The document outlines various municipal food waste collection models in Franklin County, MA, detailing their implementation, costs, and benefits. It highlights three specific programs in Whatley, Northfield, and New Salem, showcasing their financial results, composting processes, and community involvement. The document concludes with future plans for additional towns to adopt similar organics collection initiatives.

1. Municipal Food Waste Collections at Transfer Stations in Franklin County, MA: 3 Different Models Amy Donovan Program Director Franklin County Solid Waste Management District Greenfield, MA

2. Franklin County Solid Waste Management District Bernardston Buckland Charlemont Colrain Conway Deerfield Erving Gill Hawley Heath Leverett Leyden Montague New Salem (since 2009) Northfield (since 2008) Orange?? (considering…) Rowe Shelburne Sunderland Warwick (starts in May!) Wendell Whately (since 2003) 22 member towns : 17 transfer stations, 4 curbside, 3 municipal organics programs (TS)

4. Organics composting accepts materials previously destined for trash = less MSW (“Organics”=“Commercial”=“On-Farm”=“Food Waste”) Generally accepts: All food including items not composted at home: Meat, chicken, fish, bones, dairy, fats, oils (bread, veggies, fruits) All paper including non recyclable : Paper cups, paper plates, napkins, paper towels, waxed cardboard, waxed paper, soiled pizza boxes, soiled paper, soiled paper bags, flour/ sugar bags, egg cartons, paper packaging Wood: skewers, chopsticks, coffee stirrers, sporks “ Compostable plastic:” PLA cups, certain bags NO plastic, metal, glass!

5. Benefits to municipality/ community Save money on tipping fees: MSW: $73/ ton Compostables: $45/ ton Save on hauling costs: less MSW trips to landfill or incinerator. Town events, schools, sometimes businesses/ restaurants can participate. Supports local commercial composting facilities = local business. Finished compost available for residents to purchase. Mitigate climate change!

6. Tons MSW/ Household/ Year State average (per Carolyn Dann’s study): 1 ton/ household/ year Comparison of some Franklin County towns: No PAYT: Heath 0.88 tons/ household PAYT w/ yard waste: Deerfield 0.74 t./hh PAYT & food waste but not yard waste: New Salem 0.47 tons/ household/ year Northfield 0.44 tons/ household/ year

7. Pioneer Valley: Location, Location, Location!

8. Municipal Food Waste Collection: Whately Transfer Station 2003: pilot program funded through a DEP technical assistance grant. First organics program in state!? Six 68-gallon wheeled carts w/ bungee cords Trash can filled w/ sawdust; cover food waste w/ sawdust Town employee delivers weekly to farm (4.2 miles) Destination: Bear Path Farm (Bill Obear), Whately, MA Farm also accepts food waste from Whately Elementary Organics collection = free to res; PAYT trash = $2/bag Whately’s 2010 recycling rate: 45% Estimated 10 tons collected in 2010

9. Whately Transfer Station

10. Windrows Bear Path Farm, Whately, MA

11. Bear Path Farm, Whately, MA Winter windrows - active Bear Path Farm, Whately, MA Winter windrows - older Turning the windrows

12. School food waste being mixed in. The mix is: bedding + manure + bedding + manure / food waste + bedding + manure + bedding + manure + bedding. Total of nine 2+ cubic yard buckets. These items are then mixed in place and then transported to a windrow.

13. Whately Financials/ Tonnages/ Results Organics disp. = free to res; PAYT trash = $2/bag Estimated 10 tons collected in 2010 No tipping fees: farm owner on Whately Solid Waste Comm., wants nitrogen = food waste Town pays hourly employee to deliver. Total cost: about $335/ year Avoided disposal costs: $860 Tip fees: 10 t. x $73 = $730 Hauling fees: about $130 Total $ saved: about $525

14. District initiated program (w/ DEP permission) Started May of 2008: Town/ District funded Triple T Trucking: 2 yd dumpster Picked up weekly: flat rate $75/ mo. (Upgrade to 3 yd. container soon: $105/mo.) Tipped at Martin’s Farm, Greenfield MA Organics collection = free to res; PAYT trash = $1.50/bag Northfield 0.44 tons MSW/ household/ year (MA avg. 1 t.) Northfield 2010 recycling rate: 39% Estimated 24 tons/ year Municipal Food Waste Collection: Northfield Transfer Station

15. Northfield Transfer Station: 2 yd dumpster

16. Martin’s Farm in Greenfield accepts compost from schools: Pioneer HS, Northfield, Bernardston, Deerfield, Erving, Sunderland, Granby, Amherst, more.. and markets: Big Y stores, Greenfield Stop & Shop, McCusker’s, Greenfields Market plus Shelburne Falls Compost Collaborative, more… Windrow turner at Martin’s Farm

17. PR: front page article the week program started

18. Collection Bucket, Metal Sign

19. Northfield Financials/ Tonnages/ Results Organics disp. = free to res; PAYT trash =$1.50/bag 2 yd. dumpster p/u weekly: flat rate $75/ mo. (Upgrade to 3 yd. container soon : $105/mo.) Estimated 24 tons/ year Total cost: $900/ year Avoided disposal costs: $2284.00 Tip fees: 24 t. x $75 = $1,800 Hauling fees: about $242/ haul (10-14 t/ haul)= $484 Total $ saved: $1,384

20. Municipal Food Waste Collection: New Salem Transfer Station Started July 2009 Hauler/ compost facility provides 20 gallon Brute trash cans Destination: Clear View Composting (Rick Innes), Orange, MA Facility also accepts food and paper waste from Swift River Elementary, other schools/ events/ camps/ centers Organics collection = free to res; PAYT trash = $1.50 /bag New Salem’s 2010 recycling rate: 38% New Salem: 0.47 tons MSW/ household/ year (MA avg. 1 t.) Estimated 3.10 tons organics collected in FY 2010 (pop. 1,000)

21. New Salem Transfer Station: 20 gal barrels

22. Clear View Composting Orange, MA Rick Innes

23. New Salem Financials/ Tonnages/ Results Organics disp. = free to res; PAYT trash = $1.50 /bag Hauler/ compost facility provides 20 gallon Brute trash cans, p/u weekly Estimated 3.10 tons collected in FY 2010 (pop. 1,000) Cost of program: $392 Avoided disposal costs: $310.00 Tip fees: 3.1 t. x $73 = $226 Hauling fees: about $270/ haul (10 t/ haul)= $84 Total $ saved: -$82.00

24. Future Programs Warwick, MA will begin organics collection May 2011 Orange, MA is seriously considering: could start in May 2011 Both would be serviced by Clear View Composting, Orange, MA

25. Questions? Amy Donovan Program Director Franklin County Solid Waste Management District 50 Miles Street Greenfield, MA 01301 Tel: (413) 772-2438 [email_address] www.franklincountywastedistrict.org/