It is estimated that food waste and non-recyclable paper represent approximately 30% of the residential waste stream.  Recognizing this fact, Carver County, armed with a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), has launched a demonstration project whereby source-separated organics (food waste and non-recyclable paper) is collected together with yard waste and delivered to a yard waste composting facility for processing.  This is an innovative approach to diverting residential source-separated organics from the waste stream.   

Working with Waste Management and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, approximately 520 households in Chanhassen, Chaska, Waconia and Watertown are placing their bagged source-separated organics in their yard waste cart where it is collected weekly and taken to the Arboretum’s compost site for processing.  The bags used in the program are completely biodegradable and compost along with the collected materials.

After inspection of loads to ensure non-acceptable items are removed, the material is shredded and placed in static piles to actively compost.  Moisture is added as necessary and temperature readings are taken daily to ensure the composting process is working properly.  Operational and environmental data is being collected to ensure there are no problems being caused by the operations.

The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate that residential organics can be effectively managed at a yard waste site in an environmentally safe manner.  The anticipated results will provide the MPCA with the data they need to make the necessary regulatory changes allowing other communities around the state to implement similar projects.  This approach offers several potential benefits including:

·        Reducing the collection costs for residential organics collection programs;

·        Allowing for more facilities to compost residential organics while still maintaining environmental safeguards; and

·        Diverting significant amounts of materials away from landfills and returning it to the land as finished compost;

Additionally, organic materials in a landfill environment generates methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent that CO₂.  As a result, diverting this material away from landfills can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information about this project please contact Marcus Zbinden, Carver County Environmental Services.