TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
David N. Carmany, City Manager
FROM:
Tony Olmos, Public Works Director
Anna Luke-Jones, Public Works Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Status Report Regarding the Commercial and Residential Food Waste Recycling Pilot Program (Continued from September 17, 2013, City Council Meeting) (Public Works Director Olmos).
RECEIVE REPORT
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Consideration of the presentation by Waste Management on the commercial and residential food waste recycling pilot program.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no immediate fiscal implication for this discussion.
BACKGROUND:
In 2009, the City's Environmental Task Force provided City Council with recommendations for service and program changes in the City's next solid waste contract. Developing a residential curbside food waste recycling and commercial food waste recycling program were among the recommendations to reduce the number of tons Manhattan Beach sends to the landfill. It is estimated that a minimum of 20% of the contents found in trash containers are comprised of food waste. Composting food waste can turn everyday food scraps and soiled paper into soil amendments, renewable energy (heat and power), transportation fuels, and chemicals.
Proposers provided information on the food waste program they would be able to implement during the new contract. On June 1, 2011 Waste Management was awarded the franchise agreement and entered into a new solid waste agreement with the City.
Sections 3.2.7 and 3.2.8 of the agreement requires Waste Management to create and manage at no additional charge a commercial and residential food waste recycling pilot program for six months. Although the contract specified a six-month pilot program, Waste Management extended the pilot to gain additional information. The results contained in the presentation reflect the period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.
DISCUSSION:
Residential Program
The residential food waste pilot was rolled out to a select number of residents who already had green waste carts. Baseline tonnage was collected by Waste Management three months prior to the launch of the pilot. Waste Management provided instruction materials, small countertop kitchen pails (with attached lid), and biodegradable liners (for the pails) to 777 residential properties participating in the food waste recycling pilot.
Participants were asked to insert a biodegradable liner into the kitchen pail, and place all food scraps and soiled paper in it instead of the trash can. Once the kitchen pail was full, residents could tie off the top and place the food waste bag in their green waste cart. On collection day, the green waste carts were serviced, as usual, by the green waste collection truck. This process was repeated every week during the pilot. Waste Management "reverse sorted" the food waste liners from the green waste at Waste Management's Carson Transfer Station, and sent the food waste material to their RAC facility in Lancaster for processing. Assistance was provided to residents if they had questions or needed additional liners.
The following statements are a sample of positive feedback given to Waste Management regarding the residential food waste pilot:
"We have been participating in the Food waste program since it started, and we find it to be a great program, it has cut our trash waste considerably. Between the recycling program and the food waste program, I only put out one small trash can weekly for trash and most of the time it is not full. We would love to see the program continue and to be rolled out to the rest of Manhattan Beaches residents."
Dana and Rick Thornton, 657 27th Street, Manhattan Beach
"We think the program is wonderful! It takes very little effort and is a way for residents to participate in a worthwhile program. We hope the program will continue and be extended to the whole city."
Lois and Bryan Feuer, 1500 Curtis Avenue, Manhattan Beach
Table 1 (see Attachment 1) shows a 28% reduction, or 17.09 tons (34,180 pounds), per month going to the landfill by Manhattan Beach residential participants during the pilot program. Materials placed in the green waste cart (yard waste and food waste) increased on average by 9%, or 2.32 tons (4,640 pounds) per month. An average of 1.68 tons (3,360 pounds) of food waste was collected per month in the biodegradable liners. Waste Management believes that the program made participating residents more aware of what was being placed in each cart, and therefore they recycled more and consumed less. Monthly landfill tonnage of the participants was reduced on average by 28%.
Commercial Program
The commercial food waste pilot was originally rolled out to eleven businesses; and six additional businesses joined during the pilot period. Baseline tonnage was collected three months prior to the launch of the pilot. Waste Management visited each business often, providing employee training, instruction materials, kitchen containers, and food waste carts. Employees were instructed to place food scraps and soiled paper into the kitchen containers or directly into the food waste carts. Because the businesses had food waste-only carts, a food waste collection truck serviced these carts at the seventeen commercial locations. The materials were sent to Waste Management's RAC facility in Lancaster for processing.
The following statements are positive feedback given to Waste Management regarding the commercial food waste pilot:
"With the organics program and our increased recycling efforts, we have less than 10% trash - it's amazing! We went from utilizing (3) 4 yard trash bins to only (1) 4 yard trash bin weekly, and doubled our recycling bins from (2) 4 yard bins to (4) 4 yard bins - saving $7,232 a year on trash service fees. All it takes is everyone contributing and putting a little effort into sorting. It's easy if everyone does their part...at CPK and everywhere."
John Briggs, Managing Partner/General Manager
California Pizza Kitchen, Manhattan Beach
"We have been using the program since it was offered. We recycle 300 pounds of food waste per day - everyday. This should be done everywhere. We want to continue recycling as much as we can."
Michael Keegan, Owner
Manhattan Bread & Bagel, Manhattan Beach
Table 2 (see Attachment 1) shows a reduction of 47.29 tons (94,580 pounds) per month going to the landfill by Manhattan Beach commercial participants during the pilot program. An average of 45.48 tons (90,960 pounds) of food waste was collected per month. Waste Management believes that the program was very successful with the business sector as participating businesses reduced their monthly landfill waste on average by 75%.
Should a presentation be desired, Janine Hamner, Waste Management's Public Sector Manager, will be in attendance at the City Council meeting prepared to present an overview and findings of the residential and commercial food waste recycling pilot program.
CONCLUSION:
To date, 777 residential properties and 17 businesses have participated in this program. Waste Management will continue the existing program, with its existing participants, until spring 2014. Waste Management will be opening a new facility in 2014 named CORe in Orange, CA that converts food waste into green energy. They expect the capabilities for Manhattan Beach citywide expansion of food waste recycling to be readily available with this facility. At that time, City Council will receive a presentation on the program's status, future plans, and considerations for citywide expansion.
Attachment:
1. Waste Management's Food Waste Recycling Pilot Program Tonnage Results