Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is seeking proposals for a comprehensive statewide assessment of food loss and waste as defined in this Request for Proposal (RFP) document. This document provides instructions for submitting proposals, the procedure and criteria by which the awarded Bidder will be selected, and the contractual terms which will govern the relationship between the State of Maine (State) and the awarded Bidder. Maine law (38 MRSA §2132.1 and §2132.1-B) sets goals of recycling or composting 50% of the municipal solid waste tonnage generated each year within the State and reducing the amount of waste disposed per capita by 5% every five (5) years. Progress toward these goals can be achieved by implementing innovative and proven local, regional, and statewide initiatives aimed at reducing the generation of solid waste, and at increasing the recovery and utilization of discarded materials including surplus food and food scraps. Additionally, 38 M.R.S § 2124-A requires the Department to submit a biennial report on the statewide generation of solid waste, recycling rates, and disposal capacity, and progress towards Maine’s waste reduction goal (38 M.R.S. § 2132 (1-B) and Maine’s statewide recycling goal (38 M.R.S. § 2132 (1)). Studies have shown that food scraps, food-related wastes and other organic materials comprise roughly 40% of Maine’s solid waste stream and are, for the most part, suitable for diverting into higher and better uses; from feeding hungry people or animals to being transformed into valuable soil amendments that may improve the health and vitality of local soils. Disposing of food is a waste of the resources that go into producing food, including agricultural land, water, pesticides, fertilizers, and energy. The production, transport, storage, and other management of food generates significant greenhouse gas emissions that are wasted when the food goes unused. Surplus food or food scraps that end up in landfills generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Capturing surplus food and food scraps prior to entry into the disposal pathway provides an opportunity to reduce reliance on disposal options whilst providing Maine’s communities with an opportunity to prevent hunger or reuse these valuable nutrients in a meaningful way while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is imperative that the Department gather reliable data on statewide surplus food and food scrap generation. Therefore, data collected during this assessment must include, but is not limited to, the quantity, quality, types, and sources of surplus food and food scraps currently generated by geographic location (reported in tons). Data collected should be broken down by generating sector, including, but not limited to: grocers, farmers, restaurants, food pantries, schools and universities, prisons, hospitals, and other food-related business or entities; and the locations of these generating entities. The data collected from this characterization study will allow the Department to prepare an informed analysis of, and a plan for, moving food up the food recovery hierarchy within the entire State of Maine, mitigating hunger as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving the energy, water and financial capital embedded in wasted food, and improving soil health by recovering nutrients and returning them to the soil. This assessment is the first phase in the state’s movement towards developing a comprehensive plan for addressing food loss and waste in Maine. The results of this assessment will be used as the basis for an assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions impact from food loss and waste. This assessment will also be used as the baseline for an assessment of the current waste management infrastructure’s ability to meet Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and waste reduction and diversion goals, and recommendations for infrastructure improvements.
