Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2015-2016

Composting Organic Waste in Santa Cruz County: Time for a Regional Solution

Published: June 25, 2015 49 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 7 findings

Compostable organic waste, which makes up approximately one third of municipal solid waste, must be diverted in order to extend the life of Santa Cruz County landfills and meet state mandates, specifically AB 1826.

Related Recommendations (2)

In order to comply with AB 1826 mandates, the cities of Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville should join with Santa Cruz County to form a regional agency to develop a largescale organics recycling system located in Santa Cruz County. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6)

The current pilot program for composting food waste from restaurants and other large institutions in Capitola and Santa Cruz County should be expanded to serve other businesses in the AB 1826 first and second tiers throughout Santa Cruz County, including Scotts Valley and Watsonville, until a regional facility can be developed. (F1, F2, F4)

Unless Santa Cruz County and the cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola, Scotts Valley and Watsonville invest politically and financially in largescale organics recycling systems, they will be out of compliance with AB 1826 by the year 2020 or sooner.

Related Recommendations (2)

Santa Cruz County and the cities of Capitola, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville all passed resolutions in 2005 recommending a regional composting facility, but as of 2015, no facility has been constructed, nor is there a completed plan to do so.

Related Recommendations (1)

Rather than building a permanent local infrastructure for organics composting, Santa Cruz County and the city of Capitola opted to continue their commercial composting pilot programs by hauling food waste out of the county to the Monterey Bay Regional Waste Management District’s composting facility, at considerable cost in time and fuel.

Related Recommendations (2)

Unless the Monterey Regional Waste Management District decides to expand its current organic composting facility, Santa Cruz County jurisdictions cannot rely on it as a longterm solution for their organic waste recycling needs.

Related Recommendations (1)

Unless the cities of Watsonville and Scotts Valley develop organic waste recycling programs, neither city will be in compliance with AB 1826 by January 1, 2016.

Related Recommendations (1)

Rules about what can be put in the “green cart” are inconsistent and not well understood by the general public.

Related Recommendations (2)

After selection of a composting contractor and technology by the Local Task Force, Santa Cruz County and the cities of Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville should create a coordinated outreach program to inform businesses and the public about the benefits and requirements of the new organics recycling program. (F7) 21

Curbside “green carts” and bins should be clearly labeled to instruct residential and commercial customers specifying what materials are acceptable. (F7)

Conclusions 1

CL1 Page 20

The Grand Jury concludes that Santa Cruz County jurisdictions are currently in compliance with state laws mandating diversion of organics from the landfill, but will no longer be in compliance with AB 1826 by the year 2020 or sooner, unless a largescale organics composting program is implemented. Given the uncertainty over the continued availability of the Monterey Regional Waste Management District’s pilot composting facility, an incounty composting facility is essential. The County Department of Public Works is taking appropriate steps to create this facility and include food waste recycling in its next franchise hauler contract, but needs the participation of other local jurisdictions to gain the necessary economies of scale. The city of Santa Cruz is on a parallel path to develop its own solution. The cities of Scotts Valley, Capitola, and Watsonville are waiting to evaluate the County’s plan. Municipal budgets are under tremendous pressure from many fronts, but unless AB 1826 is modified, each jurisdiction must find a way to comply with this composting mandate, regardless of cost. Public acceptance and changes in behavior, combined with creative and assertive political leadership, will be critical to the success of the program, and will require outreach, education, and an awareness of residents’ needs. 20

Commendations 1

CM1 Page 22

C1. The Grand Jury commends Santa Cruz County and the cities of Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville on meeting or exceeding diversion goals set forth by the State in AB 939, SB 1016, AB 341, and AB 1594, in many cases well before the target dates. C2. The Grand Jury commends Santa Cruz County and the city of Capitola for initiating pilot programs in composting food waste, and for continuing them despite the loss of permits to operate the programs at the Buena Vista Landfill.

No Responses Found 5

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Capitola City

Santa Cruz City

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office

Scotts Valley City

Watsonville City