A Compost Teach-In: Informing Palo Alto’s Future Organics Strategy Lucie Stern Community Center January 10, 2009 2 PM to 4:30 PM

Where This Teach-In Fits Update Task Force? Council

Update

Task Force?

Council

Agenda Welcome – 2:00 PM Introduction --- 2:05 PM Framing the Organics Challenge 2:10 PM Technology Options 2:30 PM Composting Windrow Aerobic Static Pile In-vessel Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste -- 3:00 PM Bay Area Composting Experiences -- 3:20 Biochar Technology -- 3:40 PM Where Does Global Warming Fit -- 4:00 PM Technologies Transportation Discussion -- 4:15 PM

Welcome – 2:00 PM

Introduction --- 2:05 PM

Framing the Organics Challenge 2:10 PM

Technology Options 2:30 PM

Composting

Windrow

Aerobic Static Pile

In-vessel

Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste -- 3:00 PM

Bay Area Composting Experiences -- 3:20

Biochar Technology -- 3:40 PM

Where Does Global Warming Fit -- 4:00 PM

Technologies

Transportation

Discussion -- 4:15 PM

Today’s Approach What Is “Taught” The Problem Some Technologies Global Warming Considerations What Is Avoided Not Discussing Locations Not Attempting to Solve the Problem A Facilitator’s Role Mind the Clock Moderate Discourse Record Comments 20 Minutes Per Topic 15 Minutes Presenting 5 Minutes Questions Logistics Bathrooms + Breaks Web Cast

What Is “Taught”

The Problem

Some Technologies

Global Warming Considerations

What Is Avoided

Not Discussing Locations

Not Attempting to Solve the Problem

A Facilitator’s Role

Mind the Clock

Moderate Discourse

Record Comments

20 Minutes Per Topic

15 Minutes Presenting

5 Minutes Questions

Logistics

Bathrooms + Breaks

Web Cast

Brought to You by… Teachers Hilary Gans Ann Schneider, Sierra Club Sophia Skoda, EBMUD Steven Sherman, Steven Sherman Consulting Bob Niederman Bob Wenzlau, Terradex Bryan Long David Coale Facilitator and Recorder (Palo Alto Mediation Program) Elaine El-Bizri Elisabeth Seaman Support Jeb Eddy Susan Stansbury

Teachers

Hilary Gans

Ann Schneider, Sierra Club

Sophia Skoda, EBMUD

Steven Sherman, Steven Sherman Consulting

Bob Niederman

Bob Wenzlau, Terradex

Bryan Long

David Coale

Facilitator and Recorder (Palo Alto Mediation Program)

Elaine El-Bizri

Elisabeth Seaman

Support

Jeb Eddy

Susan Stansbury

THE CHALLENGE Bob Wenzlau, Terradex

Bob Wenzlau, Terradex

Take Care With The Compost Gods

Each Year Palo Alto’s Organics Will Fill A Football Field The Height of City Hall 130,000 Cubic Yards

Three Sources of Organics 60,000 Tons Per Year Composition of Disposed Organics

Disposed Waste: Where Organics Fit?

Biosolids Generation Source: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=3740 Wastewater Sludge Incineration 17,117 metric tons of CO2e per year.

Current Organics End Points

TECHNOLOGY Hilary Gans Ann Schneider Sophia Skoda, EBMUD Steven Sherman, Steven Sherman Consulting Bob Niederman

Hilary Gans

Ann Schneider

Sophia Skoda, EBMUD

Steven Sherman, Steven Sherman Consulting

Bob Niederman

Technology Questions What is it? Reference URLs to learn more Example Sites of Use Land Requirement Who Makes it? Land Use Requirement (receiving, processing, product storage) Economics (Capital, Operation, Revenue) Environmental Impact (Energy Use, GHG, bi-products, noise or odors) Lead time

What is it?

Reference URLs to learn more

Example Sites of Use

Land Requirement

Who Makes it?

Land Use Requirement (receiving, processing, product storage)

Economics (Capital, Operation, Revenue)

Environmental Impact (Energy Use, GHG, bi-products, noise or odors)

Lead time

TECHNOLOGY: COMPOSTING Hilary Gans Ann Schneider

Hilary Gans

Ann Schneider

Recycling It all started with AB939

Can’t get there without recycling organics Recyclables combined = 40% Organics alone equal almost the total tonnage of recyclables CIWMB 2004 waste charactorization study

Residential Yard Trimmings Collection

Newby Island Composting Facility

Z-Best Composting Facility

Windrow Yard Trimmings Composting

Aerated Static Pile Composting Technology

The building is an all-metal construction in a seismic zone 4 for a high snow-load

The facility is designed to process 45 tons/day of mixed organic waste. All process functions (pre-processing, composting, curing and product refining) are conducted within this building.

