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Perspectives on Minimizing and Managing Food Scraps

Perspectives on Minimizing and Managing Food Scraps. GRRN Recycling and Zero Waste Conference Devens, Massachusetts October 2009. Founding Asst. Director, NYC’s Recycling Program (’89-’91) Former Chair, NYC Citywide Recycling Advisory Board (5+ yrs) Public Affairs Director

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Perspectives on Minimizing and Managing Food Scraps

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  1. Perspectives on Minimizingand ManagingFood Scraps GRRN Recycling and Zero Waste Conference Devens, Massachusetts October 2009

  2. Founding Asst. Director, NYC’s Recycling Program (’89-’91) Former Chair, NYC Citywide Recycling Advisory Board (5+ yrs) Public Affairs Director Allied Sanitation/Star Recycling (’94-’96) Consultant to NYC-based waste/recycling companies Co-leader, NYC Recycling Roundtables 1 & 2 Working Group to Update NYC’s Landmark Recycling Law Principal, Gaia Strategies – public affairs for environmental businesses Senior consultant to InSinkErator on environmental affairs Speaker/panelist, numerous conferences Articles published in trade magazines/journals Kendall Christiansen FOG GRRN – October 2009

  3. Kendall from Brooklyn wants to know:What should I do with my banana peel?**If I’m concerned about global warmingNPR All Things Considered – June 2007NBC’s Today Show – November 2007 Should I: • Try to compost it in my backyard or worm bin? • Put it in a garbage bag for collection in a truck headed to a landfill or waste-to-energy facility? • Put it in a green-bin for collection in a truck headed to a centralized compost facility? • Pulverize it in my food waste disposer and send it thru the sewer to a wastewater treatment plant for processing into clean water, fertilizer products and renewable energy? GRRN – October 2009

  4. Presentation Goals • Why: Compelling challenge of food waste • What: Paradigm shift – from “waste” to “resource” • Who cares – the coming “food fights” • How: Five “Big Ideas” GRRN – October 2009

  5. Why Care About Food Scraps? • Estimated 30% of purchased food is wasted @ 15% - 20% of MSW; HH (4) @ 36 lbs/week • Huge contribution to garbage trucks, landfills and greenhouse gas emissions • Paradigm shift – from “waste” to “resources” • EU: Landfill directive w/stiff penalties • Links: www.cool2012.org; EPA-Region 9 GRRN – October 2009

  6. Who Cares About Food Scraps? • Food waste reduction programs • www.LoveFoodHateWaste.com campaign (UK) • www.LeanPath.com • “green restaurant/food service” guidelines • Food scrap collection initiatives • 100+ North American cities; BioCycle magazine • ICI programs • Food=Soil • Composters • Biosolids processors • Food=Renewable Energy • Wastewater treatment plants w/anaerobic digestors • Biomass facilities • Landfills w/gas collection systems GRRN – October 2009

  7. Five “big ideas” • Big idea #1 – Nature of food scraps • Not “waste” • Liquid vs. solid – 70% water (avg.) • Apples/apricots – 85% water; Chicken (broiled) – 71% water • Lettuce/broccoli/tomatoes – over 90% water • Big idea #2 – Renewable Products • Composters produce fertilizer products • Wastewater treatment plants produce clean water, fertilizer (biosolids) and energy • Energy-rich, boost bio-gas production (20%+) • Industry goal: energy self-sufficient by 2040 GRRN – October 2009

  8. Big idea #3 – Biosolids = Compost More than 60% of U.S. biosolids are beneficially reused Many cities brand/sell biosolids at retail (DilloDirt/Austin; Tagro/Tacoma; Milorganite/Milwaukee) Big idea #4 - Emerging “food fights” Wastewater treatment plants w/anaerobic digestion Compost facilities Biomass energy producers Landfills WTE – volume, not energy GRRN – October 2009

  9. Food waste disposers are an environmental management tool Approved by nearly every U.S. city and national plumbing codes Installed in 60 million U.S. homes (@ 60%) Included in ‘greenbuilding’ guidelines (National Green Building Standard) More than two dozen contemporary studies Disposers sold in more than 80 countries Link: www.insinkerator.com/green Big Idea #5 GRRN – October 2009

  10. Kendall ChristiansenPrincipal GRRN – October 2009

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