end of 2032 and builds upon sustained efforts to reduce waste and advance the state’s transition to a circular economy.
Proper organics management can protect the climate, feed hungry New Yorkers, build healthy soils, reduce waste, create jobs and engage communities.
