Town & Gown. A Recycling Cooperative. Approaching 2020: How Schools, Towns and the Food Recovery Hierarchy Can Close the Gap on Organics Management

Transcription

1 Northeast Resource Recovery Association Presents: Town & Gown A Recycling Cooperative Approaching 2020: How Schools, Towns and the Food Recovery Hierarchy Can Close the Gap on Organics Management Sarah McGraw, Cindy Sterling

2 Agenda Introduction Solid Waste Management In VT and NH Act 148 Universal Recycling EPICURE Results School Composting Questions

3 About Us NRRA Coverage Area In 1981, four New Hampshire municipalities founded the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, then called the New Hampshire Resource Recovery Association, to provide a clearinghouse for current, üup-to-date Vermont information and a source of technical and marketing assistance in the general areas of waste reduction and recycling. ü New Hampshire ü Southern Maine ü Northern Massachusetts ü Connecticut ü Rhode Island ü Any NRRA member town

4 Classroom Workshops o Healthy Home, Clean Waters o Waste = Global Climate Change o Back to the Earth o Garbage Guerillas School Technical Assistance o Green Cleaning & IAQ Evaluation & Review o Trash on the Lawn Day (TOLD) o Star Assessment

5 M.O.M. and NRRA Workshops NRRA SW FACILITY OPERATOR TRAINING MODULES (Professional development credits where applicable) 1. Operator Smack Down! A Safety and Public Relations Training for Waste Facility Operators 2. It s Not Easy Being Green: Current Market Trends in Recycling 3. VT M.O.M: Act 148 Members/Operations/Marketing MMP s: What Do I Need to Know? 4. The Dirt on Dirt: monthly Municipal meetings Composting Processed Glass Aggregate: A Certified Waste In addition, Derived Product NRRA conducts workshops and facility tours several times a year that can be used for continuing 6. education Things That credits Go toward BOOM! transfer Meth Labs facility and operator Dangerous certifications Wastes and renewals.

6 Moving the Needle MSW True Trash 33% Recycled 34% Divertible in Landfills 33% Diverted Landfill- Divertable True Trash

7 Solid Waste VT 1 Landfill Coventry VT Solid waste management entities (SWMEs) are small governing bodies that make decisions on how waste is managed on a local or regional level. They are the local authorities that provide information to residents, businesses, and waste haulers about local disposal, recycling, and composting options; fees; local policies; and assistance with waste reduction questions. Act 148 Universal Recycling

8 Landfills Locations Solid Waste NH Act 148 Universal Recycling

9 Why Organics

10 Vermont Current Generation 626,042 People 350 Lbs./person/year* 109,350 tons/ year* *currently in MSW- additional is already diverted

11 New Hampshire Current Generation 1,334,000 People 350 Lbs./person/year* 233,450 tons/ year* *currently in MSW- additional is already diverted

12 Vermont Current Regulation Act 148: Universal Recycling Law (2012) Lawn, Leaf, Clean Wood banned Food Scraps phased in by 2020 July 1: Generators >18 tons/ year must divert food scrap if a PERMITTED facility is within 20 MILES Haulers must offer parallel collection 2020: All Food Scrap Diverted, regardless of distance

13 New Hampshire Current Regulation Lawn and Leaf currently banned No A/D programs permitted 5 permitted small food and yard waste composting facilities 2 are inactive, 1 on an island No facilities permitted to accept Meat and Dairy

14 New Hampshire Current Regulation 3-Tiered System of Certification Permit Exemptions No solid waste No Meat and Dairy On-Site, closed to public facilities Permit By Notification <30 Tons/ Day 20% cap on Food Scraps No Meat or Dairy

15 New Hampshire Current Regulation 3-Tiered System of Certification Standard Permit >30 Tons/day Meat and Dairy Allowed Public Hearings, Operating and Closure Plans, etc. 3 existing facilities are PbN facilities Others, Exempt, do exist No Standard Permit facilities

16 New Hampshire Current Management 3 facilities operating 1 on an island Permitted Capacity = 32,850 tons/annually Limited by permit to 6,570 tons of food waste - no meat/dairy

17 Vermont Current Management

18 Vermont Current Management

19 Vermont Current Management

20 New Hampshire Current Management

21 Vermont Current Management

22 New Hampshire Current Management

23 Vermont Capacity Gap Vermont Organics Capacity Gap by County ANNUAL TONS COUNTY Capacity Gap: 91, ,000 tons annually

24 Vermont Capacity Gap

25 New Hampshire Capacity Gap

26 Vermont Regulatory Gap Animal Feed 20 Mile Rule Until 2020, 20 mile rule in effect After 2020, all must be diverted Composters can refuse materials and loads

27 New Hampshire Regulatory Gap Meat and Dairy Incentives Little incentive to divert Small volumes Little market demand Little investment potential Little infrastructure Little ability to divert Small volumes Changes in public policy and financial support could have huge impact.

