Vermont Waste Haulers Push to Postpone Food Waste Ban

Vermont officials have been gearing up to meet the state’s Universal Recycling Law, which as of July 1, will ban all food waste from disposal. But now, amid the coronavirus pandemic, two of the state’s trash haulers—Casella Waste Systems and Austins Rubbish & Roll-Off Services—are calling for an “indefinite” postponement on the ban as well as flexibility to send recyclables to the landfill as needed during the state of emergency.

Casella claims these measures are needed to minimize any potential service disruptions, according to a report by VTDigger.

VTDigger has more information:

Two trash haulers — including the state’s largest waste management company — are seeking to loosen several key solid waste regulations in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

Casella Waste Systems and West Charleston-based Austins Rubbish & Roll-Off Services want to see a ban on putting food scraps in the trash — set to go into effect this July — delayed “indefinitely.” They also want to be able to put recyclables into landfills during the state of emergency. 

Casella, which is also making contingency plans if their workers get sick, contends these measures are needed to minimize any disruption to trash pickup. The requests come as some recycling and trash drop-off centers around the state have closed or reduced hours during the pandemic.

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