Title
Metro Presentation on the Proposed Regional Commercial Food Scraps Collection Requirements
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion):
This is to update the City Commission on the benefits and requirements for a Proposed Commercial Food Scrap Collection Program in the Metro Region.
BACKGROUND:
Diverting more food waste away from landfills is a state and regional priority. Food is approximately the single largest component (18%) of what our region sends to the landfill. When dumped in landfills, food waste becomes a significant source of methane; separated and collected, food waste can be processed to generate clean energy and/or agricultural amendments.
Oregon law identifies an increased recovery goal for food waste of 25% by 2020, and was recently amended to include commercial food collection programs as an option to meet local requirements for recycling programs.
In 2016, the Metro Council directed their staff to (a) develop a draft policy requiring businesses keep food scraps out of the garbage; (b) determine how to aggregate and transfer collected food scraps; and (c) issue an RFP for a local food scraps processor. A mandate would initially apply only to large food waste generators such as food processors, restaurants, and grocery stores, extending to smaller institutions, restaurants, grocers, and schools in following years.
Under the draft timeline, Metro Council will consider a proposed policy in September. Local governments within the Metro district would be required to pass implementing ordinances by mid-2018. Implementing ordinances would then require that the first businesses meeting a threshold for food waste generation must separate their food waste starting in March, 2019, with additional groups in 2020 and 2021.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
This program is currently not budgeted, and it is unclear what the cost would be. However, ultimately additional costs would be passed through to producers of food waste. Potential costs include staff time for out...
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