28 Issues Funding/capital No state funding. VC and investment funding limited: long-term contracts $29.7 Million needed in VT alone Flow Control How can/should it be used? Carbon Sourcing

29 Finding End-users Issues Who will use all the compost? Where will digestate go? Methane production Windrows and Static Aerated Piles Regulation: who is responsible? Haulers or generators? Inconsistency

30 NH Recommendations Simplify the permit process Consider Rule Changes at each tier Incentivize higher and best uses over landfills and incineration Consider adopting same standards as VT to create a larger market/regulatory collaboration

31 NH Recommendations

32 Vermont Recommendations 2020: What happens to the material with no place to go? Invest in infrastructure Close the animal feed loop hole Clarify the point of responsibility for compliance Greater consistency in what is accepted at facilities

33 Vermont Recommendations

34 Cross-Border Potential

35 Cross-Border Potential

36 VT Act 148 and Schools Most schools will not be required to separate food scraps until 2020, although some of the largest may be required to begin in 2017*. Act 148 Universal Recycling *

37 Why Compost at School? Re-use organic material, a valuable natural resource; Save money by reducing the school's waste disposal costs; Create a valuable soil amendment for planting or mulching; Provide an opportunity for students to study the biology and chemistry of how the composting process works; Provide students with an example of a natural life cycle, and; Give students a feeling that they can help make a difference.

38 VT Waste Reduction Resources ANR Universal Recycling School Resources: Includes : School Recycling Scorecard Composting Resources School Recycling Guide Act Food Waste 148 Reduction Universal Strategies Recycling Case Studies Lesson Plans

39 PROTECTING THE NATURE OF MAINE How can NRCM help?

40 Kenneth A. Brett School, Tamworth, NH Received donations through a community group 3 bay system Chicken wire to keep out critters Saw dust as bulking agent (donated) Food scraps from cafeteria ~200 students

41 Somersworth Middle School, NH Started by a teacher who had experience Food waste brought offsite by Mr. Fox Compost Co. Created awareness with kick off day Help from staff and NH Farm to School Coordinator Mr. Fox provided education Food scraps from cafeteria Student leaders to monitor lunch periods ~ 337 Students Weighed food waste efforts: ~ 800 lbs/ mo or 7,200 lbs /yr

42 Town and Gown? The town or city (transfer station) working with the school district through cooperation and communication on waste reduction and recycling strategies that save money and resources.

43 Photo by John Phelan Newbostonnh.gov The New Boston, NH Model Act 148 Universal Recycling

44 Presenting the Go Green Machine! Act 148 Universal Recycling

45 The Results: No more high cost, messy dumpsters 100% control of the waste stream Trash and recyclables all go to the New Boston Transfer Station now (school has small fund set aside for truck maintenance) No more illegal dumping in the schools dumpster Eliminated waste hauler fees (TS covers school trash disposal cost Act 148 Universal Recycling of $700-$900/yr.) % of revenue from recycling going back to the school (approximately $700 per year) The students vote on how to expend the funds from drinking fountains to Anti-Bullying programs Community spirit - 19 businesses & organizations are credited with getting the program up and running Estimated savings in taxes over $40,000!

46 The Town ü Minimal capital investments to assist local schools with improving their recycling programs Act 148 Universal Recycling ü Recyclables are processed at the town transfer station ü More material ü Shared revenues ü Minimal annual upkeep of the truck (~$800) Win-Win The School ü The community within the community ü Recycling program operated by students ü Excellent educational tool ü Supports environmental stewardship ü Students determine how to spend revenue generated

47 The School Recycling CLUB Most VT Solid Waste Districts help pay for cost of membership and programming Trash on the Lawn Day eye opening Garbage Guerillas- Recycling hiding in trash! Star Assessments Creates baseline info. School Recycling Conference- Network with other schools!

48 Trash On the Lawn Day

49 Closing the Gaps School Composting Meeting Next generation of Act Community 148 Needs Universal Recycling recyclers Schools build closer relationship w/ town $ Saved hauling costs

50 School Composting Resources On Site Composting School Implementation Guide, VT Agency for Natural Resources, Site%20Composting%20School%20Implementation%20Guide.pdf 10 Steps to Starting a Successful School Composting Operation, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection, Sustainability Division, Steps-to-Starting-a-School-Composting-Operation pdf Food Waste Diversion Guide for Schools, Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection, The Green Team,

51 Thank You!!!