Recording! From Ban to Plan: Join NH's Fight Against Food Waste
On September 11, the NH Food Alliance held its September Network Café, the first of the 2026-2027 Network Café Series. We welcomed Jennifer Mitchell, Food Waste Diversion Specialist at NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), to break down New Hampshire's Organic Waste Ban. The ban took effect in February 2025 and requires that all businesses generating 1 ton or more of food waste per week divert their food waste from landfills. In response, NHDES performed an infrastructure study to better understand how to implement and enforce this legislation across New Hampshire. Jennifer shared what the ban requires, walked through the results of the infrastructure study, and outlined next steps — including a new grant opportunity to support waste diversion.
Watch the recording of the Network Café below!
If you're looking to learn more about the Organic Waste Ban, start a composting operation, or need assistance with composting, here are some resources from NHDES to help you get started:
- Learn more on the NHDES Pollution Prevention website
- Review the NH Composting Rules
Farms interested in accepting food scraps from the community to make or use compost onsite can contact Sam Lazo at NHDES permitting: Samantha.a.lazo@des.nh.gov
Our next Network Café in the series will be on Friday, October 2 from 12-1PM. We'll be joined by Hudson Wells of the NH Food Bank's Fresh Rescue program. Learn more and register here
