[USCC] Coffee Grounds: Options for Diversion

Fri Feb 9 17:59:23 CST 2007

EHD acting as the LEA, does not allow the direct application of food
waste to farms. An inspector today confirmed that direct application of
used coffee grounds or any other food waste to farms is considered an
un-permitted dumping of municipal solid waste. 

He also enumerated reasons why the composter who currently has a
temporary permit to handle the coffee grounds will face major barriers
to obtaining a permanent permit for it. 

I guess it is "safer" to put coffee grounds into a lined landfill with
gas recovery.

Unless sales of coffee-based firelogs increase to the point where we
can entice a manufacturer to build a factory near our area, we are
likely to have 3,000  more tons per year in our landfills following
expiration of that temporary composting permit.

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

>>> chaneyr at ba.ars.usda.gov 02/08/2007 10:22 AM >>>
Participate in the Annual Compost Awareness Week May 6, 2007 to May 12,
2007

This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!"

For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25 

Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931 

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 

_______________________________________________
Compost maillist  -  Compost at composter.com 
http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost 

This month's sponsor is:

Cover-All Building Systems
The leading manufacturer of steel-framed, fabric membrane covered
structures available in clear-span widths of 18 to 160 feet. Visit
www.coverall.net to learn more or call 1.800.268.3768 to be connected
with your local dealer.

_______________________________________________

Ongoing Sponsors of the Compost Discussion List are:

Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy
e-mail alert service for environmental, food and agricultural industry
professionals.
Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com 

Renewable Carbon Management, LLC with the containerized, in-vessel
NaturTech Composting System www.composter.com rcm at composter.com 

The US Composting Council (USCC) Non-members of USCC are encouraged to
join the Council through its website at:
http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm 

(c) Copyright 2006  - All rights reserved

Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have
their posting privelages suspended.

Opinions expressed represent only the poster and are not necessarily
the opinion or policy of any organization.

The Compost List is a service moderated by Jim McNelly of Renewable
Carbon Management, LLC.

For discussion list policies and information regarding subscribing,
unsubscribing, digest or other options, go
to:http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost

For additional help in unsubscribing or to report bugs and problems,
send a message to the Compost List Manager, Jim McNelly, at
compost-owner at composter.com 