[USCC] Coffee Grounds: Options for Diversion

[Rufus Chaney]

Dear David et al:

Some food wastes such as this could be considered an "organic fertilizer" with significant N value. There must be some organic farmers in Ventura Co., so your agency could help by having the Univ. Calif. -Davis evaluate the N fertilizer value of coffee grounds. And develop a recommended application rate of coffee grounds as N fertilizer. I don't believe that coffee grounds would be an attractive nuisance as real food wastes are commonly found to be. Attracting birds and other wildlife by high energy food type wastes is real. Although it is not often discussed, organic fertilizers include "seed meal" of soybean, cottonseed, and other seeds with poor market value due to spoilage, etc. Protein N in the seeds or foods is a slow release N fertilizer, P, S, etc. 

I can't help wondering if the local and regional regulators in CA would allow use of seed meal or coffee grounds as an organic fertilizer for cropland? The logic for preventing composting of a spent food byproduct such as coffee grounds at a yard debris type composting site seems faulty to me. Yes, attractive items may have to have stronger regulation, or items which will generate malodors may need to have stronger regulation than yard debris. But we in the business know that mis-management of yard debris composting can cause malodor issues even if most sites make great compost products. Perhaps a more comprehensive list of "fresh" food wastes, versus "spent" food wastes or food-processing wastes would help the State make change in their rules?

Regards,

Rufus Chaney
Beltsville, MD

>>> David.Goldstein at ventura.org 02/07/07 08:45PM >>>

Question: 
What advice do list members have regarding diversion of coffee grounds?

Issue:
In two years, after a temporary food waste composting permit expires, a major generator may have to dispose 3,000 tons per year of coffee grounds. The Ventura County Recycling Market Development Zone wants to help them develop options.

Background:
A company in Ventura County, California generates approximately 3,000 tons per year of coffee grounds. For years, this was accepted by local compost facilities and composted with yard clippings. In March 2005, the local Environmental Health Department (Local Enforcement Agency, LEA) deemed the material a food waste and prohibited the compost companies from taking it, since they were not permitted to take food waste. 

The Ventura County Environmental & Energy Resources Division asked the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) for an opinion on this matter, and in November 2005, Board staff affirmed the finding of the LEA. Because coffee grounds were deemed a "food waste," the facilities had to change their permits or stop taking the material. Facilities were already struggling with other permit issues and were not prepared to apply for higher level permits. Board staff suggested a temporary "research" type of permit as an interim measure.

Eventually, one of the compost companies obtained a temporary (two year) permit to try taking the coffee grounds as part of a "research" project. Within two years, they may apply for a permit to handle this and other "food wastes" on an ongoing basis. Permitting is difficult, and other issues (such as encroaching development or an adjacent bird sanctuary) could make it too difficult to expand the permit in this way.

The Ventura County Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) tried recruiting Java Logs, a company that makes fire logs out of coffee grounds. They were not interested in building additional manufacturing capacity until they do much better with marketing the ones they are already manufacturing.

Last year, the RMDZ tried to interest another company in making fire logs out of coffee grounds, but that company wanted only waxed cardboard.

For more information, or to make suggestions, contact David Goldstein.

DG

david.goldstein at ventura.org 
Ventura County PWA, W&S Dept.
Environmental & Energy Resources Division 800 S. Victoria Ave. #1650
Ventura, CA 93009-1650
(805) 658-4312    www.wasteless.org