WM&R Subcommittee RecommendationsWM-
11
Organic Waste
Summary of Issue(s) and Benefits
•
Compostable waste accounts for over 40% of all wasteproduced by individuals—the largest single percentage—current methods for waste disposal landfill orincinerate this waste.
•
Both methods produce prodigious amounts of greenhouse gases (methane and CO2), and has a prohibitiveeconomic cost.
•
Organic compost, when combined with soil, acts as acarbon sink.
1
•
Composting waste produces a marketable product,reducing operating costs and possibly leading toprofitability.
•
Possible future national carbon trading plans shows apotential for further increased profits.
•
Composting reduces costs through eliminating ordrastically reducing tipping fees on organic waste
Recommendation/Strategy/Action Plan
1. Research the feasibility of the development of anorganic waste composting program to handle the city’sorganic waste stream, including any rules or ordinancesthat may prohibit composting of food waste;2. Facilitate and encourage composting of organicwaste through either:a. Offering assistance and support in thedevelopment of a pilot curbside compost program.
2
b. coordinating and encouraging those groups,individuals, and organizations who are interested indeveloping a composting co-op to process the City’sorganics.
3
3. Encourage the use of biodegradable packaging andgarbage bags.
4
4. Encourage, through education and possiblesubsidization, the use of backyard composting vessels,which could account for up to 1/4
th
reduction in the MSWstream.
5
5. Foster a dialogue between local agriculture andlandscaping enterprises, city and county waste handlers,and restaurants and other copious producers of organicwaste to explore the creation of an organics market.
6
6. Encourage the use of finished compost as an
Status
City of Charleston, SCClimate Protection and Sustainability PlanPage 1 of 3
Leave a Comment