Advocacy

EPA Publishes Reports on Emerging Issues in Food Waste Management

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published two “state of the science” reports about contamination in food waste streams, examining existing studies and identifying gaps in research. The two reports cover persistent chemical contaminants, including herbicides and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and plastics. The reports study the effects of this contamination on composting and anaerobic digestion and the potential risks to human health and the environment.

The EPA report on persistent chemical contaminants found that PFAS has been reported in food, food packaging, food waste streams and compost, but only one study was identified that measured PFAS concentrations in food waste streams. Data is limited, but what is available has shown that food packaging may contribute more to PFAS concentrations than the food itself. Food waste streams were not seen as a major source of herbicide contamination in compost, with documented cases coming instead from leaves, grass, manure, or hay.

The report on plastic contamination found that recent studies have shown that food waste streams collected for composting had levels of plastic contamination of up to 2.8 percent by weight. Available data also indicates food waste streams are a greater contributor to plastic contamination in compost than yard waste streams, likely due to food packaging. But food itself was still found to be a source of microplastic particles.

SWANA continues efforts to ensure that persistent chemicals and plastics in the environment are appropriately addressed through continued research and regulatory actions focused on reducing contaminants at their source.

Steps Taken Towards International Plastics Agreement

An international agreement on plastic pollution and marine debris is one step closer at the conclusion of a conference in Geneva on September 2. Representatives from 140 countries participated in drafting a resolution to create a committee for developing a potential agreement on plastics management. The resolution to create the committee is likely to be considered during the next U.N. Environment Assembly meeting in February.

The ultimate goal is to create a united effort to curb plastic waste worldwide by taking into account the full lifecycle of plastics. This includes production, consumption, waste management, treatment, and prevention.

Last month SWANA participated in a U.S. government-led stakeholder meeting to provide input on what position the U.S. should take in these ongoing negotiations.