10 Draft Integrated Waste Management Plan - City Council - City of ...

2012 Davis Integrated Waste Management Plan
4.1.2 Yard Material Containerization Pilot
In order to enhance safety for bicyclists, in the fall of 2002 the Recycling Program began a pilot program to
change the procedure for collecting yard material along Eighth Street between B Street and the railroad tracks.
Each address in the test area was given a 90-gallon, wheeled cart at no additional charge (apartment properties
received more). All customers in the pilot area were asked to place yard material carts in the gutter by 7 a.m.
every Tuesday for collection. Tuesday was selected as pick-up day since that is when residents of the adjacent
community of El Macero have their yard material carts emptied by DWR. This allows the most economical and
efficient use of DWR trucks and crews.
The pilot has been successful. Occasionally there are piles of yard materials placed in the street in the pilot area,
and the City sends out reminder notices. The volume of material collected from the pilot is difficult to quantify
however, as it is mixed with the materials coming from El Macero. Since the cost of the program is so low and
the bicycle safety benefit is so great, the City decided to continue the program. The City pays DWR to operate
this program. In 2011, this fee was only $135 a month.
4.1.3 Commercial Food Scrap Collection Pilot Program
In the fall of 2010, a few local businesses contacted the City with an interest in starting a food scrap collection
program. After meeting with businesses and DWR the City drafted a plan and received support from the NRC
and City Council to move forward with a pilot program to collect food scraps from businesses in Davis.
The pilot began in May 2011. DWR delivered 65-gallon carts to participating restaurants, grocery stores and
other commercial businesses to collect food scraps.
Food scraps are heavier and more putrescible than yard trimmings and must be handled appropriately. To avoid
odor, health and safety concerns, organics carts are collected twice a week, Monday and Friday. The food
scraps are taken to a local compost facility for processing and composting. Acceptable items in the food scrap
carts include fruit, vegetables, pasta, bread, rice, meat, dairy, coffee grinds & filters, tea bags, paper plates,
paper towels and paper napkins.
As of October 2012, there were 64 food scrap carts located at 26 businesses in Davis including restaurants,
grocery stores, schools, and a hospital (see the table below). DWR collects approximately 5 tons of food scraps
per week. From May 2011 to September 2012, DWR collected a total of 316.7 tons of food scraps from pilot
participants.
DRAFT
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