Salem composting ordinance remains in committee over business concerns
Composting ordinance stays in committee following business opposition. The Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs voted unanimously to keep the proposed mandatory composting ordinance in committee following concerns from the Salem Chamber of Commerce and restaurant owners about
City Council · Meeting of March 5, 2026
SALEM — Composting ordinance stays in committee following business opposition. The Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs voted unanimously to keep the proposed mandatory composting ordinance in committee following concerns from the Salem Chamber of Commerce and restaurant owners about implementation costs and space constraints. Kathy Turner, chair of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and owner of Turner's Seafood, testified that seafood businesses would require nightly pickups to prevent rodent attraction but that Black Earth Composting cannot provide that service.
Salem's schools have diverted nearly 50 tons of waste through their composting program since 2023, at monthly costs between $1,600 and $1,800.
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Source: the City Council meeting of March 5, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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