Explore how regulations are incorporating strategies to cut food waste and promote composting. Legislation elsewhere is pushing for recyclable or compostable packaging, paving the way for a circular bioeconomy. Check out the list of regulations in the USA and Canada below, and return back to this page as we uncover new policy trends.
United States
Location
Description
Note
Austin, Texas
Universal Recycling Ordiannce (Austin City Code Ch. 15-6)
Mandatory for residents and businesses
Colorado
Compostable Product Standards
- Establishes standards for products marketed as capable of decomposing in a controlled composting system, per ASTM International standards.
- Prohibits producers of non-certified compostable products from using tinting, color schemes, labeling, or words designated for certified compostable products (except for brand colors not implying compostability).
- Bans misleading labeling, images, or words suggesting non-certified products are compostable.
- Prohibits claims that plastic products will biodegrade in a landfill or other environments.
Effective July 1, 2024, producers are prohibited from claiming a product is compostable unless it has received certification from a recognized, independent third-party verification body and complies with specific labeling standards that make it easily distinguishable as certified compostable. Use EcoSafe bags and liners to be compliant!
Boulder, Colorado
Universal Zero Waste Ordinance
Mandatory for residents and businesses
If compliance is not achieved within 14 days of Code Enforcement opening an investigation, a fine of $500 will be assessed, followed by second fine of $1000, then fines of $2000 for each occurrence if compliance is not reached upon subsequent 14-day inspections. Effective since 2017.
California
Mandatory for residents and businesses
Jurisdictions will still need to procure 30% of their targeted recovered organic waste products by January 1, 2023, 65% by January 1, 2024, and 100% by January 1, 2025.
In Progress/Mandatory for business
List of recyclable and compostable materials will be made available in 2026. SB 54 will go into effect in 2032.
In Progress/Mandatory for business
Effective Jan 1, 2025.
Connecticut
Mandatory commercial food wholesalers and distributors; industrial food manufacturers and processors; supermarkets; resorts; and conference centers.
Required if located within 20 miles of an organic composting facility, but only if the facility has available capacity and is willing to accept such material. Effective January 1, 2020 for businesses that produce ≥ 52 tons/year.
Illinois
Effective January 1, 2025
Maryland
HB0264 – Organics Recycling and Waste Diversion
Mandatory for residents, businesses, schools, dining rooms, etc.
Public Schools – Grant Program to Reduce and Compost School Waste
On-Farm Organic Diversion and Composting Grant Program
Aims to aid in on-farm composting, food waste prevention, and food rescue projects.
Massachusetts
Commercial Food Material Disposal Ban
Mandatory for businesses
Effective November 1, 2022: Commercial food/organic wastes from facilities generating one-half ton or more of these materials per week are banned from disposal or transport for disposal in Massachusetts.
Minnesota
Hennepin County (includes Minneapolis) and The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (includes Duluth)
Mandatory for residents, businesses, institutions, and more
Hennepin County requires large commercial businesses (generating over 1 ton of trash weekly or contracting for 8+ cubic yards weekly) to separate and dispose of back-of-house food waste through self-hauling or a disposal service.
Western Lake Superior Sanitary District mandates organic waste separation for; large grocery stores and commercial establishment, certain restaurants and caterer, large post-secondary schools with on-site meals, hospitals and nursing homes with on-site meals, large food manufacturers or processor, assisted living facilities and correctional facilities.
Effective since January 1, 2020.
Minnesota Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law
Packaging and Compostables
Mandatory for businesses that sell food service packaging
This law aims to shift the financial burden of recycling from taxpayers to the companies producing the packaging, encouraging them to create more environmentally friendly packaging designs and improve recycling systems. This incentivizes manufacturers to make all packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2032.
Effective May 2024.
The law recognizes compostable packaging as one of the acceptable forms of packaging alongside reusable and recyclable options.
New York, New York
Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law
Mandatory for businesses and institutions
Requires businesses and institutions that generate an annual average of two tons of wasted food per week or more must:
- donate excess edible food; and
- recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within 25 miles of an organics recycler (composting facility, anaerobic digester, etc.).
In progress
Mandatory city-wide collection programs
The bill establishes a permanent citywide residential curbside collection program for organic waste, requiring residents to separate yard waste and food scraps for weekly collection by the Department of Sanitation. The bill also mandates public outreach to residents, building owners, and maintenance staff. Collections will be offered by city and franchise haulers.
Effective: Phased implementation will achieve citywide coverage by October 2024.
New Hampshire
State-wide Compostability Labeling Law
This bill bans selling products labeled biodegradable or compostable unless certified by a third-party adhering to ASTM 6400 standards, like BPI. It becomes effective 60 days post-approval.
In progress of being passed. EcoSafe is compliant with compostability claims.
