Food-Waste Composting Program Staff Training, Nov/Dec 2018

Purpose and Responsibility Operation Food Search plays a large part in diverting food waste from landfills by taking viable food from supermarkets and farms and offering it to communities in need. Through participating in the Composting Program, OFS continues the cycle and returns nutrients to the soil that feeds us. Epa.gov

Procedures Total Organics/St Louis Compost Belleville location, a 110-acre facility on top of a closed landfill Other customers include the Cardinals, St Louis Zoo, Missouri Botanical Garden, Schnucks, and many local restaurants Nutrition Education Compost Leader Responsible for setup, maintenance, and organization Provides training and support

Procedures: Acceptable Materials Contamination can result in loss of compost & crops. 1) Physical Contamination 2) Chemical Contamination What Stays Out: No plastic NO food packaging or coffee cups No garbage bags NO metal, rubber, or glass NO Styrofoam

Procedures: Totes and Bins Compost Bins Sealed compost pail located under handwashing sink in commercial kitchen Potential growth for second compost pail in break room Total Organics Totes Tote #1 located outside of warehouse next to Nutrition Ed pantry door Tote #2 located inside walk in cooler, middle of south wall near Nutrition Ed shelves

Procedures: Pickup Compost Bin Nutrition Ed Compost Leader disposes every work day Compost Totes Nutrition Ed Compost Leader will monitor use of bins and coordinate pickup through Total Organics Recycling every two weeks, or as necessary Total Organics will dispatch truck within 24-48 hours Pick-up site is on north side of building

Procedures: Commercial Composting Typical landfill, food takes 100+ years to break down. (newspaper example; 1967) In commercial composting facility, food breaks down in 6-12 weeks, then reused as compost at local farms. (taco method; 160 degrees F)

Potential Growth Break Room Composting Events Develop plan, create buy-in, gather resources (signs, bins) Larger-Scale Single stream composting with Total Organics’ depackager

Questions? (217) 653-6643 Jade.Umberger@ OperationFoodSearch.org