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Yard Waste Management

Yard Waste Management. Funded by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management Recycling Grants Program Developed by the Indiana Rural Community Assistance Program - RCAP. Presentation 2: The Composting Toolkit. Introduction to Yard Waste Management Options.

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Yard Waste Management

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  1. Yard Waste Management

  2. Funded by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management Recycling Grants Program Developed by the Indiana Rural Community Assistance Program - RCAP Presentation 2:The Composting Toolkit

  3. Introduction to Yard Waste Management Options

  4. Percents (By Weight)2003 EPA Statistics 35.2% - Paper/Paperboard/Cardboard 12.1% - Yard Waste 11.7 % - Food Waste That is over 50% of the MSW that can easily be composted! 11.3% - Plastics 8.0% - Metals 7.4% - Rubber, Leather, Textiles (Clothing) 5.3% - Glass 1.0% - Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) 2.2% - Other 5.8 % - Wood Some of this “wood” portion of the waste stream tends to be within furniture or building products and is often treated and not suitable for composting. Some of this “wood” portion of the waste stream is pallets which make an excellent mulch product.

  5. Recycling Rates National: 30.6% _____________________________________________ Food Scraps: 2.7% Yard Waste: 56.3% _____________________________________________ Motor Vehicle Batteries: 96.4% Steel Cans: 58.8% Aluminum Cans: 40.0% Paper/Paperboard/Cardboard: 48.1% Glass Bottles: 18.8% Plastic Containers and Packaging: 9.6% _____________________________________________ Container and Packaging Waste: 38.8% Non-durable Goods: 31.0% Durable Goods: 18.1% (2003 EPA Statistics)

  6. The Second Most Recycled Item • By weight, yard waste is the #2 most recycled material in the United States • 16.1 million tons of yard trimming are recycled annually (Second only to corrugated boxes and paperboard boxes which recover 21.9 million tons annually) • Wood packaging is also recycled to a respectable tune of 1.3 million tons annually • (2003 EPA Statistics)

  7. An Impressive Rise • Over approximately 20 years, composting has become a significant portion of the nations total recycling • Yard Waste Composting (Recycling) by Year: • 1970: Negligible • 1980: Negligible • 1990: 12% • 2000: 56.5%

  8. Yard Waste • What Is Yard Waste . . . • Grass Clippings • Leaves • Tree Trimmings • Brush Trimmings

  9. Yard Waste

  10. Yard Waste By Weight And Volume • Yard Waste By Weight . . . • Grass Clippings represent the largest portion, approximately 50% • Leaves represent approximately 25% • Tree and Brush Trimmings represent approximately 25% • Yard Waste By Volume . . . • Leaves represent the largest volume item in the yard waste stream

  11. Yard Waste Seasonal Nature • Unlike other parts of the municipal solid waste stream, the volume and weight of collected yard waste varies greatly over the course of a year. • The majority of grass will be collected over summer months. • The majority of leaves will be collected over fall months. • The collection of both grass and leaves drop to near-zero over winter months. • Of all components of the yard waste stream, large limbs and stumps tend to be the most year-round in disposal. • During growing seasons yard waste can represent as much as 50% of the residential waste stream.

  12. Composting Programs and Yard Waste Management Programs Across The United States

  13. Composting Facilities Nationally • There are about 3,227 yard waste composting facilities in the United States, primarily located in the Northeast and the Midwest. • The State of Ohio has the most composting facilities of any State. • (2003 number from EPA)

  14. States with Yard Waste Bans

  15. A Cost Effective Solutions • Based on national averages . . . • For yard waste, compost programs are clearly the most cost effective means of managing this portion of the solid waste stream. • For food waste and contaminated paper products, compost programs may also be the most cost effective management solution.

  16. Cost Effective In Indiana • But more important than national averages . . . • Successful Indiana programs support the national averages! Composting is a cost effective solution right here in Indiana. • On a cost-per-ton basis yard waste management comes out least expensive • State Average for Garbage Collection and Disposal: $90.80 per ton • State Average for Recyclables Collection and Recycling: $143.87 per ton • State Average for Yard Waste Collection and Composting: $62.40 per ton • Averages come from a 1997 study of 240 Indiana Cities and Towns conducted by the Indiana Institute on Recycling

  17. Introduction to Composting

  18. So Let’s Talk About Composting . . .

  19. Compost • NOUN OR VERB? • BOTH! • The verb: “Composting” is the process by which microorganisms break down waste and turn it into a valuable product. • The noun: This end product is referred to simply as “compost.”

