Comply with Organics Recycling Law
Effective March 1, 2025, mandates that certain businesses generating 26 tons or more of source-separated organic materials (SSOM) annually—and located within 20 miles of an authorized composting facility—must comply with specific recycling requirements.
To assist businesses in determining their obligations under this law, CET has compiled industry data from various reports and studies. This tool helps estimate SSOM generation, with the threshold set at 26 tons per year (equivalent to 0.5 tons per week). It’s important to note that actual SSOM generation can vary based on factors such as preparation methods, reuse of leftovers, and type of food service. For instance, implementing a trayless dining policy in cafeterias has been shown to reduce post-consumer food waste compared to traditional tray service.
This guidance was last updated in December 2024, and CET plans to refine and add metrics as new data becomes available.
What is SSOM (source separated organic material)?
Source-Separated Organic Material (SSOM) refers to organic waste like food scraps, leftovers from food processing, and soiled or non-recyclable paper. This material is sorted at its origin, keeping it separate from non-organic waste for easier recycling or composting. For a more technical definition, you can refer to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP)
Key Requirements of the Law
- It applies to businesses like food wholesalers, distributors, industrial food manufacturers, supermarkets, resorts, and conference centers.
- The threshold is any business generating 26 tons or more of Source-Separated Organic Material (SSOM) annually (equivalent to 0.5 tons per week) must comply.
- The proximity rule is for the business located within 20 miles of an authorized composting facility.
1 Ton = 2,000 lbs.
Commercial-Industrial Waste
1 yd3 (cubic yard) = 250 to 300 lbs.
Food Scraps
55 gallons = 200 to 450 lbs.
Food scraps mixed with food-soiled paper may fall on the lower end of the range provided above. Data source: EPA’s standard volume-to-weight conversions.
industry sector listed
Click the industry sector listed below that best fits your business. For many sectors, you will see several methods of estimating SSOM, based on factors such as how many meals you serve, how many employees you have, or how much total waste your business generates. Cross-check different methods to get the best estimate of how much SSOM your business may generate.
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Colleges & Universities
- Corporate Cafeterias
- Correctional Facilities
- Elementary & Secondary School
- Hospitals
- Lodging & Hotels
- Restaurants
- Supermarkets & Groceries
- Venues & Events
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals Served | 0.6 | lbs/meals | SSOM |
| Food Served | 20 | % of food served by weight | SSOM |
| Beds1 | 1.8 | lbs/bed/day | SSOM |
| Employees2 | 475 | lbs/employee/year | SSOM |
0.6 lbs/meal * 1,667 meals served/week = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
20% of food served * 5,000 lbs served/week = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
1.8 lbs/bed/day * 80 beds = 144 lbs/day
144 lbs/day * 7 days/week = 1,008 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
475 lbs/employee/year * 110 employees = 52,250 lbs/year
52,250 lbs/year ÷ 52 weeks/year = 1,004 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per weekk
Beds1
This metric uses beds as a proxy to account for all food waste generated across the nursing home by residents, staff, and visitors.
Employees2
This metric uses the equivalent number of full-time employees as a proxy to account for all food waste generated across the nursing home by residents, staff, and visitors.
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals Served | 0.35 | lbs/meals | SSOM |
| Students1 [Residential] | 141.75 | lbs/student/year | SSOM |
| Students2 [Non-Residential] | 37.8 | lbs/student/year | SSOM |
141.75 lbs/student/year * 212 residential students = 30,051 lbs/year
30,051 lbs/year ÷ 30 weeks/year = 1,002 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
37.8 lbs/student/year * 800 non-residential students = 30,240 lbs/year
30,240 lbs/year ÷ 30 weeks/year = 1,008 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
Students1
This metric assumes 405 meals per residential student per year
Students2
This metric assumes 108 meals per non-residential student per year.
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals Served1 | 0.625 | lbs/meals | SSOM |
0.625 lbs/meal * 1,600 meals served/week = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
Meals Served1
0.625 lbs/meal is the median of EPA Corporate Cafeterias average estimate (range 0.5-0.75 lbs/meal).
