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California Grey Bears have completed a project
to evaluate on-site composting of food scraps to reduce disposal
costs. Using two Earth Tub composting units, the Grey Bears
will save $2034 per year on hauling and disposal costs.
Performance of the Composting
System
The Grey Bears used two Earth Tubs to compost their food scraps.
Earth Tubs are small-scale, in-vessel (completely enclosed)
composting units. They are designed to compost organic materials
at the sites where they are generated.
The Earth Tubs processed about 3 cubic yards
(1112 pounds) of food scraps per week. Earth Tubs are capable
of processing as little as 50 pounds or as much as 150 pounds
of organic material per day. The modular design of the system
allows it to be adapted to a wide variety of applications.
Earth Tubs have been developed specifically
to meet the needs of food handling businesses-food stores,
colleges, hospitals, camps, restaurants, caterers and cafeterias.
For more information on the Earth Tub, visit the manufacturer's
website: www.gmt-organic.com and check out the Products page.
About the California Grey Bears
Grey Bears is a non-profit that distributes food to seniors
and the disabled through a Brown Bag Program. Each year, Grey
Bears provides over 100,000 'Brown Bags' of recovered food
to seniors and people with disabilities.
Each week, approximately one ton of the food
that is collected is discarded, primarily due to deterioration.
The in-vessel system was used to compost discards
from the Brown Bag Program as well as food scraps and biodegradable
table service from the Grey Bears' annual Holiday Dinner.
Compost is sold through the Grey Bears Thrift Store. For more
information on the California Grey Bears, visit their website:
http://www.steiny.com/sc/orgs/greybears/
Economics of On-Site Composting
By composting food scraps in the Earth
Tubs, Grey Bears will avoid disposal of 29 tons of garbage
per year. Savings on disposal and hauling will be $2034 per
year. Grey Bears will sell the compost in their Thrift Store
for $2 per bucket, for an annual revenue of $2102.
The warehouse supervisor spends about one hour
per week overseeing the project and the balance of the labor
(about 4.5 hours per week) is provided by volunteers, for
a total annual labor cost of $780. Electricity cost is estimated
at $100 per year. Equipment and installation cost of $17,802
included the two Earth Tubs, a cement pad, and electrical
and sewer connections.
Payback time for the installation of the
two Earth Tubs will be about 5.5 years.
Educational and Environmental Benefits
of the Project
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The environmental benefits
of the project are indisputable. Food scraps were diverted
from the County landfill, extending the landfill's life.
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The environmental impacts of
hauling tons of food scraps to the County landfill-air
pollution, transportation congestion, depletion of fossil
fuels-were avoided. The resulting compost was used to
improve local soils. |
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In Santa Cruz County, food
is the largest component of the waste stream for food
stores and restaurants. The project was a vehicle for
educating business owners about food scrap diversion.
Outreach efforts succeeded in attracting the attention
of managers of local restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals,
conference centers, public schools and retirement homes. |
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The Grey Bears outreach efforts
educated many community members about commercial food
scrap diversion. To the extent that the public understands
that food scrap diversion is important and recognizes
that businesses are working on solutions, they will be
more willing to compost their own food scraps at home. |
Project Sponsors:
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
California Grey Bears
California Integrated Waste Management Board
For more information or technical assistance,
click here.
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