1. BEST PRACTICES IN FOOD SCRAPS RECOVERY
A National Study
Skumatz Economic Research Associates Inc.
Superior CO
David Juri Freeman
© EI 2011, All Rights reserved
Information may be used if properly Cited

2. THE CHALLENGE How can a community implement a food scraps program?
What steps have other communities in the US taken to meet common barriers?
Facility siting, Costs/Collection

3. RESULTS OF THE NATIONAL SURVEY

4. SURVEY OF EXISTING FOOD-WASTE PROGRAMS
Nearly 200 programs identified in US
Both Res. and Commercial
Locations concentrated:
WA, MN, CA, OH, VT, IA, MA, OR, ME, etc
Mostly suburban, then urban, rural; also college & tourist; some only at schools / university campus; isolated,
Most curbside; Some drop-off
Implementation dates –few pre-1996;
many 2005+
Private hauler and town arrangements
Sizes range from 170 to nearly
900K residents

5. PROGRAM ATTRIBUTES
Drop-offs and pilots
Containers
32-96 carts, some bags
Materials in stream
Include foodwaste with YW
Includes meat and dairy
Payments and enrolment
Voluntary added fee
Collection Frequency and Containers
Weekly in most, EOW available
Presence of PAYT
Majority have PAYT
Each program is modified/adapted to fit community resources and needs

6. DIVERSION/PARTICIPATION
Examined average diversion rates-not the whole story
Next looked at lbs per household total
Uncovered lbs per household food only
Wide range of participation depending on program set-up
Diversion
Overall avg.
52%
National avg. (EPA)
33%
Avg. lbs per participating HH/week
25-30lbs
Food Waste only
7-9lbs
Avg. Participation
35-40%

7. COSTS Examined average rates and costs
Organics collection is on average only about a third of trash $
Rates and Cost
Trash
Organics
Total
Avg. HH rate
$21.80
$7.70
$27.90
Median HH rate
$21.50
$7.50
$27.30
Avg. HH costs NA
$5.40

8. COMMERCAIL ATTRIBUTES
The “typical” commercial program (if such a thing really existed)
Only targets a portion of the businesses
Voluntary participation for an added fee
Rates are lower than MSW rates
Collected in 64-gallon poly carts
Options for collection at least 3x/week
Includes staff education and outreach (often by the hauler)

9. COMMERCIAL COSTS Avg. Max Min 1 cuyd/week rate $60 $162 $29
Less data and harder to uncover than Res.
Cost
Avg.
Max
Min
1 cuyd/week rate
$60
$162
$29

10. TIPPING FEE Is it always cheaper to tip organics?
How do tip fees compare?

11. TIPS, BMPS, and BArRiers IN REPORT

12. SUMMARY
Nearly 200 active programs in the US alone with significant growth in the last 5 years
There is no “average” program- programs are adapted to fit community needs and resources
Drop-off only
Added to yard waste
Commercial options
Barriers exist but all can be overcome with proper planning, information sharing, and BMPs
Cost may be the exception

13. THANK YOU! Juri Freeman and Lisa A Skumatz Ph.D.
SERA Inc
Phone: 303/ ; Tollfree:
PROJECT WEBSITE –