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Depackager Stakeholder Group

"Image of the Vermont Food Recovery Hierarchy"ACT 170 passed by VT Legislature in 2022 required a collaborative stakeholder process to make recommendations on the proper management of packaged organic materials in Vermont. Information and documents used and prepared by the Depackager Stakeholder Group will be organized on this page. The Depackager Stakeholder Group - Report of Recommendations was submitted to legislature in January 2023. 

ANR would like to thank the stakeholder group members as well as the interested parties who participated in the stakeholder process facilitating the final report.

Statutory Requirements:

The responsibilities of the Agency of Natural Resources and the Depackager Stakeholder Group Members can be reviewed in Section 25 of Act 170 (Act 170, Section 25 excerpt). 

Volunteer Stakeholders:

Participant (Per Act 170) Name & Affiliation
VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Steven Cash, VAAFM Inspection Program
A Food Waste Composter Dan Goossen, Green Mountain Compost
A Farm That Allows Animals to Forage Food Waste Tom Gilbert, Black Dirt Farm
A Company Operating a Depackaging Facility Michael Casella, Casella Waste Management Inc. 
The VT Retailers & Grocers Association Erin Sigrist, VRGA
A Company That Anaerobically Digests Food Waste Billy Connelly, Vanguard Renewables
A Food Product Manufacturing Company in VT Jenna Evans, Ben & Jerry's

Documents:

A few key files are highlighted below. These and all other files reviewed, generated or produced by the stakeholder group can be downloaded by clicking here.

  1. 2023.03.30.DRAFT Food Recovery Hierarchy Guidance 2023
     
  2. 2023.02.15.DRAFT Policy for Source Separation of Food Residuals and Heavily Packaged Food Residuals
     
  3. Depackager Stakeholder Group - Report of Recommendations - January 2023
     
  4. DEC Policy for Managing Food Residuals Including Packaged Food Residuals - January 2020
    DEC DRAFT Policy for Managing Food Residuals Including Packaged Food Residuals - August 2019

Meetings: 

January 12, 2023 at 9:00 on Virtual meeting on Microsoft Teams to review and finalize Report of Recommendations - Final Minutes


December 6, 2022 from 9:30 to 11:30 at National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT. - Catamount Room: Final Agenda - Final Minutes - Meeting Recording


November 30, 2022 from 9:30 to 11:30 at National Life Drive, Montpelier VT - Catamount Room: Final Agenda - Final MinutesMeeting Recording - 


November 9, 2022 from 9:30 to 11:30 at National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT - Catamount Room: Final Agenda - Final Minutes - Meeting Recording - Meeting Transcript Text


October 20, 2022 from 2:30 to 4:30 at 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT - Catamount Room: Final Agenda -  Final Minutes - Video Recording - Meeting Transcript Text


October 5, 2022 from 9:30 to 11:30 at 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT - Catamount Room: Final Agenda -  Final Minutes - Video Recording - Meeting Transcript Text


September 28, 2022 from 9:30 to 11:30 at 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT - Catamount Room:  Final Agenda - Final Minutes - Video Recording - Meeting Transcript Text 


August 31, 2022 from 1-2:30pm at 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT - Catamount Room: Final Agenda - Final Minutes - Video RecordingMeeting Transcript