Minutes - Recycling - 2002-07-09E
COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF RECYCLING COMMITTEE MEETING
JULY 9, 2002
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District Recycling Committee met at 9:30 a.m. in conference
room 1 A at the Civic Center, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.
Directors Present: Dan Worthington, Arlene Schafer
Staff Present: Rob Hamers, Tom Fauth, Joan Revak, Bobby Young
FOOD RECYCLING
At the request of Director Worthington, staff is investigating method of disposing of food
waste. Mr. Hamers reported on various conversations on the subject that he has initiated
over the past several weeks.
• I. JUNE 17, 2002 CONVERSATION WITH PAUL RELIS, CR TRANSFER
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In Santa Barbara there is currently a move to lessen impact on sewer system by
not using garbage disposals.
Resort hotels have large amounts of food waste and are starting pilot programs to
recycle the food to avoid large disposal costs.
Currently, CR Transfer landfills almost all food waste. Rather than placing in the
sewer system, they recommend a composting program to take advantage of the
natural process and utilize the high nitrogen content in food.
II. JUNE 20, 2002 CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTINE KNAPP, COUNTY IWMD AB939
PROGRAM MANAGER
Laguna Woods has a food - composting program, however, it is very hard to
accomplish due to the lack of open space and AQMD's restrictions on odors.
IWMD has targeted food waste as a material for consideration but no programs are
planned as of yet. Currently, self haul and C &D are areas of study. Food waste is
hard to deal with either in solid waste system or liquid waste system..
Protecting our community's health 6y providing solid waste and sewer collection services.
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Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Minutes of Recycling Committee Meeting
July 9, 2002
Page 2
Von's sends its food waste to the Central Valley for composting.
A new Waste Characterization Study for Orange County is being planned that will
verify the quantity of food waste in the waste stream.
III. CONVERSATIONS WITH BOB GHIRELLI, DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES, OCSD —
JuNE 26, 2002
Food is organic matter and OCSD is able to decrease organic matter loading
received at plant by 75 %.
25% of food goes through plant to ocean outfall and 75% goes to the digesters.
75% of food goes to digesters for 25 days. Methane gas produced in the digesters is
used to run engines at plant that supplements the energy needed.
The food in digesters is broken down by bacteria, although Bob is unsure of actual %
• reduction. Waste from inside the digesters is the biosolids.
Class B biosolids currently cost $30 /ton for disposal. Class A biosolids cost
approximately $40 -$50 /ton for disposal. OCSD currently produces 180,000 tons a
year of biosolids.
Bob's conclusion: Based on current OCSD treatment process, extra food in the
sewer system is not desired because a portion goes to the outfall and a portion to
biosolids which are costly to process and dispose.
IV. Conversation with Bob Ooten, Director of Operations, OCSD —July 8, 2002
One pound of food in the sewer system is processed through the OCSD treatment
plant as follows:
23% ends up in the ocean outfall after going through the plant process for primary
and partial secondary treatment.
77% ends up in the digesters. Of the 77 %, 60% is degraded into methane gas and
water. The methane gas is used to run the on -site engines and the water is returned
to the treatment process. The balance of 31% becomes biosolids.
• Therefore, the approximate resultant of one pound of food processed through the
OCSD plant is as follows:
Omecting our community's health 6y prmistng solid waste and sewer coQection service.
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Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Minutes of Recycling Committee Meeting
July 9, 2002
Page 3
23% to the ocean outfall after processing
46% becomes methane gas and residual water
31% becomes biosolids
100%
The Recycling Committee will recommend to the Board of Directors that Staff investigate
the program at Laguna Woods and the level of participation as well as obtaining
calculations on amount of food in the waste steam and investigation into AQMD
restrictions.
RESIDENTIAL TRASH SURVEY
Ms. Revak presented a report on the Residential Trash Survey conducted by the District.
Questionnaires were hand delivered to 620 residences within the District and the total
responses equal 98 with a total of 63 single - family and 35 multi - family residences.
Results of the survey indicate that a large number of residents participate in the Large
Item Collection Program, the Christmas Tree Program and the Telephone Book Program.
• Comments from the survey participants were extremely favorable toward the services and
level of service provided by the District, and overwhelmingly "approved" of the
standardized containers.
L
The Committee suggested the Board consider issuing a press release to apprise the
public of the survey results.
MINI TELEPHONE BOOK RECYCLING PROGRAM
Ms. Revak informed the Committee that the PacBell Yellow Page distribution would occur
between July 17 and August 28, 2002. The District will participate with bins located in
front of City Hall and at the Orange Coast College Recycling Center for collection of
outdated directories. The District also plans to take advantage of the closed loop
recycling program with PacBell and Daishowa America. Daishowa is again paying $50.00
per ton for the PacBell directories that will be converted back into new telephone book
paper, saving valuable forests and reducing landfill usage.
The Committee suggested that Staff research the impact of the mini - program on the
overall telephone book program which includes the fall school program and staff will report
to the Board on the findings at the Regular Meeting on July 11, 2002.
Pmtecting ourcommunity'r fredCtb by providing mfid u aste and sewer coi%ction services.
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PUBLIC COMMENTS
Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Minutes of Recycling Committee Meeting
July 9, 2002
Page 4
There were no public comments; no public in attendance.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 a.m.
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,Protecting our community's fimfth by providing soG6waste andsewer collection services.
costamesasanitaryd strict.org