A green economy is emerging in western New York and across the country. Noco, which has been known for distributing energy products in our region for almost 90 years, is responding by developing new, more sustainable businesses.
After a long investment in waste recovery and recycling, we are now expanding our activities into food waste management. Every year, New Yorkers throw 3.9 million tons of food waste into landfills, taxing our current waste systems. Landfilled, food waste releases large amounts of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
In January 2022, New York introduced the Food Donation and Food Waste Recycling Act. The law requires companies that generate at least two tons of wasted food a week to donate surplus edible food and recycle any leftover food scraps if they are within 40 km of a bio-recycler such as a composting facility.
Diverting food waste to a bio-recycler is no more expensive than sending it to landfill and allows the waste to be upcycled into valuable products. Compost, unlike mulch, is one such product. Compost is an environmentally friendly soil amendment made by combining food waste with other materials such as leaf litter and wood chips.
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While diverting food waste away from landfills is right, it can be overwhelming for those just starting out. According to the US Composting Council, “Using compost is a good first step, but using high-quality compost is even better.” High-quality compost is perfect for pollinator habitats, restoration projects, and home gardens.
Noco works with other composters through an affiliate, Buffalo River Composting, to maintain quality assurance standards critical to the success of the industry. Working to maintain compliance with strict government regulations and a good reputation with the USCC seal of approval is the gold standard for a successful composting business.
For example, at Buffalo River Composting, the process involves heating compost for about 15 days at a temperature of 160 degrees. This ensures that all vectors and pathogens such as weed seeds are destroyed. To add a local touch, our facility processes animal manure and bedding from the Buffalo Zoo into some of our compost products
As New York moves forward to meet legal emissions limits in the Climate Act and the Community Protection Act, we ask state officials to remember that new innovations are needed to fully realize the possibilities of recycling food waste. Our leaders should do more to encourage food waste diversion and encourage the development of new food waste technologies.
James D. Newman is President of Noco.
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