Food Residuals Diversion
Compost Rule Revision Stakeholder Process
Resources
Summary of State Composting Regulations
Note: This is a large (seven megabyte) PDF file that could take a long time to download, depending on the speed of your Internet connection.
Overview of Composting Permits in Georgia
Background
Twelve percent – or more than 800,000 tons – of the waste sent to Georgia landfills each year is food waste, with approximately 48% of this coming from the greater Atlanta area, according to a statewide waste characterization study completed in 2005. This represents the largest single category of solid waste going into the state’s landfills.
To explore ideas for keeping food waste from entering our landfills, EPD convened a meeting of stakeholders in November 2006. This group identified barriers to diverting food waste in metro Atlanta, discussed how to overcome the barriers, and prioritized potential projects.
The projects include training local elected officials on composting and the permitting process and sponsoring a compost business investment forum.
Partners in the projects include: Georgia Recycling Coalition, Department of Community Affairs, Pollution Prevention Assistance Division, Army Installation Management Command, ERTH Products, Community Environmental Management, Atlanta Recycles, CWS, Emory University, University of Georgia Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department and The Coca-Cola Company.
The projects are being funded through a Resource Conservation Challenge grant awarded to EPD by US EPA in 2007.
From the Table to the Farm: Options for Diverting Food from Landfills
This day-long conference May 6, 2008 explored the many options available for reducing the amount of food sent to landfills, including source reduction, procurement changes, food rescue/donation and composting. The conference was sponsored by GA EPD, the Georgia Recycling Coalition, The Coca-Cola Company and US EPA Region 4. Press Release
Agenda
- Welcome and Introductions – Stephanie Busch, GA EPD
- Food Donation – Rob Johnson, Atlanta Community Food Bank
- Composting at Georgia’s Prisons – Boyd Leake, Community Environmental Management, Inc.
- Food Waste Composting – Tim Lesko, Greenco Environmental, LLC.
- Georgia Organics – Alice Rolls, Georgia Organics
- Closing the Loop – Deputy Commissioner Terry Coleman, GA Dept. of Agriculture
- Food Scraps Composting in the U.S. – Nora Goldstein, BioCycle
- Organics and Climate Change – Brenda Platt, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
- Biobased Packaging 101 – Brenda Platt, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
- Next Steps – Stephanie Busch, GA EPD
Compost 101
The first workshop held in December 2007 covered composting basics. Sponsors included GA EPD, the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (NCDPPEA), the Carolina Recycling Association and US EPA Region 4. Brian Rosa from NCDPPEA taught the course using the Yes You CAN*! (*Compost & Naturescape) manual.
General Compost Presentation - Georgia Department of Agriculture
Tools and Resources
This new report (June 2010) from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery evaluates organic materials produced from municipal solid waste that has been treated with a rotary drum reactor, with the aim of integrating rotary drum reactors, anaerobic digestion and compost processes to achieve energy and compost recovery and waste reduction.
Guidance for Special Event Food Waste Diversion (August 2010) is a practical and detailed resource for developing and implementing organics diversion programs. The 102-page guide includes several case studies, sample contracts, signage, a food waste management plan template, volunteer training tips, a sample food waste vendor survey and introductory letter, and more.
US EPA’s Food Waste Management Calculator helps you estimate the cost of alternatives to food waste disposal, including source reduction, donation, composting, and recycling of fats, oils and grease. Using the calculator, you can develop an alternative food waste management scenario based on your waste profile, available diversion methods and preferences and then compare cost estimates for a disposal versus alternative scenario. The more you know about your current waste management costs, the more accurate the calculator’s estimate will be, but default values are provided for many variables.
Composting/Mulching Guidance
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) V Summary
Map of Composting Operations in Georgia
Map of Open Solid Waste Disposal Facilities with Landfill Gas Collection Systems in Georgia
For more information about food diversion in Georgia and the activities of this initiative, contact Stephanie Busch at stephanie.busch@gaepd.org.
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