Title
Overview of Food Waste Composting Feasibility Study
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
On March 17, 2022, the Environmental Sustainability Board unanimously accepted the draft report and unanimously approved the recommendation to implement a food composting system at Bayo Canyon using a windrow system and providing drop off sites for residents and curbside collection for businesses.
Body
On December 3, 2019, staff presented a Waste Stream Overview to the County Council. Included in this presentation was the potential impact of implementing a food waste outreach and diversion program to reduce food waste being sent to the landfill. Council requested staff return with potential scope and costs of a feasibility study including an evaluation of potential composting methods, site locations (composting operation and drop-off options), staffing, and a business plan (capital costs, operational costs and potential revenues). The goal of the study would be to implement an economically sustainable county-wide program for both commercial and residential customers. Staff recommended this option as a second priority step and noted it could be achieved with the remaining 2020 and 2021 fiscal year with a $100K budget using the Environmental Services fund balance. Council inquired about the potential of a shorter-term solution for food waste composting while the feasibility study is in progress.
On February 18, 2020, staff returned to Council and proposed a feasibility study to evaluate and recommend the most effective and economical site location, capital investments, operational expenses and potential savings and revenues for a program, that most importantly, meets the community needs for both residential and commercial customers.
On August 17, 2020, Los Alamos County advertised a formal competitive solicitation for Food Waste Composting Feasibility Study and Design Services through Request for Proposal No. 21-15. On April 6, 2021, County Council appro...
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