  20. Types of Composting:By Material • MSW Composting • Composting of Municipal Solid Waste Stream. Waste is ground, metals removed, and all remaining materials composted. Usually produces low quality compost. • Yard Waste Composting • Limited only to the yard waste portion of the waste stream. • Food Waste Composting • Most commonly the vegetable waste only. Animal byproducts require higher temperatures and much greater care to prevent spreading of pathogens. • Co-composting • Common term when one or all of the above are combined with sewage sludge and the combined mixture is then composted.

  21. Types of Composting:By Technique • Backyard Composting • In-Vessel Composting • Windrow Composting (10 ft.wide, 6 ft. high, < 150 ft. long) • Forced Aeration • Worm Composting/Vermicomposting • Mulch Production • Co-Composting (Sewage Sludge [Nitrogen rich] + Wood Waste) • Land Application

  22. Types of Composting:Aerobic or Anaerobic? • We are talking today about AEROBIC composting. • That is, composting in the presence of OXYGEN • Microorganisms decompose organics aerobically (with oxygen) under carefully controlled conditions to produce finished compost • Anaerobic decomposition is what occurs in a landfill with Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Leachate being three major products.

  23. Backyard Composting • Low tech. • Lowest energy costs because the compost is treated at the location where it was “created”. • Many styles of bins. The key, however, is not the bin but maintaining optimal conditions. • Backyard composting is considered SOURCE REDUCTION by the EPA hierarchy of waste management.

  24. In-vessel

  25. In-Vessel Composting • Operations and Energy Intensive. • Most commonly used for MSW composting. • Most commonly used in Europe where space is at a premium. • Because of high initial and operating costs, not a major point of discussion in the composting tool-kit

  26. Windrow Composting • Most common method of yard waste composting in the United States • Generally a “row” of material is composted, usually about 10-25 feet wide, 6 feet high, and as long as 150 feet. • Windrow composting has been shown to be highly cost effective. For community programs it is the major point of emphasis for the composting tool-kit.

  27. Windrow Composting

  28. Forced Aeration • A variation on the windrow pile with the addition of air being forced through the pile via pipes at the base of the pile.

  29. Worm Composting • Can be done indoors or outdoors • Uses the macro-organism, red worms, verses the micro-organisms used in other forms of composting • Most effective with vegetable matter food wastes • Can be very small or very large scale

  30. Mulch Production • Not a true form of “composting” (in the verb sense) • An excellent method of managing certain woody waste products • Mulch is a valuable and much sought after gardening product

  31. Mulch Production • Woody wastes are ground/shredded • Can be colorized • Some municipal programs provide the product free-of-charge • From home improvement stores, to commercial composting and mulching operations, to the corner gas station, bags or truckloads of mulch can and are purchased by landscapers and gardeners everywhere.

  32. Co-Composting • Co-composting utilizes combining sewage sludge (which is nitrogen rich) with woody wastes (which are carbon rich) for composting. • This type of composting is not covered within the “tool-kit.”

  33. Land Application • Land application is the direct incorporation of raw, uncomposted, leaves, grass, and/or other non-woody landscaping waste directly into the soil. • The raw yard waste decomposes slowly over a period of time and are incorporated back into the soil. • Land application must be managed carefully to ensure proper proportions to prevent aesthetic or environmental problems from occurring.

  34. Land Application

  35. Wrapping Up Our Introduction

  36. Conclusions – Renewable Resource • As with all forms of recycling we must shift from looking at compostables as “waste” and instead as a feedstock for a useful finished product • Many people do not realize that peat moss is MINED. At best, peat moss is a VERY SLOWLY renewable resource. • Compost and mulch both offer a RENEWABLE RESOURCE that is an effective alternative to peat moss.

  37. Conclusions – Cost Effective • Based on national averages . . . • For yard waste, compost programs are clearly the most cost effective means of managing this portion of the solid waste stream. • For food waste and contaminated paper products, compost programs may also be the most cost effective management solution. • But more important than national averages . . . • Successful Indiana programs support the national averages! Composting is a cost effective solution right here in Indiana.

  38. Conclusions – Win-Win • Composting is a COST EFFECTIVE means of managing over 50% of the municipal solid waste stream. • Composting is a COST EFFECTIVE means of meeting landfill diversion goals. • That sure sounds like a win-win scenario to me!

  39. QUESTIONS?

  40. Thank You! • Additional Questions, Comments, or You Think You Have A Potential Pilot Community • Please Feel Free to Contact Me: Mark W. Davis Technical Assistance Provider Rural Community Assistance Program Office: 1-800-382-9895 Wireless: (812) 320-0720 E-mail: mdavis@incap.org

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