Organic Material Collection in Sonoma County

Leslie LukacsPetaluma GrangeApril 27, 2015

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Sonoma County Organics Collection History

• Opened from 1993 to October, 2015• Contracted by the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency

(SCWMA) to accept all organics (green bin, businesses, self hauls)• Processed 100,000 tons of organics made into 90,000 cubic yards

of affordable high quality compost • Renewed Efforts of Neighbors Against the Landfill (RENAL) sued

Republic who operated landfill starting April 2015• RENAL sued Sonoma Compost for permit issue

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Sonoma County Organics Collection History

SCWMA was ready with construction crew and plan to address run off problem and the plan was approved by

Regional Water Quality Board

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Sonoma County Organics Collection History

• EIR for new compost site at landfill• Tiger Salamander• RENAL sued SCWMA over EIR

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Closure of Sonoma Compost

SONOMA COMPOST STOPPED EXCEPTING ORGANICS

IN JUNE 2015 AND CLOSED OCTOBER 2015

As of Monday, SCWMA settled lawsuit with RENAL

Organics Generation

Sonoma County generates 180,000 tons Of Organic Waste per Year

Total Waste: 362,000 tonsOrganics is Waste: 80,6000 tonsGreen Organics Bin: 100,000 Paper: 72,500 tonsOther Waste: 129,400 tons

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Why Do We Need A Local Compost Facility?

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Why Do We Need A Local Compost Facility?

• Agricultural community needs quality, affordable compost– Farm to table marketing and organic agriculture

• Out-hauling to Solano, Marin and Mendocino Counties is adding to Sonoma County carbon footprint

• Cost to residents for out hauling is at least $2 million• Carbon farming• Local compost produces jobs, provides valuable fertility

for food production and landscaping and helps the county meet its climate mitigation goals.

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Compost Coalition of Sonoma County Mission

Return Organics Waste to SoCo

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Change from “organics waste” to “organic food scraps, landscape debris, and organic materials”

Food Waste vs. Wasted Food

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Strategic Plan

Participate in Sonoma County Waste Management Agency’s decisions about plans for organic green bin waste

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Strategies continued

• Source reduction and education of residents on how to manage organic materials

• Composting education (farms, commercial, etc.)• Collaborate with like minded organizations (UC Extension,

Master Gardeners, etc.) • Support local sites for compost production

CCSC Endorsements

CCSC Supports California Legislation

AB 1826 – Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling

April 1st,2016– Mandatory organics recycling if business generates 8-CY of organic material per week

January 1st,, 2017– Mandatory organics recycling if business generates 4-CY of organic material per week

Thank You!

Leslie Lukacs

Zero Waste Specialist(707) 484-0441

Llukacs@scsengineers.com