City of Alexandria, Virginia operates a food scraps drop-off program at local farmers markets where residents can drop off food scraps into collection carts. The program started at two year-round markets and has since expanded to include two seasonal markets. On average, the program collects around 3 tons of food scraps per week from residents. The city is now piloting a curbside food scrap collection for residential areas to test feasibility, with over 400 households opting into the 3-month pilot program to have their food scraps collected along with trash and recycling. Survey results will help determine if a full curbside food scrap collection program should be implemented.

1. City-Sponsored Food Scraps
Drop-Off at Farmers Markets
Michelle Minstrell
Principal Consultant
Waste Knowledge, LLC

2. Program Details
• Jurisdiction Facts
• Operational Information
• Transferrable Strategies
• Next Level
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3. City of Alexandria, Virginia
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4. City of Alexandria, Virginia
• Population: 149,000
• Transportation & Environmental Services
Department, Resource Recovery Division
• Funding Sources
– General Fund, Special Solid Waste Fee
– Disposal at local EFW/WTE facility
• Tip Fee 2009 = $77.45, 2014 = $43.17
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5. Resource Recovery Division
• City manages 18% of total waste stream
– 20,500 Residential customers
• trash/single-stream recycle/yard debris/leaf vacuum
– 19,500 Tons MSW, 7,500 Tons Recycling
– 48% Recycling Rate, per VA DEQ, 2014
– https://www.alexandriava.gov/Recycling
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6. Food Waste Program History
• Goal: Explore the feasibility of establishing a
food waste composting program in Alexandria
• Started November 2013
• Initiated at two year-round Farmer’s Markets
– Expanded to two seasonal Markets in Spring
– Budget: started with $8K, then $18k, now $23k
• Food Waste program website:
https://www.alexandriava.gov/FoodWaste
• Saturday/Sunday Markets
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7. Farmers Market Collection Stations
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8. Operational Information
• City Truck Delivers:
– Table/Tent
– Food scrap Toter carts
– Compost samples
– Kitchen collection buckets for sale
– Educational and operational supplies
• Attendant Staff
– Recruited by City Recycling Program Manager
– Contract via temp agency
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9. Instructions, Yes/No List
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10. Regional Cooperation
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• Toters gathered at Public Works yard
• Contractor dumps weekly
– 15-16 carts/week
• Hauls material to compost operation in Maryland
– Prince George’s County, Western Branch
– Oversight by Maryland Environmental Service
– Finished product available in landscape qualities and
retail packaging, sold locally
• Leaf Gro = yard debris
• Leaf Gro Gold = yard debris & food

11. Educational Opportunity
• Middle School demonstration project
– Hot compost then vermicomposting
– Takes several Toters a few times/year
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12. Market Teamwork
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• Work with vendors
– Unsaleable produce/taste samples/husks
– Consult for compostable service ware
• Watch for Gleaning operations
– Food for Soup Kitchen/Food Bank before compost

13. Program Statistics, 4 Markets
• ~ 500 customer dumps/weekend
– Customers visit more than one market/week
– Reduces seasonally, Market closures
• Average 60 info conversations/week
– Potential new customer recruitment
• Sold 2,500 kitchen buckets so far
– Average 20 sold/week
• ~ 3 Tons food/week
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14. Helpful Suggestions
• Long-handle spatula
– Scrape out collection
buckets
• 10 speed bike inner
tube rubber band
– Keep cart liner in place
• Newspaper trick
– Line bucket with brown
paper bag/newspaper
• Suggest reused
container as kitchen
bucket
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15. Conversation Starters
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• Watch for customer purchases that will
become instant food scraps

16. Compost & Stickers?!
• Quick way to get attention, and involvement
• Recruit young participants
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17. Success Brings Next Experiment
• Curbside Food Scrap Collection Service Pilot
• 3 month pilot, April-July 2016
• Supplies provided:
– 5 gallon bucket, screw lid
– Kitchen basket
– Compostable liners
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18. Invitation to Participate
• Select residential routes
– Sent invitation by mail
• Offered to 2,400HH
– Must Opt-In
• Online or call
• No cost to participate
• 406 or 17% signed up
– 65% recycle participation
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19. Residential Collection Pilot
• City crews empty 5-gallon buckets into Toter
carts pulled on trailer
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20. Pre/Post Pilot Survey
• Participants asked to complete surveys before
and after pilot program
• Operational data and customer opinions will
be reviewed to determine program feasibility
– Costs and public interest, participation,
compliance, concerns
• Participants allowed to keep bucket/basket
• Invited to dump at Farmers Markets
– Increased by 2-4 Toters/wk
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Questions?
Michelle Minstrell
Principal Consultant
Waste Knowledge, LLC
wasteknowledge@gmail.com
@recyclemichelle