Finish Product Screening

Finished Product . . . Compost 1/2 inch screen size Maturity – 7 index C:N ratio 17 Dark brown and musty 309 lbs/cyd Organic (about 50% O:InO) Contamination: Bits-O-plastic

1/2 inch screen size

Maturity – 7 index

C:N ratio 17

Dark brown and musty

309 lbs/cyd Organic (about 50% O:InO)

Contamination: Bits-O-plastic

Compost Marketing

Compost to the Community

Turf Application ALLIED WASTE

Composting operations are difficult to site because Neighborhood opposition Cost of locating near cities is high There is little political will to site facilities Real potential for odor problems Cost of permitting and environmental clearance for new site development

Neighborhood opposition

Cost of locating near cities is high

There is little political will to site facilities

Real potential for odor problems

Cost of permitting and environmental

clearance for new site development

Questions

TECHNOLOGY: ANAEROBIC DIGESTION Sophia Skoda, EBMUD

Sophia Skoda, EBMUD

TECHNOLOGY: BAY AREA COMPOSTING EXPERIENCE Steven Sherman, Steven Sherman Consulting

Steven Sherman, Steven Sherman Consulting

Nearby Bay Area Communities with Food Scraps Collection and Composting San Francisco: all residents; available to all businesses (over 3,000 participants) Alameda County: all residents; available to most businesses (over 500 participants) San Mateo County: coming in 2011 for all residents; available to most businesses (over 500 participants) Santa Clara County: Will Palo Alto take the lead?

San Francisco: all residents; available to all businesses (over 3,000 participants)

Alameda County: all residents; available to most businesses (over 500 participants)

San Mateo County: coming in 2011 for all residents; available to most businesses (over 500 participants)

Santa Clara County: Will Palo Alto take the lead?

Schematic of Possible Materials Flow Residential yard trimmings PLUS food scraps  windrow or aerated static pile  compost, mulch (lowest cost, most replicated technology) Clean, source-separated commercial food scraps  anaerobic digestion  bio-gas + compost feedstock for non-restricted use (low to moderate cost) Bio-solids  anaerobic digestion, ideally kept separate from food scraps  bio-gas + compost feedstock for restricted uses (moderate cost) Organic residue still in trash after waste reduction, recycling, and composting  anaerobic digestion or other conversion technologies prior to final disposal

Residential yard trimmings PLUS food scraps  windrow or aerated static pile  compost, mulch (lowest cost, most replicated technology)

Clean, source-separated commercial food scraps  anaerobic digestion  bio-gas + compost feedstock for non-restricted use (low to moderate cost)

Bio-solids  anaerobic digestion, ideally kept separate from food scraps  bio-gas + compost feedstock for restricted uses (moderate cost)

Organic residue still in trash after waste reduction, recycling, and composting  anaerobic digestion or other conversion technologies prior to final disposal

Technology Operating Cost Ranges ($ per ton) Windrowing $20-$50 Aerated Static Pile $25-$55 In-vessel System $35-$65 Anaerobic Digestion $35-$90

Windrowing $20-$50

Aerated Static Pile $25-$55

In-vessel System $35-$65

Anaerobic Digestion $35-$90

TECHNOLOGY: BIOCHAR Bob Neiderman

Bob Neiderman

GREENHOUSE GAS IMPACTS Bryan Long David Coale

Bryan Long

David Coale

Does Composting Contribute to Global Warming?

Composting vs. What?

Water-Wise Landscaping? Reduction is good! Back yard composting is good! Still have lots of organic material.

Reduction is good!

Back yard composting is good!

Still have lots of organic material.

Landfill? More expensive than composting. Methane leakage

More expensive than composting.

Methane leakage

Incineration? Expensive Full release of organic carbon as CO2 CO2 emissions from additional fuel required

Expensive

Full release of organic carbon as CO2

CO2 emissions from additional fuel required

The question is not WHETHER we are going to compost or convert… …but WHAT, WHERE and HOW

Composting and Greenhouse Gases Methods & Technologies Hauling Distance

Methods & Technologies

Composting is Net Negative in GHG impacts.

Composting is Net Negative in GHG impacts. Composting releases negligible methane and nitrous oxide

Composting is Net Negative in GHG impacts. Compost application increases total carbon retained in soil

Composting is Net Negative in GHG impacts. Compost application reduces need for GHG intensive artificial fertilizers

Composting is Net Negative in GHG impacts. Compost application increases standing biomass.

Composting is Net Negative in GHG impacts. http://cli.gs/EPAreport for EPA report

Does Method Matter? Range of inputs. vs. Potential for net carbon retention in soil vs. Soil amendment quality of product. vs. Contaminant levels in product

Range of inputs.

vs.

Potential for net carbon retention in soil

vs.

Soil amendment quality of product.

vs.

Contaminant levels in product

Three Sources of Organics 60,000 Tons Per Year Composition of Disposed Organics

GHG from Transportation How far is material transported? What kind of fuel is used? Can transportation requirements be reduced?

How far is material transported?

What kind of fuel is used?

Can transportation requirements be reduced?

Current Organics End Points

DISCUSSION