City of TacomaCity of Tacoma Food Waste Recyclingy g

As presented to the Pierce C t S lid W t Ad iCounty Solid Waste Advisory 

CommitteeJune 13, 2012

How much food is there?How much food is there?

• Nearly 27 000 Tons of Yard Waste collected inNearly 27,000 Tons of Yard Waste collected in 2010, approximately. 

• 1 000 lbs/household• 1,000 lbs/household.• Approximately 1/3 of waste disposed in 

i l /f il h h ld i f dsingle/family households is food ‐ 2009 waste audit 

• 14,400 tons of food estimated in single‐family/duplex households – 2009 waste audit

Why food?Why food?

• Reduce tons to landfillReduce tons to landfill• Reduce landfill‐generated methane

d b fi i l il d d• Produce beneficial soil‐amendment products• Optional:

– Add to yard waste ‐ Compost– Use kitchen disposal – TAGRO– Garbage Can – Landfill methane

54,000 SWM single family or duplex residential customers.  

Why Now?Why Now?

• Residents are ready• Proven Successful–Proven Successful200+ municipal programs across USAp g

• Health Dept and processor are ready

• Diversion potential

Why Compost?Why Compost?

• Restores soil health by returning nutrientsRestores soil health by returning nutrients (N,P, K,Fe, C+)and energy back into soil

• Adds carbon back into soil “fixing” it and• Adds carbon back into soil,  fixing  it and using it generate new lifeR d ll i b li i i h d f• Reduces pollution by eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers 

• Improves soil structure and function• Prevent erosion and stormH20 runoff

Local Processor: Compost Factory, Puyallup  owned/operated by Waste Connections. / p y

.

Pilot Study Result • EOW pilot audits d t d d tdocumented yard waste carts with visible food 

twaste.• First 6 weeks ‐ setouts with visible food averaged 28% south end, 29% north end

• Low contamination rates• Few complaintse co p a ts• Anticipated capture for first year –year 

i i i

100%

Waste Diversion ComparisonNon‐EOW Areas vs. EOW Pilot Areas

70%

80%

90%

al Collected

50%

60%

70%

tail M

ateria

Garbage

Yard Waste48% DiversionRate58% Diversion Rate

20%

30%

40%

t of Residen Yard Waste

Recycling48% Diversion Rate

0%

10%

EOW Pilot Areas Non‐EOW Areas

Percent

Pounds per Account During Pilot ProgramPounds per Account During Pilot Program

Pil t A P tEOW Pilot Areas

Non‐EOW Areas

Pilot Areas Percent Difference From Non‐

EOW AreasGarbage 23.6 30.0 ‐21%

Recycling 10.1 11.2 ‐9%

Yard Waste 22.1 16.9 31%

Total 55 9 58 1 4%Total 55.9 58.1 ‐4%

Survey ResponseSurvey ResponseHow are you disposing of food waste?

1‐Kitchen bucket and yard PickList 1 227 41 27%1 Kitchen bucket and yard waste container

PickList 1  227  41.27%

PickList 2  104  18.91%

2‐Garbage disposal in sink

3 B k d ti

PickList 3  66  12.00%

PickList 4  153  27.82%3‐Backyard composting

4‐Garbage container (Total Responses: 550)4‐Garbage container

Survey Response continuedSurvey Response continuedWhy are you not participating in 

the new food waste recycling• Input Type Response Total 

the new food waste recycling program?

1‐Pests and/or odors PickList 1  163  29.8%1 Pests and/or odors

2‐Not convenient PickList 2  83  15.20%

Pi kLi 3 25 4 58%3‐Too difficult

4 I don't know how

PickList 3  25  4.58%

PickList 4  28  5.13%4‐I don t know how

5‐I do recycle my food waste

PickList 5  247  45.24%

(Total Responses: 546)

Collectiond i• Incorporated into 

existing yard waste routesroutes.

• Peak Season: 6‐8 trucks per daytrucks per day 

• Off‐Season 4‐5 trucks per daytrucks per day

• Rear Loader: 1 used daily for 2 out of 4daily for 2 out of 4 weeks in alleys, narrow streetsnarrow streets

Coordination Health Dept: p• Maintain trucks and trailers toand trailers to prevent leaks

Processor:Food ONLY (ok toFood ONLY  (ok to wrap food in newspaper or paper sack)   p p )

OutreachOutreachMarch ‐ April– Ads promoting food waste recycling appear in local papers, including online publications and electronic media like Facebook Twitterelectronic media like Facebook, Twitter

‐ Television segments, public service announcements on TV Tacoma cable stations

Little Brown Bucket”

announcements on TV Tacoma, cable stations‐ Households receive brown bucket with instructionsinstructions

‐ April – collection begins, outreach continues

The SystemThe System• Collect kitchen scraps and leftovers

in “Little Brown Bucket”• Empty bucket into• Empty bucket into90‐gallon Yard Waste Cart

Program PromotionProgram Promotion

Brown Bucket StickerBrown Bucket Sticker

Program MotivationProgram Motivation

• It’s easyIt s easy• No additional cost

d b• Reduces garbage• Creates compost: a nutrient rich soil amendment

• Voluntary participationy p p

Customer ConcernsCustomer Concerns

• Apprehension about messiness odors pestsApprehension about messiness, odors, pests

i b h i h• Requires behavior change, means extra steps

• Aversion to change or authority  – some people just don’t like the ideap p j

Local HumorLocal Humor

Commercial Food Waste PilotCommercial Food Waste Pilot

• 14,500 tons estimated ,in 2009 waste composition study (25%)(25%)

• 65 participating businesses andbusinesses and organizations – variety of types and sizes

• 2011‐ 720 tons collected/ average 60 tons/monthtons/month

Commercial Food WasteCommercial Food Waste

Collected 2x/weekCollected 2x/week

More education = less contaminationMore education   less contamination

What’s Next?What s Next?• Tracking and Evaluation

• Sustain Outreach• Develop commercial rate and opportunitiesrate and opportunities

• Promote food donationdonation 

City of TacomaCity of Tacoma Food Waste Recycling

Jetta Antonakosy g

As presented to the Pierce C t S lid W t Ad i

City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management

County Solid Waste Advisory Committee

June 13, 2012

3510 S. Mullen St.Tacoma, WA 98409

Email: jantonakos@cityoftacoma.org

(253) 502‐2289 deskwww.cityoftacoma.org