Maine Statewide Rule

Maine Backyard Composting Universally Permitted

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Maine (2026)

Maine encourages residential backyard composting and exempts small-scale home composting from solid waste licensing. The Department of Environmental Protection rules apply statewide and supersede any local ban on home composting of food scraps and yard waste.

Key Facts

Statute: 38 MRSA 1303-C
Home compost: License-exempt
DEP rule: Chapter 410
Commercial threshold: Volume-based licensing
Local override: Nuisance only

Source: Maine Legislature

Full Breakdown

Under 38 MRSA section 1303-C and DEP Chapter 410 solid waste rules, composting on the property where the material was generated is exempt from solid waste licensing when handling household quantities. Maine's organics management hierarchy prioritizes source reduction and home composting. Commercial and farm composting operations follow DEP Chapter 410 licensing thresholds. Municipalities may regulate nuisance odors and rodent attraction but cannot ban backyard food and yard waste composting that complies with DEP best management practices.

Violations & Penalties

No state penalties for compliant home composting. Nuisance violations may incur local fines; commercial composting without required licensing carries DEP penalties up to $10,000 per day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my town prohibit backyard composting?

No. Maine policy explicitly encourages source-reduction composting. Towns can address documented odor or pest nuisances but cannot ban properly managed home composting outright.

Are food scraps allowed in my backyard pile?

Yes. Maine DEP encourages composting fruit and vegetable scraps. Meat, dairy, and bones are not recommended for backyard piles due to pest attraction concerns.

Sources

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