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Why these new regulations exist and how they were developed
Brenda Platt Director, Composting Makes $en$e Project
Institute for Local Self-Reliance December 3rd, 2015
On-Farm Composting in Montgomery County:
Opportunities, Resources, and Challenges Environmental Impact Working Group Public Meeting
Montgomery County Food Council
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Overview
Why compost?
Challenges
MD HB 817 led to statewide compost work group
Many systems and sizes!
Importance of diverse composting infrastructure
What we can do
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Compost = Organic Matter = Soil Health
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Prevents landfill methane emissions Stores carbon Improves soils ability to store carbon Substitutes for energy-intensive fertilizers, pesticides,
fungicides Improves plant growth, and thus carbon sequestration Reduces energy use for irrigation
Credit: Marin Carbon Project
Compost = Climate Protection Strategy
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Composting = Jobs
Potential New Jobs by Composting 1 Million Tons of Organics Option FTE Jobs
Burning 120 Landfilling 220 Composting 740 Compost Use 620 Total Composting 1,360 FTE = full-time equivalent
Source: Brenda Platt, et. al, Pay Dirt: Composting in Maryland to Reduce Waste, Create Jobs & Protect the Bay, ILSR, May 2013. www.ilsr.org/paydirt.
MCS Inc. worker installing growing media made from compost on green roof. www.mcsnjinc.com
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Challenges to Expanding Composting
Lack of policies prioritizing composting and a diversified infrastructure
Perception that starting composting is too costly Lack of collection infrastructure Lack of composting capacity Siting difficulties Lack of regs/permitting to facilitate
responsible compost operations Poorly operated compost facilities that
ultimately give a bad name to composting Contaminants (e.g., persistent herbicides) Zoning regulations Competition with cheap disposal “Free” unlimited set-out of residential trash Landfill and incinerator industry vested interests Lack of training programs for onsite composting Lack of leadership and political will
Palm Beach Post, 5-19-15
Latest trash burner in Florida needs yard trimmings to burn ($672 million project!)
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HB 817: Environment – Composting (2011)
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MD Statewide compost study group: recommendations (select)
• Update and streamline regulations/permitting • Adopt performance-based permitting regs • Promote on-farm composting • Build and maintain comprehensive web site • Share best practices • Characterize how much organics generated • Build markets for compost • Promote compost and compost-related
products as best management practices for controlling stormwater run-off and erosion
• Target large generators by providing resources and technical assistance
• Share sample zoning ordinance language
13
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Trend to rely on large-scale far-away compost sites
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Peninsula DE Facility Closed Oct. 2014
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ILSR’s Hierarchy
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Composting, lots of ways
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Windrows turned with straddle turner
Montgomery County yard waste composting site at Dickerson. Photos: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Static pile composting bins
Photo: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Aerated Compost Bins
Small-scale Aerated Compost Bins in Fairfax, VA (Photo: O2 Compost)
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Modified Silage Bag Aerated Static Pile
Ag-Bag EcoPOD®
Oakland Zoo
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Earth Flow, Univ. of Maine
University of Maine (Orono). Finished compost is used on campus as a soil amendment, for landscaping, farming, and for horticultural classes. Goal is to produce 10 lbs of salad mix per day for one of the cafeterias.
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Rural Regions Micro Programs
Residential Drop Offs On-Site Composting
Food Scrap Dense Regions
Dedicated Collection Routes
On-Farm Composters Residential Drop Offs
Close the Loop! North East Kingdom, VT
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Residential Food Scrap Drop-Off
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Farms in our Area
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Support Distributed Composting
• Resources recovered • Locally based and closed
loop • Organic materials returned
to soils • Community-scaled and
diverse • Community engaged,
empowered, and educated • Community supported
Joint project of ILSR’s Composting for Community Project and Highfield’s Close the Loop program Supported by a grant by the Utilities Programs, USDA
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Austin zero waste plan
“…decentralized composting processes can reduce the carbon footprint of collection and transportation while consuming organics in more localized situations that do not require large organized collection programs.” “The Department recognizes that, in addition to helping the City achieve its Zero Waste goals, composting also addresses the community’s interest in enriching the region’s soil, strengthening sustainable food production and completing the food cycle.”
The Austin Resource Recovery Master Plan (December 2011), pp. 105-106. http://www.austintexas.gov//sites/default/files/files/Trash_and_Recycling/MasterPlan_Final_12.30.pdf
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East Austin Compost Pedallers
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~30 Decentralized Compost Sites
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Battery Park Community Farm (NYC) Battery Park Community Farm (NYC)
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Red Hook Community Farm (Brooklyn)
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Prospect Heights Community Farm (Brooklyn) Prospect Heights Community Farm (Brooklyn)
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ECO City Farms (MD)
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Wangari Garden (DC) 3-bin system
DC Dept. of Rec and Parks
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Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders Composter Training Program
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Farmers Need Particular Support
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Austria: The Country of Decentralized Composting
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What does a farmer-centric composting infrastructure look like?
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What can you do? Some ideas
Policy (at all levels!) No more new incinerators / zero waste to
refuse disposal facilities Access to land & financing Technical assistance and tools for locally
based systems Model locally based systems Master Composter Training Programs Farmer Assistance R&D Spur equipment for small-scale systems Fight persistent herbicides Make connections to sustainable ag, climate
protection, watershed issues, job creation, soil health, food policy, food security
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MD Zero Waste Plan!
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Contact
Brenda Platt Director Composting Makes $en$e Project Institute for Local Self-Reliance 202-898-1610 x230 [email protected]