Food Scrap Composting Policy in Illinois. Northern Cook County Forum October 24, 2016

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1 Food Scrap Composting Policy in Illinois Northern Cook County Forum October 24, 2016

2 Policy Forum Agenda Project Overview and Goals Illinois Food Scrap Coalition and Composting in Illinois Background on Disposal Bans Panel on Landfill Bans DISCUSSION: Organics Ban for Illinois

3 Lost Resources 36 million tons of food scraps in US 21% of MSW is food scraps Less than 5% diverted for compost Source: US EPA

4 Economic Development Opportunities Cost Avoidance re: Landfills Efficient Use of Discarded Resources Local Job Development Key Element of Building Local Food Economy

5 Ecological Benefits Reduce GHG emissions Improve soil quality Added nutrients + reduced erosion Filter and retain water Support local food production Water Quality Protection Reduce need for synthetic fertilizers Sequester carbon

6 Illinois Composts I. Report Dissemination Illinois Food Scrap Composting Challenges and Solutions Report Connect to key decision makers Discuss report recommendations and next steps for Illinois. II. Forums and Webinar Educate stakeholders Deep dive into strategies to advance food scrap composting Develop action steps GOALS Long term: expand local sustainable food production through development of a viable food scrap composting industry. Short term: education, policy development and advocacy, infrastructure development III. Composting Pilot Institutions and restaurants explore food scrap composting West Loop and Medical District WeCompost restaurant enrollment Project: Building Illinois Local Food Shed Through Advancing Food Scrap Composting V. Education Campaign Why compost? Environmental benefits Economic benefits IV. Economic Assessment Cost benefit analysis Job creation Soil/Water/Food connections

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8 Commercial Food Scrap Composting in Illinois

9 Commercial Composting 1. Sort lunchroom food scraps 2. Haul to a compost facility 3. Compost in windrows 4. Use Finished Compost

10 IFSC Mission and History Mission: Advance Food Scrap Composting Toward Building a Viable Industry in Illinois DuPage Food Scrap Meeting 2012 GreenTown Highland Park 2012 IFSC formed in Illinois Food Scrap Composting Challenges and Solutions Report 2016 Incorporation and Formalization of Board of Directors

11 Research and Education Policies and Permitting WeCompost From 8 in 2012 to over 150 in 2016 End Market Development Membership & Benefits Incorporated and formed Board of Directors in 2015 Social Media and Website Communications and Outreach

12 We Compost Restaurants Hotels Hospitals Breweries Universities Museums

13 End Market Development EDUCATION Share what foodscrap amended compost really is - Get out there and smell it! SCARCE SALES Local food scrap amended compost sales at Farmers Markets. OUTREACH Reaching out to purchasers of soil and compost. Reaching out to processors

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15 Statewide Forums May 21, 2014 Northeast Illinois September 16, 2014 Northwest Illinois September 22, 2014 Central Illinois October 6, 2014 Southern Illinois Wrap Up Session: October 22, 2014 statewide - Bloomington/Normal

16 Challenges 1. Need for Education 2. Low Landfill Tipping Fees 3. Lack of Demand for Composting 4. Lack of Composting Infrastructure 5. Contamination of Food Scraps 6. Lack of End Market for Compost

17 Potential Solutions Educate about environmental and economic benefits Enact landfill diversion mandates/organics ban Establish a PAYT model Update permitting and regulations to a tiered model Marketing and policy re: end market procurement

18 Celebrating Composting in Northern Cook County Village of Barrington Curbside Food Scrap Composting Hough Street School Culver School

19 Village of Barrington s Curbside Food Scrap Composting Program Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County 11/3/

20 Barrington s 2016 Curbside Food Scrap Compost Program YES Fruits Vegetables Breads, grains Pasta, cereal Dairy (no liquids) Eggshells Coffee grounds and tea leaves NO Teabags & coffee filters Meat, poultry or seafood (no shells or bones) Paper products (paper towels, plates, napkins, egg cartons, pizza boxes) Glass, Plastics or Styrofoam Diapers, Pet Litter or Waste Liquids, Grease or Oil No bags or liners in pails! No bags or liners in pails!

21 Hough Street School

22 Culver School, Niles

23 Landfill Disposal Bans A range of measures to prevent or restrict the disposal of waste to landfills. This includes outright exclusions and requirements for pre-sorting or pretreatment. Bans may apply to all waste, to particular streams (such as municipal waste), or to individual products or materials.

24 Why Enact Landfill Bans? The motivation for introducing landfill bans varies: material recovery, reduce the environmental impact of landfills on air, land, and water.

25 Landfill Bans A State Perspective Illinois Laws Illinois Solid Waste Management Act Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act Illinois Environmental Protection Act.

26 Solid Waste Management Act (415 ILCS 20/1 et seq.) Waste Management Hierarchy (1) volume reduction at the source; (2) recycling and reuse; (3) combustion with energy recovery; (4) combustion for volume reduction; (5) disposal in landfill facilities.

27 Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act (415 ILCS 15/1 et seq.) Illinois counties, as well as the City of Chicago, were required to develop comprehensive solid waste management plans by March 1, Update every 5 years Recycle 25% of municipal waste IEPA monitoring Single use plastic resin coating

28 Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/1 et seq.) regulates disposal of used tires and refuse; establishes requirements for permits for pollution control facilities (landfills, transfer stations and some compost sites); establishes fees that support DCEO s and IEPA s solid waste management related programs. prohibits items from being disposed of in Illinois landfills.

