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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2014-2015
Composting Organic Waste in Santa Cruz County
⚠️ 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
F1
Page 134
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)
R1
Page 134
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)
R2
Page 134
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)
F2
Page 134
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)
R1
Page 134
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)
R2
Page 134
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)
F3
Page 134
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)
R1
Page 134
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)
F4
Page 134
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)
R1
Page 134
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)
R2
Page 134
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)
F5
Page 134
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)
R1
Page 134
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)
F6
Page 134
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)
R1
Page 134
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)
F7
Page 134
Rules about what can be put in the “green cart” are inconsistent and not well understood by the general public.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
Page 134
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)
R4
Page 135
Curbside “green carts” and bins should be clearly labeled to instruct residential and commercial customers specifying what materials are acceptable. (F7)