Top: Source separated food waste streams are unloaded on the tip floor (left). Skid steer loading pallet of packaged food waste into the hopper that feeds the processing line (right).

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources’ Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) closed the final comment period on its Draft Solid Waste Management Rules (SWMR) on June 19, 2026. The draft  includes revisions to rules related to food residuals management at solid waste facilities. A primary intent of the rule making, notes DEC, was to “address the recommendations from the Depackager Stakeholder Group … on whether the State should revise its policy on the source separation of organic wastes, and on the proper use of depackagers in the management of organic waste.”

A summary of the proposed changes is available on the DEC website. New prohibitions (added to Section 6-304 of the Draft SWMR) do not allow commingling of manually source separated food residuals with packaged food nor treatment of manually source separated food residuals by mechanical depackaging. An exception is if “packaged food waste treatment is necessary to prevent risk to public health or the environment, or when no other options exist in the state of Vermont,” states DEC. This would be on a case by case basis, e.g., if massive amounts of food spoiled at the same time due to a natural disaster.

The draft rules require feedstock characterization protocols, and a load inspection program that includes providing feedback to generators or haulers on contamination. Facilities utilizing depackagers would also be required to “provide sufficient staffing to manually remove outer film wraps, boxboard, cardboard and other non-food containing outer materials  …  prior to processing in the depackager,” states the summary. “Materials shall be recovered for recycling to the greatest extent possible.” 

The Composting Association of Vermont (CAV) hosted a “Composting Conversations” webinar in June with Ben Gauthier, a DEC official on the draft rule language and meanings. A recording is available on the CAV website.