1. Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District
Organics Out of Landfills in a Rural Region GRRN National Recycling & Zero Waste Conference October 2009
Central Vermont Solid Waste
Management District

2. Helping Our Cities and Towns to Work Toward Zero Waste.
“The CVSWMD will make the diversion of organic matter from waste the single most important program activity undertaken in the next five years
(2003 – 2008.)”
Quote from Working Towards a
Zero Waste Region, the Central
Vermont Solid Waste Implementation
Plan, adopted April 7, 2003

3. Specific Commitments Understand options for organics diversion
Emphasize sustainable programming and business endeavors
Pilot more organics programs than any other initiative
Adopt legislation, policies and practices that spur organics diversion

4. Program Goals
Offer all residents, restaurants, cafeterias and groceries within the District organics diversion
Create opportunity for 100% of K-12 schools in District to divert food scraps to composting (30 schools/9,600 students)
Establish sustainable routing (>20 mins. drive time) to facility
Assist start-up of multiple receiving facilities

5. Rural Challenges
Distance between generators and low quantities = high cost for collection
Dirt roads, geography, NE weather prevent collection in certain areas or times of year
On-site residential options can attract nuisance and dangerous wildlife
Quantities can overwhelm on-farm partners
Generation rates may
vary by season – camps,
ski areas, schools

6. Rural Solutions Multiple facilities sized to handle a specific route
On-site solutions for small generators – in-vessel and Green Cone digesters
Equipment impervious to foraging animals
Offer payments to “hold capacity” during off-seasons

7. Residential Program
Residential curbside collection of organics was deemed costly, polluting and inconsistent with Zero Waste goals.
District opted to create the “Bin & Cone” program
Compost bins where desired
Green Cone food scrap digesters for all single family, owner occupied residences

8. Bin & Cone Program Composting can co-exist
Addition of Green Cone allows diversion of meat, bones, cheese/dairy and grease
Can implement at single family and multi-family owner-occupied residences, small schools and businesses
Green Cones pay for themselves in avoided disposal costs in less than a year for the average household in Vermont

9. Commercial & Institutional Programs
Divert kitchen scraps and post-consumer food “waste”
Available to restaurants, cafeterias, and schools in Central Vermont
Produces a contaminant-free resource
Cost of collection is dependent upon generator size, and range from $110 - $135 per ton; landfill costs range from $110– 150 per ton in Vermont

10. Making Collection Possible
When private haulers could not be enticed to develop collection routes, the CVSWMD invested in a small fleet to collect organics.

11. How It Works
Totes are used for food scrap collection (avg. weight 220 lbs.)
Scraped directly into totes or 5 gallon pails and carried to totes

12. Kitchen Staff Training
Logistics worked out with key contact at business
Kitchen staff training
Manual, video training disc, and contact info sheet provided
Laminated wall posters for “food scrap stations” as reminders for what is acceptable and not

13. Zero Tolerance Feedback Loops
Contaminant-free material reduces problems, increases value of material, and results in dramatic decrease in cost to construct a food-scrap to energy digester.
Drivers inspect top 6-8” prior to collection
Small problems are reported to establishment within 24 hours
Excess and repeat contamination results in refused tote/load

14. Green Marketing
The Benefits to Businesses and Schools are clear
First month for businesses or year for schools is FREE!
Marketing materials – table-talkers, news and radio ads, window decals
Diversion saves money over disposal

15. Accomplishments 2005 Governor’s Award for
Environmental Excellence & Pollution Prevention
Over 3,000 tons of food scraps diverted to date
100% of all schools in District involved
New compost facility sited
Nearly 4% of households use Green Cones
Farm takes over rural route, sells compost
$492,000 DOE grant to research feasibility of food scrap to energy biodigester project

16. to Work Toward Zero Waste.
Helping Our Cities and Towns
to Work Toward Zero Waste.
Donna Barlow Casey