Advancing Waste Diversion through Innovation Joe Suleyman New Hanover County Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Food Waste According to a 2016 Guardian report, Americans throw away 60 million tons of food a year. = One half of all produce in the United States. Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Our solution: In-Vessel Composting 8’ x 40’ enclosed system Grinder/mixer Temperature controlled 75 yd3 capacity, 3-5 day residence time for PFRP Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Why In-Vessel? Space constraints – entire operation fits on a 80’ X 90’ pad Enclosed system – no leachate to manage Enclosed system – no odor complaints Scalable – start out small and grow your capacity as demand grows and resources become available Computer controlled – turning, air injection, temperature Compost achieves PFRP and VAR in as little as 11-15 days Department of Environmental Management October 2017

The process Permit application submitted January 2016 Lined up food waste – UNCW’s Wagoner Dining Hall Issued RFPs. Received 4 bids Submitted grant request to NC DEACS Board of Commissioner approval for contract. Project cost, including concrete pad, buildings, compost unit, and electrical was $686K 6. Construction began July 2017 7. Installation and training November 8 – 15. Start-up 11/15 Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Construction Lot graded and compacted by our Department staff. Concrete piers being formed for supporting the composter unit Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Construction Initial form work and 8” x 8” pilings set Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Construction Initial concrete pour. Composter piers are visible, electrical conduit embedded and stubbed up. Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Construction Composter building, mixing building, and curing building all framed up. The mixing building is where food waste is received. Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Construction Compost equipment arrived on two trailer loads. The main composter unit weighs 44,000 lbs. Install Start scheduled for 11/8 Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) & e-Waste Last fiscal year, New Hanover County residents delivered 686,000 pounds of HHW and e-Waste to the county’s facility. Residents loved the program, which is open six days a week, but the location was too far out of the way for many users. Our solution……the HazWagon! Department of Environmental Management October 2017

Isn’t she gorgeous??? Department of Environmental Management October 2017

The basics: The HazWagon sets up one day per week in three different locations: Wrightsville Beach, Ogden Park, and Carolina Beach. These 3 locations, plus the main facility, offer convenient locations for residents to access services. The HazWagon accepts the same materials as the main facility, and brings it back to the main facility for processing. Department of Environmental Management October 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-aPLc9bg2w Department of Environmental Management October 2017