[USCC] Coffee Grounds: Options for Diversion

[Jeffrey Creque]

Rufus Chaney's suggestion is a good one;

there may be an issue for organic farmers using the material however, 
so expanding the list of potential agricultural recipients of the material
to "conventional" growers,
(including avocados) could prove fruitful.

Jeff Creque
West Marin Compost Coalition


> [Original Message]
> From: Rufus Chaney <chaneyr at ba.ars.usda.gov>
> To: <compost at composter.com>
> Date: 2/9/2007 3:29:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [USCC] Coffee Grounds: Options for Diversion
>
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2007
>
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>
> 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 
>
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