food waste composting - montgomery county - opportunities and obstacles april, 2011

Food Waste Composting Food Waste Composting Montgomery CountyMontgomery County

Opportunities and ObstaclesOpportunities and Obstacles

April, 2011April, 2011

AgendaAgenda

How much food waste? How much food waste?

Food waste composting perspectives:Food waste composting perspectives:–GeneratorsGenerators–ProcessorsProcessors–CollectorCollector

MoCo food waste pilot project MoCo food waste pilot project

How much food waste?How much food waste?

Metal4%

Glass3%

Inorganic4%

Hazardous2%

Paper28%

Plastic14%

Wood Waste5%

Yard Waste3%

Other Organic18%

Food Waste19%

Food Waste TonnageFood Waste Tonnage

Single-Family

Multi-Family

Commercial, Industrial,

Institutional

Recycled

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

Non-Residential Residential

Dis

po

se

d T

on

na

ge

Target GeneratorsTarget Generators

Percent of food waste in solid waste stream: Percent of food waste in solid waste stream: Restaurants (80%), supermarkets (73%), Restaurants (80%), supermarkets (73%), Education (60%)Education (60%)

Estimated tonnages generated by non-Estimated tonnages generated by non-residential sector:residential sector:

– Restaurants: Restaurants: 28,769 tons 28,769 tons– Supermarkets: 14,014 tonsSupermarkets: 14,014 tons– MCPS Schools: 5,301 tonsMCPS Schools: 5,301 tons

Food Waste Composting Food Waste Composting PerspectivesPerspectives

GeneratorsGenerators Processors: Receiving facilitiesProcessors: Receiving facilities Collectors: Hauling companiesCollectors: Hauling companies

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Generators Perspective Generators Perspective

““Champions” strong commitment to the Champions” strong commitment to the environment and readiness to explore food environment and readiness to explore food waste composting. Economics need to be waste composting. Economics need to be favorablefavorable

Some view source separating their food Some view source separating their food waste as burdenwaste as burden

Area limitations for new containersArea limitations for new containers


Generators Generators Processors: Receiving facilitiesProcessors: Receiving facilities Collectors: Hauling companiesCollectors: Hauling companies

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned ProcessorsProcessors Perspective Perspective

Cedar Cedar GroveGrove. . Everett, WAEverett, WA

Z-Best. Gilroy CA Cedar Cedar GroveGrove. Everett, WA. Everett, WA Cedar Cedar GroveGrove. Everett, WA. Everett, WA

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned ProcessorsProcessors Perspective Perspective

Advantages:Advantages: – More process control (temperature)More process control (temperature)– Less odor, leachate, verminLess odor, leachate, vermin– Easier regulatory compliance Easier regulatory compliance – Short composting timeShort composting time– Better product qualityBetter product quality– Fewer operational staffFewer operational staff– Small footprintSmall footprint

Disadvantages: Disadvantages: – Higher Capital Costs (preliminary info)Higher Capital Costs (preliminary info)

Private sector is participating activelyPrivate sector is participating actively

Regional and Local Food Waste CompostersRegional and Local Food Waste Composters

Transfer Station

McGill Sussex Facility, Waverly, VAMcGill Sussex Facility, Waverly, VA

Enclosed SystemEnclosed System

Area: 20 Acres Area: 20 Acres

Throughput: 130,000 t/yThroughput: 130,000 t/y

Current: 180 t/dCurrent: 180 t/d

Fee: $10 - $20 (food waste)Fee: $10 - $20 (food waste)

Open: 2005Open: 2005

Open 6 days/weekOpen 6 days/week

300,000 cy soil builder 300,000 cy soil builder

Investment: $20 M + landInvestment: $20 M + landPre and post consumer foodPre and post consumer food

Looking for a location in DC Looking for a location in DC areaarea

Peninsula Organics Peninsula Organics Wilmington, DelawareWilmington, Delaware

Area: 27 AcresArea: 27 Acres

Capacity 250 t/dCapacity 250 t/d

Current: 180 t/dCurrent: 180 t/d

Investment: $20 MInvestment: $20 M

Distance from MC: Distance from MC: 113 miles113 miles


Open: Dec, 2009Open: Dec, 2009

Contamination: No Contamination: No mandatory recycling mandatory recycling DelawareDelaware

Peninsula Organics Peninsula Organics Wilmington, Delaware (Cont.)Wilmington, Delaware (Cont.)

Covered Aerated PilesCovered Aerated Piles– Gore-TexGore-Tex


Compost class ACompost class A

Viewed as a business Viewed as a business modelmodel

Carbon credits from Carbon credits from Chicago Climate Exchange Chicago Climate Exchange

Investors are looking for 20 Investors are looking for 20 acres in the Baltimore-DC acres in the Baltimore-DC areaarea

Recycled Green Recycled Green Carroll CountyCarroll County

Area: 30 AcresArea: 30 Acres

Throughput: 150 – 175 t/dThroughput: 150 – 175 t/d


3.5 years of operation3.5 years of operation

Distance: 25 miles from MCDistance: 25 miles from MC


Compost class ACompost class A

Bates: main haulerBates: main hauler

Pre and post consumer foodPre and post consumer food

Plastic contaminationPlastic contamination

No odors complaintsNo odors complaints

No NOVsNo NOVs

TopSoil ETC., IncTopSoil ETC., Inc

Curtis Bay MDCurtis Bay MD Distance from MC: 46 milesDistance from MC: 46 miles

Area: 14 acresArea: 14 acres

Processing: 20 t/dProcessing: 20 t/d

Fee: $45 (food waste)Fee: $45 (food waste)

