Colorado State

Compostable Product Standards 

SB 23-253

• 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.

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.

Effective July 1, 2024,

Use EcoSafe bags and liners to be compliant!

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Boulder, Colorado

Universal Zero Waste Ordinance

Mandatory for residents and businesses

Requires all properties in Boulder to have separated compost, recycling and trash service. All businesses must provide correctly placed collection containers have required signs, train employees on proper sorting. All property owners, both residential and commercial, must subscribe to compost, recycling and trash collection service regularly provide occupants information on where bins are located.

EcoSafe is on the CMA approved compostable bag acceptance list. 

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.


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City of Denver

Waste No More Ordinance

Mandatory for residents and businesses

Requires apartment complexes, commercial properties, and
city-permitted events to offer recycling and composting services. The goal is to divert 50% of waste by 2027, including construction and demolition waste.

Effective Dates: June 1, 2023: For businesses with 15,000 sq. ft. or more
June 1, 2024: For businesses between 5,000 and 14,999 sq. ft.
June 1, 2025: For all remaining food waste producers not covered in the previous categories.

SB1383

Mandatory for residents and businesses

Cities, counties, and other jurisdictions are required decrease their methane gas emissions by reducing the amount of organic waste they deposit in landfills by 75%.

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.

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SB 54

In Progress/ Mandatory state-wide

Requires packaging sold in the state to be recyclable or certified compostable by 2032 and establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program to fund reuse, recycling, and compost throughout the state. The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act mandates that only products accepted by at least 75% of composters statewide can be sold. Compostable bags must meet stringent criteria, with a focus on depackaging solutions to comply with regulations. Non-certified plastic bags will not be accepted.

Ongoing regulatory development: List of recyclable and compostable materials will be made available in 2026. SB 54 will go into effect in 2032.

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SB1046

In Progress/Mandatory for business

Ban on single-use plastic produce bags. Instead, shoppers can use either recycled paper bags or certified compostable bags.

Effective Jan 1, 2025.

Chapter 446d

Mandatory commercial food wholesalers and distributors; industrial food manufacturers and processors; supermarkets; resorts; and conference centers. 

Requires waste generators to source-separate their organic materials, then either (a) compost or treat source-separated organic materials on-site using permitted equipment, or (b) ensure that such source-separated organic materials are recycled at an authorized source-separated organic material composting facility.

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.

Gainesville,
Florida

Sec.27-95.2.

Mandatory for multifamily properties, landlords, condo associations

Mandates that multifamily properties, landlords, and condo associations establish a food waste collection program to separate food waste from other trash, aiming to increase diversion and reduce landfill impact.

Effective Date: June 1, 2024

SB2816

Mandatory for businesses / stadiums, universities, colleges etc. with venues and events greater than 3,500 people.

Requires certain businesses to start separating organic waste to send to approved composting facilities. Each county’s waste management plan must now include an organic waste composting program.

Effective January 1, 2025

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SB2876

This legislation focuses on expanding organic waste collection and improving diversion rates across residential and commercial sectors, encouraging businesses and municipalities to enhance composting programs.

Effective Date: Ongoing EPR development.

HB0264 – Organics Recycling and Waste Diversion

Mandatory for residents, businesses, schools, dining rooms, etc.

Requires certain waste generators within 30 miles of a composting facility to either reduce, divert to food rescue organizations, farms for animal feed operations, or compost or anaerobically digest the residuals.

Effective January 1, 2024 for those who generate at least 1 ton of food residuals each week.

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HB0150

Public Schools – Grant Program to Reduce and Compost School Waste.

Awards grants to county boards of education and public schools to develop and implement programs for reducing food waste and to establish composting of pre- and post-consumer waste.

EcoSafe can help schools implement their programs, contact us today! 

Effective since July 1, 2022.

Commercial Food Material Disposal Ban

Mandatory for businesses.

