Maine § 2101-A. - Definitions

§ 2101-A.. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1995, c. 465, Pt. A, §28 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 465, Pt. C, §2 (AFF).]

1.  Agency. 

1-A.  Anaerobic digestion.  "Anaerobic digestion" means the breakdown of organic material by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas.

2.  Office. 

3.  Bureau.  "Bureau" means the Bureau of General Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services as authorized pursuant to Title 5, section 1742.

3-A.  Composting.  "Composting" means the processing of organic material, including, but not limited to, food waste, for soil application using a method of accelerated biological decomposition of the organic material under controlled or uncontrolled conditions.

3-B.  Excess edible food.  "Excess edible food" means edible food that is not sold or otherwise used by a food waste generator and that is safe for human consumption. "Excess edible food" does not include unpackaged raw meat, fish or poultry; food damaged by pests, mold, bacteria or other contamination; food subject to a governmental or producer recall for food safety reasons; or food returned to a supplier by the food waste generator.

3-C.  Food rescue organization.  "Food rescue organization" means an organization that collects excess edible food that would otherwise be managed as waste and distributes the food for free for human consumption. "Food rescue organization" includes, but is not limited to, a food pantry, food bank, soup kitchen or community-based organization providing similar services.

3-D.  Food waste.  "Food waste" means material derived from processing or discarding food that is not sold or consumed. "Food waste" includes excess edible food that cannot be donated to a food rescue organization but does not include:

A. Organic material produced or generated by a producer that is not consumable by humans or animals, such as plant stems, stalks or roots, or that is culled, off-grade or outside of specification. As used in this paragraph, "producer" has the same meaning as in Title 7, section 320‑A, subsection 1, paragraph C;   [PL 2025, c. 419, §1 (NEW).]

B. Cooking oil or yellow grease from residential sources;   [PL 2025, c. 419, §1 (NEW).]

C. Biomedical waste, hazardous waste, sludge or septage;   [PL 2025, c. 419, §1 (NEW).]

D. Nonorganic material;   [PL 2025, c. 419, §1 (NEW).]

E. Any food subject to a governmental or producer recall for food safety reasons; or   [PL 2025, c. 419, §1 (NEW).]

F. Any other material identified by the department by routine technical rule pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.   [PL 2025, c. 419, §1 (NEW).]

3-E.  Food waste generator.  "Food waste generator" means a person that generates food waste.

3-F.  Point of generation.  "Point of generation" means the location where waste is initially produced.

4.  Recycling establishment.  "Recycling establishment" means an establishment engaged in the marketing, brokering or purchasing of reportable recyclable materials generated in the State. "Recycling establishment" does not include an establishment that directs all reportable recyclable materials it markets, brokers or purchases to brokers and purchasers that are located in the State.

5.  Reportable recyclable materials.  "Reportable recyclable materials" means any of the following categories of recyclable materials that are separated from household, commercial or institutional waste and that are delivered to a recycling establishment for recycling: glass; cardboard, paper and paper products; plastic and plastic products; cartons, laminated materials and other packaging; nonferrous and ferrous metals, including white goods; textiles; and mixed streams of recyclable materials that include any combination of the materials listed in this subsection.

6.  Soil application.  "Soil application" means the addition of material to soil to improve its nutrient levels or physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, water infiltration, drainage or aeration.