29 Landfill Bans An International Perspective European Commission - 70% Recycling by 2030 & Landfill Bans by 2025 Bans the landfilling of recyclable material 2025 Recycle 70% of municipal waste and 80% of packaging waste by 2030 Target included for reducing marine litter along with food waste reduction objectives

30 Disposal Bans Panel Perspective Lisa Disbrow - Waste Management of Illinois Dave VanVooren Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County Melville Nickerson Illinois Recycling Association

31 Illinois Disposal Bans Yard waste 1990 Lead-Acid Batteries (Car Batteries) 1990 Waste Tires 1994 White Goods(large appliances) 1994 Used Oil 1996 Electronic Products 2008 amended 2011 ban in 2012 Mercury Thermostat 2011

32 Illinois Compost Forum October 24, 2016

33 Illinois Landfill Bans Public Act , July 1, 1990 Landscape Waste includes grass, leaves, and brush Public Act , Sept. 1, 1990 Lead Acid Batteries (car batteries) Public Act , July 1, 1994 Whole used or waste tires Public Act , July 1, 1994 Requires CFC, electrical switches w/ mercury, or PCB components to be removed from white goods. Public Act , July 1, 1996 Used oil (includes oil filters, rags, absorbent materials, or empty containers

34 Illinois Landfill Bans Public Act , July 1, 1996 Used oil (includes oil filters, rags, absorbent materials) or empty containers which previously contained virgin, refined, or used oil. Public Act 415 ILCS 98/1, July 1, 2011 Out-of-service mercury switch thermostats (typically heating, cooling ventilation, or plumbing ) Public Act 415 ILCS 150/1, Jan. 1, 2012 Covered electronic devices including TVs, computers, monitors, printers, tablets, smartphones, and other items

35 Lessons from Illinois Landscape Waste Ban Summer of 1990 was hot and high rainfall in the Chicago Area Grass, Grass, and Grass! Compost facilities under siege from Odor Complaints Triggered push for development of regulations (setback requirements, permit requirements, site monitoring)

36 Lessons from Landfill Bans Plan, then Ban Demand for the product must come first. Variability of economic and market conditions (Urban vs. Rural) Established Collection and Processing Systems Sustainable programs process materials to the highest value that the market will support in that specific area Quality must trump Quantity Banned Materials are feedstock for industrial products and processes, and they must meet the specifications demanded by the end buyers Convenience and Cost Matters Customers love convenience (i.e. curbside recycling) allowed recycling to increase diverted tons.

37 Final Lessons Laws of Supply and Demand Quality of the Material (contamination matters) Create Local Demand for Finished Product End-of-Life Foodwaste Management is Expensive: Collection is 60-70% of the integrated cost of organics management programs Processing infrastructure is expensive Drives up customers cost

38 Organics Disposal Bans National Perspective Connecticut 2014 Expanded and updated 2013, scaling up by 2020 Massachusetts 2014 Vermont 2014 Scaling up to 100% by 2020 Rhode Island 2014 New York City, NY 2015 In effect for large scale generators California 2016 In effect Jan 2016: mandatory recycling of organics

39 Policy Deep Dive GOAL: Explore opportunities for policy supporting the recovery of food scraps generated throughout Illinois. Value of Organics Disposal Ban for Illinois Challenges or Adverse Effects of Organics Disposal Ban for Illinois

40 Small Steps Can Make a Big Difference Composting Infrastructure 5 years ago most Illinois haulers were in the business of hauling only garbage, recycling and yard waste Organics routes with food scraps now exist for many haulers 5 years ago Illinois compost facilities accepted only yard waste compost facilities now add food scraps to yard waste

41 Small Steps Can Make a Big Difference School Composting 5 years ago most schools could only compost fruits and vegetables onsite 50+ schools in Illinois have commercial composting programs diverting 80-95% of waste Chicago Public Schools switched from polystyrene trays to compostable trays this year

42 Small Steps Can Make a Big Difference Residential Composting 5 years ago most experts in Illinois said we would not have residential composting that it was just a West Coast thing 20 Illinois communities will now be offering this service Phase one for drop-off of organics

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44 3 rd Annual Pumpkin Collection Saturday, November 5 th 9am-12pm 5 new participating towns: Bartlett Bensenville Clarendon Hills Darien Roselle Details and How-to Guide for Hosts:

45 Thank you! Chicago Botanic Garden Forum planning team: Mary Allen (SWANCC) Dave VanVooren (SWANCC) Jen Nelson (Seven Generations Ahead) Jen Walling (Illinois Environmental Council) Funding for this forum provided by:

46 Join Us Next Time Lake County Composting Forum Topic: Organics Ride Along Programs and Compost Permitting Policy Thursday, November 10, 1-3 PM Location: College of Lake County

47 Social media links Follow IFSC Website: illinoiscomposts.org Blog: Facebook: facebook.com/illinoisfoodscrapcoalition Twitter: twitter.com/ilcomposts YouTube: youtube.com/user/illinoisfsc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/groups/ Thank you to our IFSC partners

48 Get Involved! For more information on this project, please contact: Gary Cuneen/Jen Nelson Seven Generations Ahead