New Jersey
Packaging Product Stewardship Act (A2094/S208)
In progress
If your business uses single-use packaging in New Jersey, you must meet the following targets:
- By 2027: At least 75% of packaging must be made from post-consumer content.
- By 2030: All packaging must be readily recyclable or compostable.
- By 2030: Single-use plastic packaging must be reduced by at least 25%.
The Senate Environment and Energy Committee is currently discussing the bill. The legislative session ends on January 13, 2026.
Portland, Oregon
Food Scraps Separation Policy – AR 5.15-4000
Mandatory for businesses
Vermont
Vermont Universal Recycling Law (Act 148) Food Scrap Ban
Mandatory for residents and businesses
West Virginia
HB4914
Food Waste Track Force
The Department establishes the Food Waste Task Force to identify, examine, and recommend legislative or executive actions to reduce food waste in the state.
In progress
Washington State
All food and food-soiled paper products such as paper towels, paper napkins, and cardboard must be composted.
Effective since January 1 2015.
Organics Management Law – House Bill 1799
Mandatory for state and local governments, businesses, and other organizations
This act concerns managing organic materials and requires compostable film bags to be easily identifiable by composters and consumers. Our certified compostable products must meet the following criteria: (a) Display a certification logo indicating compliance with the ASTM D6400 standard, verified by a third-party independent body (BPI and CMA). (b) Have a uniform color (green, beige, or brown) and be labeled “compostable” on one or both sides of the bag. (c) Meet industry standards for quick identification in public sorting areas and processing facilities.
Effective June 9, 2022. EcoSafe is in compliance with the highest standard of compostable labelling laws.
Required for commercial, institutional, and residential
Introduces fresh grant initiatives aimed at curbing food waste and enhancing policies for managing organic materials. It also adjusts requirements for organic material collection services by local governments, residents, and businesses. Additionally, the bill mandates specific color codes for garbage, recycling, and organic waste bins, while updating labeling rules concerning product degradability. Furthermore, it amends compost procurement programs and associated requirements.Organics collection will be required for single family residents in urbanized areas of the state — at a minimum of every other week or at least 26 times annually.
Effective for all of residential by April 2027.
Statewide Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban
Requirement for all businesses
Effective since October 2021. EcoSafe’s compostable checkout bag is accepted as an alternative.
Canada
Single-use Plastics Prohibition
Mandatory for businesses across Canada
Bans six categories of single-use plastic (SUPs) items: checkout bags, cutlery, stir sticks, straws, ring carriers, and food service ware made from or containing problematic plastics.
Some compostable products are effected, but not all. Read EcoSafe’s official comments on our blog.
In progress across Canada
The Canadian Government plans to establish regulations focusing on compostability. These regulations include:
- Mandating minimum levels of recycled post-consumer plastics in packaging.
- Requiring accurate recyclability labeling to inform Canadians on proper disposal methods for packaging and single-use plastics.
- Prohibiting the terms “biodegradable” or “degradable” on plastic packaging and single-use plastics and restricting the use of “compostable” to plastics meeting specific standards and labeling requirements.
Final regulations are targeted for publication in Canada Gazette, Part II before the end of 2024.
Canada-wide Greenwashing Law Bill C-59
Mandatory
Businesses making green or environmental claims must be able to back them up with proof.
The Competition Act is amended aimed specifically at marketing of products, guarantees, warranties and business activities that claim they protect or restore the environment or mitigate the environmental and ecological causes of effects of climate change.
Penalties for making statements that amount to “greenwashing” under the new provisions can be severe. Effective June 20, 2024.
Alberta
City of Calgary
Multi-family and all businesses
All multi-family complexes must implement recycling, composting, and garbage programs in accordance with Waste Bylaw 4M2020. Guidelines for retrofitting waste rooms in multi-family buildings are provided here.
All businesses and organizations in Calgary are mandated to establish waste diversion programs, covering all waste generated by their operations, customers, members, employees, or volunteers. EcoSafe is proud partner in the food waste reduction pilot. If you’re a commercial business, learn how you can join across Canada here.
Effective November 2017.
Ontario
Food and Organic Waste Policy
Voluntary (in progress) for residents and businesses
View section (2) Targets for target dates effective for each entity/person.
Nova Scotia
Solid Waste-Resource Management Strategy
Mandatory for residents and businesses
PEI
Waste Watch source-separation program
Mandatory for residents and businesses
Effective island-wide since 2002.
Saskatchewan
City of Regina
Bylaw No: 2012-63
Mandatory for residents and businesses
Effective January 1, 2025 for multi-family apartment buildings.
Effective January 1, 2026 for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) businesses
City of Saskatoon
BYLAW NO. 9844
Mandatory for residents
Fail to ensure waste is taken to the appropriate place is between $500-$2,000 per offense.