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inmates | 1 | lbs/inmate/day | SSOM |
| Disposed Waste1 | 30 | % of total generated waste by weight |
1 lbs/meal * 143 inmates = 143 lbs/day
143 lbs/day * 7 days/week = 1,001 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
250 lbs1/yd3 * (1 trash dumpster * 8 yd3/trash dumpster * 2 pickups/week) = 4,000 lbs of total disposed waste/week
4,000 lbs/week * 30% of total waste = 1,200 lbs/week = 0.6 ton of SSOM in one week
Disposed Waste1
The equation based on weight of disposed waste assumes a weight of 250 lbs/yd3 waste. It is the lower range of the EPA’s standard conversion factor for uncompacted mixed MSW (residential, institutional, commercial): 1 yd3 mixed MSW = 250 to 300 lbs. You may choose to change this number to best represent your operations.
Note: CET now provides separate per-student estimates for elementary, middle, and high schools based on data from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The elementary and middle school estimates are higher than the previous 0.5 lbs/student/week metric. Changes in the National School Lunch Program, shorter lunch periods, and more frequent breakfast offerings in classrooms have led to increased SSOM, especially in elementary schools. Consider factors like culinary education programs, centralized kitchens, and the percentage of students receiving school lunch, as they may influence SSOM levels.
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students [Elementary School] | 1.13 | lbs/student/week | SSOM |
| Students [Middle School] | 0.73 | lbs/student/week | SSOM |
| Students [High School] | 0.35 | lbs/student/week | SSOM |
| Disposed Waste1 | 45 | % of disposed waste by weight | SSOM |
1.13 lbs/student/week * 885 students = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
0.73 lbs/student/week * 1,370 students = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
0.35 lbs/student/week * 2,860 students = 1,001 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
2501 lbs/yd3 * (1 trash dumpster * 10 yd3/trash dumpster * 1 pickup/week) = 2,500 lbs of total disposed waste/week
2,500 lbs * 45% of total waste = 1,125 lbs/week = 0.6 ton of SSOM in one week
Disposed Waste1
The equation based on weight of disposed waste assumes a weight of 250 lbs/yd3 waste. It is the lower range of the EPA’s standard conversion factor for uncompacted mixed MSW (residential, institutional, commercial): 1 yd3 mixed MSW = 250 to 300 lbs. You may choose to change this number to best represent your operations.s.
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals Served | 0.6 | lbs/meals | SSOM |
| Food Served | 30 | % of food served by weight | SSOM |
| Beds1 | 3.42 | lbs/bed/day | SSOM |
| Employees2 | 290 | lbs/employee/year | SSOM |
0.6 lbs/meal * 1,667 meals served/week = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
30% of food served * 3,333 lbs served/week = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
3.42 lbs/bed/day * 42 beds = 144 lbs/day
144 lbs/day * 7 days/week = 1,008 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
290 lbs/employee/year * 180 employees = 52,200 lbs/year
52,200 lbs/year ÷ 52 weeks/year = 1,004 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
Beds1
This metric uses beds as a proxy to account for all food waste generated across the hospital by patients, staff, and visitors.
Employees2
290 lbs/employee/year is CalRecycle’s 2014 estimate. This metric uses the equivalent number of full-time employees for the entire hospital as a proxy to account for all food waste generated across the hospital by patients, staff, and visitors.
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guests | 1 | lbs/person/day | SSOM |
| Rooms | 345.64 | lbs/room/year | SSOM |
| Disposed Waste1 | 36 | % of disposed waste by weight | SSOM |
| Employees2 | 1,305 | lbs/employee/year | SSOM |
1 lbs/guest/day * 143 guests = 143 lbs/day
143 lbs/day * 7 days/week = 1,001 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
345.64 lbs/room/year * 150 rooms = 51,846 lbs/year
51,846 lbs/year ÷ 52 weeks/year = 997 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
2501 lbs/yd3 * (1 trash dumpster * 6 yd3/trash dumpster * 2 pickups/week) = 3,000 lbs of total disposed waste/week
3,000 lbs * 36% of total waste = 1,080 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
1,305 lbs/employee/year * 40 employees = 52,200 lbs/year
52,200 lbs/year ÷ 52 weeks/year = 1,004 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
Disposed Waste1
The equation based on weight of disposed waste assumes a weight of 250 lbs/yd3 waste. It is the lower range of the EPA’s standard conversion factor for uncompacted mixed MSW (residential, institutional, commercial): 1 yd3 mixed MSW = 250 to 300 lbs. You may choose to change this number to best represent your operations.
