We have a trash problem that we unwittingly created. Our ancestors must be shaking their heads wondering how we took our abundance and turned it into a garbage heap. New requirements, being finalized now, will deal with the HUGE part of waste consisting of organic materials – food, yard debris, etc. These materials release methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than CO2. In California alone, organic waste contributes about 20% of all methane. Satellite photos show plumes of it rising from landfills.
Nationwide about 40% of food is never eaten–this is the equivalent of the greenhouse gas from over 42 coal power plants. Effective in 2022, California’s SB 1383, imposes rules to divert organic waste, requiring residents, government and business to implement the most convenient, inexpensive and environmentally sound solutions. The food recovery provisions require businesses such as grocery stores to provide unsold food to non-profits such as the Interfaith Food Ministry, whose volunteers deliver to the food insecure. As a last resort, food waste goes to farms for animal feed.
The post-consumer (home) food waste is the most challenging. Households create about 43% of the waste–the scraps the dog refused, wilted celery, or the chicken bones. Experienced composters know exactly how to turn food waste into a valuable soil amendment. Others do their best with garbage disposals and municipal trash service. Nevada County jurisdictions have been working out details to implement SB1383 and inform the public– its complicated.
Eastern Nevada County does not use Waste Management for trash service. In Truckee, the cost of residential service is covered through a dedicated parcel tax. Curbside trash, recycling, and yard waste service is provided to all residents, but they have a high elevation waiver from SB1383 so food scraps can go in garbage cans (which are secured from bears). Truckee operates 3 year-round voluntary food scrap disposal centers which is popular with residents who prefer to ensure food waste is used for compost, as well as a seasonal community composting partnership with Slow Food Lake Tahoe.
Western county’s McCourtney Road Transfer Station (MRTS), when completed in early 2025, will accept food waste (FW). To comply with SB1383, Waste Management (WM), the county and cities are modifying contracts now with specific provisions and revised feed. Noncompliance would mean big fines. As it stands, these are the procedures planned for waste collection in the 3 major jurisdictions:
- Unincorporated County—All residents using WM curbside service will be required to pay for a green/FW bin for weekly yard and food waste pick up. In neighborhoods with a central drop point for bins, the green/FW bin is optional, but the resident must either compost or haul food waste to the MRTS if they decline a green/FW bin.
- Grass Valley— All residents using WM curbside service will need to add and pay for a Green/FW bin for weekly pick up.
- Nevada City—has a 5-year exemption for bins due to its small population.
For more information go to https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/3466/Organics-Recycling
But what happens to your trash once the green/FW bin leaves your house? Once at the MRTS, all collected garbage makes a long journey over the Sierras to the Waste Management landfill in Nevada. A possible scenario would entail WM trucks bringing the bins to the MRTS, dumping the contents on the cement slab to inspect for contamination such as plastic or glass.
Contaminated mixed waste would be hauled to a processor “down the hill” which charges around $230/ton to accept the load (uncontaminated waste is around $120/ton). Waste is processed into products such as compost and sold to the public. It can also be used for biofuel. Large quantities of woody vegetation will still go to the back of the MRTS, as before, for transport to processors for mulch and compost for about $70/ton.
Additionally, SB 1383 requires the county to buy back some of the recycled organic waste from processors (by 2025 this may be around 6500 tons of organic waste). Nevada County, through the Zero FoodPrint service, offers a subsidy to interested farms for purchasing recycled organic waste compost (5 tons minimum) from authorized processors. If the compost is not purchased for use in our county, the county would pay the subsidies for farms in other counties.
Ideally, our county would recycle and use local organic waste and avoid the expense and carbon foot print of transportation. While local jurisdictions must focus on compliance, some flexibility may be possible. All of us must play a role in resolving our waste challenges through our own practices or as advocates. For instance:
- Avoid wasting food—share it, preserve it, or just buy less.
- Compost if you can–Most organic waste is a resource for you and the environment. Some items like dairy, grease and bones are difficult, but solutions do exist.
- Keep contaminants out of your waste—to avoid higher disposal costs and emissions.
- Let officials know your preferences–Households may benefit from decentralization for some waste to help alleviate traffic, reduce effort and travel time, and better utilize the organic waste. While many requirements of SB 1383 are definite, there is some flexibility and counties are adopting different approaches. Here are some ideas:
- Provide one or more central food drop-off locations for residents
- Perform in-county chipping and offer free wood chips to the community
- Provide small grants for local demonstration projects such as bio-digesters, compost evaluation services and free community compost giveaways supported by earmarked funds from parcel tax revenue or fees related to WM service
If you have questions, concerns or solutions, contact Debbie Gibbs, Citizen-at-Large (representing you, the public) on the County Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission which covers all jurisdictions. Procedures are being finalized. Your opinion is important and…there is no time to waste!
Contact: Debbie Gibbs, Nevada County Climate Action Now-WasteNot debgibbs2020@gmail.com. Please note ‘FOOD WASTE’ in the email header, thanks.