HB556

Currently there is no guarantee that the labels "biodegradable" or "compostable" are reliable. In fact, they are misleading and only fine print mat show that compostable often means in a high temperature commercial facility not available to the general public. The nearest one to NH is in Maine.

This bill makes so much sense! We need to ensure that compostable means that - and get such products back into our soils to enrich them. And at the same time decrease what gets thrown away as waste.

NH has demonstrated that it wishes to have less solid waste to landfill. Turning food scraps to compost will help with this goal. But composters cannot successfully process waste containing items that are not truly compostable. We have no uniform "compostable" standard we adhere to. In order to achieve our goal of diverting more food scraps from the landfill, our food vendors, institutional food services, and consumers need to know whether an item labeled "compostable" meets reliable standards.

February 18, 2025 Chair Hunt, Vice chair Potucek, and members of the committee, We, the Biodegradable Products institute (BPI), support HB 556 as amended. BPI is North America’s leading certifier of compostable materials, products, and packaging, with over 600 member companies worldwide. As a science-driven organization, BPI supports a shift to the circular economy by promoting the production, use, and appropriate end of lives for materials and products that are designed to fully biodegrade in specific biologically active environments. Our certification program has verified thousands of items using ASTM standards as a baseline, plus additional requirements on PFAS, labeling, and eligibility criteria. We support this bill because it ensures that compostable products substantiate their claims by being certified and allowed to effectively divert food and organic waste, reduce pollution, and help create a valuable soil amendment. This language in New Hampshire now aligns with other states that have passed similar laws to distinguish products. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Alex Truelove Legislation and Advocacy Manager Biodegradable Products Institute alexander@bpiworld.org

This bill will ensure that materials labeled biodegradable and compostable are in fact biodegradable and compostable. For these labels to have any value, they must meet certain standards.