Employees2
his metric uses the equivalent number of full-time employees for the entire hotel as a proxy to account for all food waste generated across the hotel by staff, guests, and other patrons.
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals Served [Full-Service] | 1 | lbs/meal | SSOM |
| Meals Served [Limited-Service] | 0.5 | lbs/meal | SSOM |
| Employees [Full-Service] | 3,000 | lbs/employee/year | SSOM |
| Employees [Limited-Service] | 2,200 | lbs/employee/year | SSOM |
| Disposed Waste1 [Full-Service] | 66 | % of disposed waste by weight | SSOM |
| Disposed Waste1 [Limited-Service] | 51 | % of disposed waste by weight | SSOM |
1 lbs/meal * 1,000 meals served/week = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
0.5 lbs/meal * 2,000 meals served/week = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
3,000 lbs/employee/year * 17 full-time employees = 51,000 lbs SSOM generated/year
51,000 lbs/year ÷ 52 weeks/year = 981 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
2,200 lbs/employee/year * 24 full-time employees = 52,800 lbs SSOM generated/year
52,800 lbs/year ÷ 52 weeks/year = 1,015 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
2501 lbs/yd3 * (1 trash dumpster * 6 yd3/trash dumpster * 1 pickup/week) = 1,500 lbs of total disposed waste/week
1,500 lbs * 66% of total waste = 990 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
2501 lbs/yd3 * (1 trash dumpster * 8 yd3/trash dumpster * 1 pickup/week) = 2,000 lbs of total disposed waste/week
2,000 lbs * 51% of total waste = 1,020 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
Disposed Waste1
The equation based on weight of disposed waste assumes a weight of 250 lbs/yd3 waste. It is the lower range of the EPA’s standard conversion factor for uncompacted mixed MSW (residential, institutional, commercial): 1 yd3 mixed MSW = 250 to 300 lbs. You may choose to change this number to best represent your operations.
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Employees | 3,000 | lbs/employee/yr | SSOM |
| Disposed Waste1 | 63 | % of disposed waste by weight | SSOM |
3,000 lbs/employee/year * 17 full-time employees = 51,000 lbs SSOM generated/year
51,000 lbs/year ÷ 52 weeks/year = 981 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
2501 lbs/yd3 (1 trash dumpster * 8 yd3/trash dumpster * 1 pickup/week) = 2,000 lbs of total disposed waste/week
2,000 lbs * 63% of total waste = 1,260 lbs/week = 0.6 ton of SSOM in one week
Disposed Waste1
The equation based on weight of disposed waste assumes a weight of 250 lbs/yd3 waste. It is the lower range of the EPA’s standard conversion factor for uncompacted mixed MSW (residential, institutional, commercial): 1 yd3 mixed MSW = 250 to 300 lbs. You may choose to change this number to best represent your operations.
| Concept | Average | Measurement | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 0.6 | lbs/seat/day | SSOM |
| Meals Served | 1 | lbs/meal | SSOM |
| Visitors | 0.45 | lbs/visitor | SSOM |
| Disposed Waste1 | 25 | % of disposed waste by weight | SSOM |
For resorts and conference properties:
0.6 lbs/seat/day * 238 seats = 143 lbs/day
143 lbs/day * 7 days/week = 1,001 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM per week
1 lbs/meal * 1,000 meals served/week = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
For large venues and events2:
0.45 lbs/visitor * 2,222 visitors = 1,000 lbs = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
2501 lbs/yd3 * (2 trash dumpsters * 4 yd3 * 2 pickups/week) = 4,000 lbs of total disposed waste/week
4,000 lbs * 25% of total waste = 1,000 lbs/week = 0.5 ton of SSOM in one week
Disposed Waste1
The equation based on weight of disposed waste assumes a weight of 250 lbs/yd3 waste. It is the lower range of the EPA’s standard conversion factor for uncompacted mixed MSW (residential, institutional, commercial): 1 yd3 mixed MSW = 250 to 300 lbs. You may choose to change this number to best represent your operations.
Large venues and events2
Large venues and events include convention centers, stadiums, theme parks, performing art centers, movie theaters, fairgrounds, special event sites (e.g. parades, sporting events, festivals), and miscellaneous venues (e.g. museums, zoos).
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