Food Cycle Managing Surplus Organic Material
State Recycling Laws AB 1826 Requires businesses generating a significant amount of organic material to arrange for organics recycling in order to keep it out of the landfill SB 1383 Directs the state s recycling agency to cut the organic waste sent to landfills by 75% by 2025 In 10 years, sorting organic material and hazardous waste from our trash will be as widespread as recycling plastics and glass are today. Jessica Toth Executive Director Solana Center San Diego Union Tribune July 10, 2015
San Diego s Landfill Composition 39% of San Diego s disposed material is organics 56% is edible or compostable (mixed organics + paper) Occupying 706,000 tons of landfill capacity annually Releasing 127,000 metric tons (MT) greenhouse gases annually
Food Cycle An Organics Exchange SUPPLY Grocery stores Coffee shops Juice bars Restaurants Fast food restaurants DEMAND Food banks Local agriculture Community gardens Animal farms Landscapers We need a way to connect supply and demand to ultimately keep valuable material out of our landfills
compost Food Cycle Connecting surplus food with need food for people food food food scrap manure agri waste bio solids food scrap bio solids food scrap biofuels food scrap manure animal feed
Restaurants & Grocers AUDIT the waste stream DESIGN processes to minimize waste SUPPORT rollout with training and signage
School Districts Providing waste assessment, education, training, diversion opportunities Solutions include Waste prevention & reduction Sharing tables Composting school kitchen food scraps at district farm Composting onsite at school gardens Partnership with local processing & composting operations Donation
Special Needs Adults Composting food scrap onsite at special needs residential home Ongoing Residents work compost pile with Master Composter volunteers 40 lbs food waste diverted weekly Home's landfill-destined waste is now 61% of previous 0.5 MT CO2e will be avoided annually from the material being composted
Beach Event Food Scrap Diversion from Switchfoot concert & Bro-Am surf contest July 2015 15,000 attendees 3,000 lbs of waste generated 83% of waste diverted for recycling & composting 4 MT CO2e avoided 100 volunteers
Fast Food to Farm Composting food scrap from local food establishment November 2014 April 2015 2 part-time farmers managing compost Soil amendment created that is 5x more nutrient-rich Food establishment saving $250/month on hauling 53 cy food scrap diverted; 30 MT CO2e avoided
Food Disposal at Gala Diversion from Botanic Garden annual fundraiser September 2015 Zero Waste event with 97% total diversion 520 lbs of waste diverted 73% of waste diverted was composted 24% recycled Bokashi composting technique handled all organic material, liquids, meats, sauces, paper products, & wooden utensils
Love Your Planet Oceanside residential Zero Waste education February April 2015 10-week in-home consultations 25 households Achieved average 70% diversion through recycling & composting Average 225 gallons per person diverted from landfill each week
Composting Onsite Composting pre- and postconsumer food scrap at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Planned Education and demonstration of alternative solutions Infrastructure for composting is in place Future vision to grow and harvest produce onsite
Benefits of Creating Food Cycle State laws will restrict organics from landfill Free up landfill space 700,000 tons / year Create market & jobs $2,000,000 / year Save local businesses $20 M total / year Avoid greenhouse gases 127,000 MT / year Estimates based on County data, Solana Center experience, & EPA metrics
Come visit us! Solana Center for Environmental Innovation 137 N. El Camino Real Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 436-7986 x713 www.solanacenter.org Printed on recycled paper