Environment Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-930
AN ACT CONCERNING FOOD WASTE DIVERSION AND ANAEROBIC
Title: DIGESTION FACILITIES.
Vote Date: 3/31/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/19/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Rep. Joseph P. Gresko, 121st Dist.
Rep. Christine Palm, 36th Dist.
Rep. Dorinda Borer, 115th Dist.
Rep. Jaime S. Foster, 57th Dist.
Rep. David Arconti, 109th Dist.
Rep. David Michel, 146th Dist.
Rep. Anthony L. Nolan, 39th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
Roughly five hundred thousand tons of food waste enter Connecticuts municipal solid waste
stream each year. This equates to approximately 23% the states municipal waste. Recent
advancements in anaerobic digestion technology allow for the conversion of food waste into
clean energy on a large scale. At the same time, municipalities are finding it more difficult to
manage the solid waste stream. This bill seeks to assist the states clean energy goals, while
at the same time, provide some relief to municipalities waste burden, by establishing a pilot
program allowing for curbside food waste collection.
Substitute Language - LCO No. 6218
Reduces distance from forty miles in Line 27 Raised Bill to twenty miles in Line 27 Substitute
Language. Added Section 2(2) lines 58 to 62 to Substitute language. Added Section 4 to
Substitute Language.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Katie Dykes, Commissioner, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
SB930 is consistent with Connecticut's Comprehensive Materials Management Strategy and
recommendations of the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management
(CCSMM) to improve diversion and recovery of food scraps and organic waste.
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recommends the minor
changes to the bill. Section 1(d) requires DEEP to establish a voluntary pilot for any
municipality to establish a diversion program for source separated organic material. Section
1 (d) is not necessary. Municipalities can already contact DEEP to establish a diversion
program. Section 2 directs DEEP to engage in outreach and education about aerobic static
pile composting. DEEP actively works with municipalities of composting options and has a
web page dedicated to components and organics.
DEEP encourages the development of additional composting and anaerobic digestion
facilities to aggregate the volume of organics needed to supply new anaerobic digestion
facilities.
Brian Hurlburt, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture
Farm-based anaerobic digesters of manure present the opportunity to increase renewable
energy, increase the economic activity of Connecticut's agricultural sector, and improve the
environment. Anaerobic digestion advances Connecticut's goals to generate cleaner,
reliable, and affordable energy.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Saud Anwar, Senator, CT Senate
Oakridge Dairy, one of the largest dairy farms in Connecticut, has been working hard for the
past few years to traverse the approval process for an anaerobic digester to convert manure
to methane. Oakridge pursues the anaerobic digester to make their business more
economical and environmentally sustainable. Connecticut has one anaerobic digester while
Massachusetts has several under the same federal regulations. This is frustrating for
Oakridge and other dairy farms that want to invest in this technology.
Page 2 of 3 SB-930
Mather Knickerbocker, First Selectman, Town of Bethel
One-third of municipal solid waste is compromised of food scraps according to surveys.
Municipalities. Waste Management plants will close soon, there must be ways to decrease
the amount of municipal solid waste in landfills. SB930 provides incentives to increase the
number of facilities operational in Connecticut.
Samuel King Owner & CFO Blue Earth Compost, Inc.
The two issues with curbside organics collection at the municipal level are 1) cost and 2)
contamination. DEEP must find ways to make resources available to municipalities and
resources be allocated now to lessen the significant costs in the future to address the state's
waste management issues. Connecticut continues to resolve issues with sustainable
materials management and more can be done to achieve goals for waste diversion. If goals
are not meat for reduction of municipal waste stream municipalities will pay the increased
costs.
Brian Paganini, Vice President, Quantum Biopower
Comments on suggested regulatory framework for anaerobic digesters in Connecticut to
prevent overdevelopment of sites, prevent farms from becoming waste facilities and DEEP
support to municipalities to start voluntary diversion programs. Quantum Biopower is
currently the states only anaerobic digestion facility, which generates one Megawatt of
electricity, located in Southington, CT.
Donna Hamzy, Advocacy Manager, Connecticut Council of Municipalities
Connecticut Council of Municipalities is a partner to discuss the options presented by the
Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management (CCSMM). "Perfection cannot
be the enemy of progress". Start small and significant changes to remove organics an
establish new markets from the waste stream.
The Environment Committee received in more than 20 additional testimonials in support of
SB930.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None
Reported by: Steve Smith Date: 4/14/21
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Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 557: