General Public Excited About Organic Waste Diversion
• Most British Columbians see that it makes sense to recycle yard waste and other garden waste
• We spent years learning how to recycle glass, plastic, newspapers etc., now we can also recycle foodscraps
• Recycling food scraps is an intuitive next step in our need to reduce our footprint on the environment
February 1989, Vancouver City Council developed goal of reducing the amount of garbage by 50%.
Active Yard and Garden Waste Composting Started in the early 1990s
Some great processesSome great products
Shared community
Adequately prosperous
economy
Quality built environment
Health
EfficientEquitable
Livable
Culture
Natural environment
Dr. Trevor Hancock
BC Healthy Communities Conference June 2008
Healthy Communities ModelWe have to consider organic waste management in the context of a healthy and sustainable community
Shared community
Adequately prosperous
economy
Quality built environment
Health
EfficientEquitable
Livable
Culture
Natural environment
Dr. Trevor Hancock
BC Healthy Communities Conference June 2008
Public Excited About Organic Waste DiversionHow does it fit with our Healthy Communities Model?
• There is an inherent trust that “we” will be promoting beneficial programs that have a net gain for our communities.
– Why would we encourage an organic waste diversion program if it encourages the rodent population – environment and social concerns?
– Why would we encourage local composting or organics waste processing if it will result in odor issues- environment and social concerns?
– Why would we encourage organics waste processing that is cost prohibitive and requires high levels of ongoing taxpayer involvement – economic concerns?
– How does our program fit with the local sustainable food production initiatives – environmental, social and economic?
General Public Involvement in Food Scraps Recycling
A. Backyard Composting Programs since about 1989
B. City Farmer/City of Vancouver Worm Composting Program since 1991
C. Food scraps separation pilot programs
1. Fraser Valley Regional District April 2006
2. Capital Regional District Oct 2006-Dec 2008
3. Metro Vancouver Oct 2009-March 2010
D. Schools – eg UNBC student led voluntary composting
since 1994
Backyard Composting Programs
Vancouver's first backyard compost bin distribution program began in 1990• most communities in BC offer
subsidized backyard composters• recent increase in backyard
composter promotion to increase diversion rates
• prime concern is increased rodent activity
• backyard composters don’t achieve temperatures required for pathogen kill
Great program for homeowners who want to recycle their organic waste and produce compost for their garden – but it takes effort to do it well
City Farmer/City of Vancouver Worm Composting
Worm bin program started in 1991 for apartment residents to recycle their organic waste.
Approximately 4000 worm bin kits (including 1 hour educational sessions) have been distributed.
Fraser Valley Regional District Pilot Food Scraps Separation and Composting April 2006
Ease of implementationOdor during collection, storage or compostingSimplicity of composting processQuality of end product
General Public Excited About Organic Waste Diversion
A composting plant’s odoriferous problem…sees big money in compost. But first, there’s the matter of that stench.
McLeans Magazine, July 29, 2010
If we can’t process organic waste without causing odor problems, the organic waste should go to landfill
Shared community
Adequately prosperous
economy
Quality built environment
Health
EfficientEquitable
Livable
Culture
Natural environment
Dr. Trevor Hancock
BC Healthy Communities Conference June 2008
Healthy Communities
Shared community
Adequately prosperous
economy
Quality built environment
Health
EfficientEquitable
Livable
Culture
Natural environment
Dr. Trevor Hancock
BC Healthy Communities Conference June 2008
How Shall We Then Compost?
Waste
Active Composting
Curing
Compost
Preprocessing
Post Processing
Potential for Negative Water Quality Impacts
Potential for Negative Odor
Impacts
Need for Quality Compost
Shared community
Adequately prosperous
economy
Quality built environment
Health
EfficientEquitable
Livable
Culture
Natural environment
Dr. Trevor Hancock
BC Healthy Communities Conference June 2008
How Shall We Then Compost – Food Scraps?Waste
Active Composting
Curing
Compost
Preprocessing
Post Processing
Compost meets minimum maturity standard – eg Solvita Maturity Index of 7
Food scraps are processed within 4 hours or stored with biofilter control. Blending to 55-60% moisture and 600-700 kg m3
Active composting on impervious floor, and enclosed with odor control – minimum 21 days –meeting pathogen reduction requirements
Compost is cured on an impervious pad, under cover in high rainfall areas – minimum 44 days
Food scraps are received in a building with impervious floors
Plastics and other contaminants removed during screening
Composting Regulations BC Ministry of the Environment
Before 2002 – BC Environment Operational Certificates Required
After 2002 – Implementation of the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation
• Put responsibility of the compost operation on the owners/processors
• Sets minimum requirements for pathogen kill and vector attraction reduction
• Requires composting and curing on an impervious pad
• Requires odor control plan and leachate management plan
• Contains sampling requirements for quality testing• Requires qualified professional involvement
Composting Regulations BC Ministry of the Environment
Many communities and residents are not confident in ability of the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation to ensure a healthy community – many communities are implementing their own composting regulations, or ignoring the regulations altogether.
Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (2002)
• Has not been actively implemented or enforced• Specific odor control or leachate control
requirements are not specific • Qualified professional are paid by the owners –
hence not always in the best interest of the community
Click to edit Master subtitle style
Abbotsford Yardwaste Composting 2006
Organic Matter Recycling Regulations Ignored or …..?
Click to edit Master subtitle style
Feb 5, 2002 B.C. Reg. 334/93 - Production and Use of Compost Regulation repealed, replaced with Organic Matter Recycling Regulation 18/2002
Organic Matter Recycling Regulations Ignored
The UBC composting facility is a clean, well-managed and efficient facility that complies with the Waste Management Act B.C. Reg 334/93 and the Agricultural Waste Control Regulation, Waste Management Act, Health Act B.C. Reg 131/92
UBC Website Feb 8, 2011
Summary – Report CardResidents of BC B +
+ desire to divert organics, - understanding of the importance of recycling nutrients
Ministry of the Environment C+ concept of accountability and water and air quality- specific requirements and ability to enforce
Municipalities/regional districts D+ some are doing a fantastic job with composting and understanding the organic cycle for healthy communities- some are ignoring OMRR, ALC regulations, and have created an unequal playing field
Composters C+ some are doing a great job- some need to be aware of legal obligations and the benefit of recycling organics for a healthy community
Summary – Report Card
Residents of BC B + Aunderstand the importance of recyclingnutrients and organic matter for healthy communities
Ministry of the Environment C Aput OMRR operations plans onlinehave other qualified professionals provide reviews
Local communities/regional districts D Afollow legal obligations
Composters C Afollow regulationslisten to community concerns and understandneed to recycle organic matter for healthy soils
Emerging Organic Waste Ideas
Waste to Energy (Anaerobic Digestion)
Dry or Wet – methane productioncleaned up for vehicle use, orelectrical power
Smaller scale community composters
contained systems that ensure heat for pathogenkill
European perspective is, “Why compost when you can recover energy?” Metro Vancouver
“Organic recycling
should not be a prime
choice due to the fact
that it releases half of
its carbon as pollution;
currently composting
makes little sense
because of extensive
C02 release. Waste-to-
energy creates less
C02 than composting.”Metro Vancouver
“We don’t want
composting in Surrey
because we are going to
have waste to energy
(anaerobic digestion)
City of Surrey Councillor 2010
Where was that 80,000 tonnes of waste going after the 2 week digestion?
What are the economics of anaerobic digestion?Wet anaerobic digestion Dry anaerobic digestion
Net Cost per tonne of organic waste (after value of CH4 considered)
$ 200 ??? Likely around $ 150
Smaller scale Community Composters
Enclosed composting reactors
Provide heat and agitation to speed the composting process
Currently imported from Asia
Still need to ask some mass balance and economic questions regarding some of these units
Shared community
Adequately prosperous
economy
Quality built environment
Health
EfficientEquitable
Livable
Culture
Natural environment
Dr. Trevor Hancock
BC Healthy Communities Conference June 2008
Healthy Communities
Lets ensure that our decisions on organic waste management in BC are truly good for the economic, environmental and social well being of our communities