Illinois Food Scrap Composting
David E. Smith
IL DCEO – Recycling
Webinar: June 20, 2012
Green Universities and
Colleges Subcommittee
Webinar
“SCRAP” vs. “WASTE”
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“Integrated Waste Management”
“Solid Waste Management”
“Yard Waste”
Illinois’ Solid Waste Management Hierarchy:
– Source/Waste Reduction
– Recycling (Where is Compost? Not referenced.)
– Incineration for Energy Recovery
– Incineration for Volume Reduction
– Landfilling
When Did Scraps become Waste?
(WW II Era Poster)
Composting in IL - A Very Brief History
• July 1, 1990 – “Yard Waste*” Banned from IL Landfills
(*Grass, Leaves, Shrub/Tree Trimmings, etc.)
• Late 1980s to Early 1990s – Growth of Permitted
Landscaping Facilities in Illinois’; DCEO invested
about $7 Million in projects.
• February 23, 2005 – Composting Roundtable
convened by Lt. Gov.. Quinn at urging of SCARCE.
Focus topic was on ways to relax regulations.
A Brief History Continued
• The 2009 DCEO Commissioned study, the
Illinois Commodity/Waste Generation and
Characterization Study, reveals that food
scraps are the single largest material category
of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfilled in
Illinois. In fact, food scraps, generated from
such diverse sources as households, grocery
stores, restaurants, college dinning facilities,
and food packaging operations accounted for
12% of all MSW landfilled in Illinois.
A Brief History Continued
• In 2009 Governor Quinn signs two laws
designed to stimulate greater composting
efforts in Illinois.
– Public Act 96-418 (SB 99) relaxed how food scrap
composting facilities are regulated. Biggest
change is that they are no longer treated
automatically as a “Pollution Control Facility.”
– Pub Act 96-077 (SB 1932) requires that all State
agencies use, to the maximum extent feasible,
finished compost materials in all land
maintenance activities paid for with public funds.
DCEO’s Food Scrap Program
• In 2009 DCEO develops and implements the
Food Scrap Composting Revitalization and
Advancement Program (F-SCRAP).
• F-SCRAP is designed to assist entities with the
acquisition of equipment or to make project
necessary site improvements. Collection or
processing projects must increase the volume
of food scrap material being composted in
Illinois. The program can also support costs
for equipment related to marketing compost.
F-SCRAP PROGRAM
• Eligible applicants: local governments,
private businesses, not-for-profits, and
colleges and universities.
• Categories: Collection and/or Processor
• Eligible Compost Methods:
– Larger scale vermi-composting
– In-vessel composting
– Windrow compost
– No wash it down the drain projects
FSCRAP PROGRAM – FY2013
• DCEO hopes to open another competitive grant
cycle later this year. Time horizon - selected
grantees to commence Spring/Summer 2013.
• DCEO may award grants up to $200,000 for any
one project. DCEO can negotiate actual award $.
• Applicants must provide a minimum cash match
of 25% of the total project cost. No in-kind
matches are allowed.
• Grants are usually structured to be paid on a
90%/10% basis. Final 10% distributed upon
successful completion of the grant-year of data.
FSCRAP PROGRAM FY2013
• Eligible expenditures include:
– Collection containers / vehicles
– Food scrap pulpers; digesters
– In-vessel composting equipment
– Windrow development and turning equipment
– Tub grinders and screening equipment
– Finished compost packaging equipment
– Project necessary site improvements, including
permanent moisture control structures
Food Scrap Project Examples
Food Scrap Project Examples
Collection Containers
Cart Tipper
Food Scrap Project Examples
Collection Containers
Collection Vehicles
Food Scrap Project Examples
Compost Pad (Site Improve)
Open Structure to Control
Moisture
Food Scrap Project Examples
Windrow Turner
Loader and Shredder
Food Scrap Project Examples
Compost Bagging Equipment
Conveyor for Loading Large
Volumes of Finished Compost
FSCRAP PROGRAM
• Ineligible expenditures include:
–Purchase/rental of real property
–Personnel expenses
–Travel expenses
–Normal operating/administrative
expenses
–Feasibility studies or other planning
and/or permitting efforts
FSCRAP PROGRAM
• Projects must result in finished compost being
created. Again, no “wash it down the drain”
projects.
• DCEO will not fund “Pilot” projects.
• The program will not consider funding any
equipment related to Waste-to-Energy aspects
of a project (e.g., turbine).
• “Backyard” Composting Projects are ineligible.
FSCRAP PROGRAM
• Projects must increase the composting of
organic material, of which food scrap
feedstock generated and collected in Illinois
is the majority component (i.e., at least 51%)
• Applicants must certify that the project will
comply with all applicable state, federal and
local environmental and zoning laws,
ordinances and regulations.
FSCRAP PROGRAM
• Applicants must fully discuss and document
the status of any necessary regulatory
requirements, including permits.
• This includes any local and/or state permits or
other regulatory requirements. Any and all
permits needed must be applied for before
seeking a grant.
• FSCRAP candidates must include copies of
submitted permit applications.
FSCRAP PROGRAM - Permits
• Does your project require an Illinois EPA
permit?
– If there is any doubt, please check with the
Illinois EPA and your local solid waste officials.
IL EPA Contact: Derek Rompot, 217-558-2150.
• Must the applied for permit(s) be issued
before I can apply? No, but again, you must
have formally submitted for the permit(s).
• Receipt of the permit(s) will be required to
received any funding if selected for a grant.
FSCRAP PROGRAM – FY2013
• How Much Money is Available? Funding for
all our programs has been dramatically
reduced this year. The good news is that we
anticipate opening another grant cycle later
this year, but the total funding available is
likely to be in the range of $750,000
• All sizes of projects will be considered, but
please only ask for what is needed.
FSCRAP PROGRAM – FY2013
• Can DCEO answer questions about the grant
requirements? YES, but please read the RFA
before you contact me. It helps when you can
reference a page or section number when you
ask questions.
• Can DCEO review a draft application? We
can provide verbal consultations concerning
specific project elements; however, I cannot
perform comprehensive draft reviews.
Food Scrap Trends
• Source of Food Scraps are
still generally plentiful.
• Opportunities to Divert
Food Scraps for
Composting are increasing.
• Food Scrap diversion must
be carefully planned to be
effective. It is not
“garbage.”
US Composting Council – Annual
Poster Contest
• International Compost
Awareness Week – 1st
Week of May
• http://compostingcoun
cil.org/posters/
Other Resources
• IL EPA Twenty-Third
Annual Landfill
Capacity Report - 2009
• Illinois Green Economy
Network (for State
supported Community
Colleges Only)
• http://www.epa.state.il.us/la
nd/landfill• Wynne Coplea
capacity/2009/index.html
Director of College
• Lists all permitted
Partnerships
compost sites in IL.
wynne.coplea@heartland.edu
(309) 268-8137
Is Food Scrap Generated Compost
Beneficial?
DCEO’s FSCRAP PROGRAM
If you have questions, or wish to
notified when the next grant cycle
opens contact:
David E. Smith
Phone 217-785-2006
Fax: 217-785-2618
Email: David.E.Smith@illinois.gov
Web site: www.illinoisrecycles.com