MassDEP has finalized its 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan, aiming to cut statewide disposal by 30% from 5.7 million tons in 2018 to 4 million tons by 2030. The long-term goal is to achieve a 90% reduction in disposal to 570,000 tons by 2050.

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.

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.

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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.

The law recognizes compostable packaging as one of the acceptable forms of packaging alongside reusable and recyclable options.

Effective date: May 2024

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Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act

Mandatory for producers of packaging
materials

The law requires producers to cover a portion of recycling costs, starting with at least 50% by February 1, 2029, increasing to 75% by February 1, 2030, and reaching 90% by February 1, 2031. A Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) is to be appointed by January 1, 2025, with producers required to register by July 1, 2026.

Effective Date: May 2024

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:

1. donate excess edible food; and
2. recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within 25 miles of an organics recycler (composting facility, anaerobic digester, etc.).

Effective January 1, 2022. 

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Assembly Bill A8428

In progress

Provides that bags exempt from bag waste reduction shall not be tinted green or brown unless it is a compostable bag.

EcoSafe is compliant with this bill.

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Zero Waste Act

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.

HB 1681

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 process of being passed. EcoSafe is compliant with compostability claims. 

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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%.

Effective date: The Senate Environment and Energy Committee is currently discussing the bill. The legislative session ends on January 13, 2026.

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Packaging Product Stewardship Act (A2094/S208)

Mandatory for businesses using single-use packaging

Businesses must meet targets to increase post-consumer
content in packaging to 75% by 2027, ensure all packaging is recyclable or
compostable by 2030, and reduce single-use plastic packaging by 25%.

Effective Date: Pending; legislative session ends January 13, 2026.

Portland

Food Scraps Separation Policy – AR 5.15-4000

Mandatory for businesses.

Businesses that generate more than 250 pounds of food waste per week (equivalent to about one 60-gallon roll cart per week) are required to comply. 

Effective for many businesses within the Metro boundary since 2023.

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Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act

Mandatory for producers
of packaging materials

The act requires producers to pay new fees for packaging, aiming to reduce packaging pollution and make recycling easier for residents. The fees will fund improvements in recycling infrastructure and operations.

Effective Date: July 1, 2025

Austin, Texas

Universal Recycling Ordiannce (Austin City Code Ch. 15-6)

Mandatory for residents and businesses

Requires commercial business owners and multifamily properties to ensure that all commercial tenants, multifamily residents and employees have access to recycling, and food-permitted businesses to ensure that all employees have convenient access to diversion methods that keep organic materials out of landfills. Organic material can include unused food, food scraps and food-soiled paper.

Violations of the URO (Austin City Code Chapter 15-6) are a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $2,000 per day, per offense.

Effective October 1st, 2024.

Vermont Universal Recycling Law (Act 148) Food Scrap Ban

Mandatory for residents and businesses.

State law bans food scraps from the trash or landfills.

Effective since July 1, 2020.

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.

City of Seattle 

Municipal Code 21.36.082 and 21.36.083

Mandatory for residents, multi-residential, and commercial

All food and food-soiled paper products such as paper towels, paper napkins, and cardboard must be composted.

Effective since January 1 2015.

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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.

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HB 2321

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.

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Statewide Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban

Requirement for all businesses.

Washington’s Plastic Bag Ban will reduce pollution by prohibiting single-use plastic carryout bags and charging a fee for acceptable bags in businesses. EcoSafe’s certified compostable checkout bags are a great alternative but first, reach out to your local composting facility to ensure they are accepted.

Effective since October 2021. EcoSafe’s compostable checkout bag is accepted as an alternative.

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Organics
Management Law

Mandatory for businesses producing ≥4 cubic yards
of organic waste per week

Businesses located within designated Business Organics Management Areas (BOMA) that generate four cubic yards or more of food and yard waste per week must divert these materials from garbage bins to curbside organics bins. Compliance includes subscribing to curbside organics collection services. Exemptions apply to businesses managing waste onsite, donating materials, or self-hauling to authorized facilities.

Effective Date: January 1, 2025