1 year of operation1 year of operation

Main issue: quality of Main issue: quality of materialmaterial


Capacity 500 t/d (278 t/d)Capacity 500 t/d (278 t/d)

Future investment: 3.8 MFuture investment: 3.8 M

Haulers: WM and BatesHaulers: WM and Bates

Will you take food scraps? Do you have the Will you take food scraps? Do you have the capacity to expand?capacity to expand?

“Want to expand one more acre and are interested in accepting food residuals”

- Arlington County

“Want to expand one more acre and are interested in accepting food residuals”

- Arlington County

We are exploring adding food waste to the composting operation.

- Prince George’s County

We are exploring adding food waste to the composting operation.

- Prince George’s County

*The Institute for Local Self-Reliance, phone survey, April, 2010

Will you take food scraps? Will you take food scraps? Do you have the capacity to expand?Do you have the capacity to expand?

“Not interested in this site to take food residuals, but maybe another site” - POGO Organics (MoCo)

“The composting yard is near a sports field so if we can take over one of them…then maybe” - City of Greenbelt (PG)

“No. Can’t have the vectors so close to the airport” - Loudoun Composting (Chantilly, VA)

““There’s no space available” - City of Falls Church

Already collecting all non-food materials. Could start collecting food but that’s not something that could be done now – though there is interest among our residents. We have no room to expand” - City of College Park (PG)

Will you take food scraps? Will you take food scraps? Do you have the capacity to expand?Do you have the capacity to expand?There is some existing capacity for grass and leaves, maybe 5-10K more per year” - Prince William County

“Trying to expand but it’s a cost issue. Want to collect more yard waste and have put out an RFP’ - City of Alexandria

“Can expand by promoting more backyard composting”- City of Manassas

“Considering options so we could expand to year-round yard trim collection”- District of Columbia

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Processors Perspective Processors Perspective

There is not yet a reliable infrastructureThere is not yet a reliable infrastructure

Only two facilities relatively near by MCOnly two facilities relatively near by MC

Price of waste disposal vs. compostingPrice of waste disposal vs. composting

Regulations: MDA/MDERegulations: MDA/MDE

Chesterfield Farm shut down, NPDESChesterfield Farm shut down, NPDES

Contamination issuesContamination issues

Strong private sector interest to invest, but Strong private sector interest to invest, but need site to develop a large facilityneed site to develop a large facility


Generators Generators Processors: Receiving facilitiesProcessors: Receiving facilities Collectors: Hauling companiesCollectors: Hauling companies

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Collectors PerspectiveCollectors Perspective

Organic-niche hauling companiesOrganic-niche hauling companies““Fastest growing line of business”Fastest growing line of business”Hauling EconomicsHauling Economics – Geography proximate to composting facility – 25 mile radiusGeography proximate to composting facility – 25 mile radius– Cost optimizationCost optimization

– Route densityRoute density– Transfer station (consolidate load for longer haul)Transfer station (consolidate load for longer haul)

– Largest economic savings should come from trash services level Largest economic savings should come from trash services level e.g. size of dumpster, frequency of pullse.g. size of dumpster, frequency of pulls

– It is a challenge in MC where different collector services It is a challenge in MC where different collector services providers for trash/recycling / Source Separated Organics (SSO)providers for trash/recycling / Source Separated Organics (SSO)

– Trash collection fees compete with SSO collection and recoveryTrash collection fees compete with SSO collection and recovery

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Collectors PerspectiveCollectors Perspective

ChallengesChallenges

Contamination of Source Separate OrganicsContamination of Source Separate Organics– Quality of pre-consumer material is more consistent than post-Quality of pre-consumer material is more consistent than post-

consumerconsumer

Education of generating site employees Education of generating site employees – High staff turnover ratesHigh staff turnover rates

Distance to receiving facilitiesDistance to receiving facilitiesQuick degradation of materialQuick degradation of material– Service must be provided on a more frequent/regular schedule Service must be provided on a more frequent/regular schedule

Diversity of establishmentsDiversity of establishments

Montgomery County Montgomery County Food Waste Pilot ProjectFood Waste Pilot Project

PurposePurpose– To implement successful non-residential sector food waste To implement successful non-residential sector food waste

composting programcomposting program– To set up a model demonstration project that can be emulated To set up a model demonstration project that can be emulated

by other businesses in the Countyby other businesses in the County– To lead by exampleTo lead by example

Test AspectsTest Aspects– Acceptable materialsAcceptable materials– Container options, storage area standardsContainer options, storage area standards– Collection frequency, schedule, locationCollection frequency, schedule, location– Transportation and equipmentTransportation and equipment– Outreach, education and training needsOutreach, education and training needs– Reporting requirementsReporting requirements– Permit and licensing requirementsPermit and licensing requirements

food waste composting - montgomery county - opportunities and obstacles april, 2011

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