1st Annual NYS Summit on Organics Management
3/5 Meeting Notes
Themes
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NYS has a long way to go in terms of organics management capacity and capacity
utilization BUT there is a growing interest in NYSAR3 and organics diversion
Begin with the easy to implement projects and then move to the more difficult
Partnerships are key!
Data collection and monitoring is important for securing grant funding and developing
best management practices
Evolving a Program
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Questions to ask yourself and keep in mind:
o What are my untapped resources?
o What do I want to accomplish this week/month/year?
Keep traditionally marginalized groups in mind when planning/implementing projects
May be wise to organize organics events around political schedules
o This helps ensure that leaders will pay attention to the issue
Engage the municipality as a partner
o Frame positively and use “we” not “you”
Continually energize your volunteer base and utilize partnerships
Utilize non-traditional resources
o Repurpose cheap, vacant lots to be composting sites
Create a culture where civic engagement is “cool”
Utilize transient workers smartly
o Realize that their work is time-limited and the work they produce must be
sustainable into the future
Utilize resident experts smartly
o They know what has worked and what has not worked in the past
Maintaining a Program
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Identify roadblocks and existing resources that can be tapped into
Important to leverage partnerships and share the credit for success
o Ex: Partnership with Friends of Parks led to a vast amount of organic matter
collection through raking leaves, now there are too many leaves to even use!
Connect with farms and utilize their expertise
Find and use resources that aren’t being used
o Ex: if a company doesn’t use their vehicles on the weekend, perhaps your group
can!
You will find success through communal efforts
Apply for grant funding
Keep your compost looking clean
o “People smell with their eyes”
Know the rules for private and/or public production/hauling of waste
Separating waste streams is a challenge
Remember to take advantage of your county solid waste authority
o They have a focus on diverting materials from landfills and have lots of
educational tools available
Future Considerations
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It is important to show the full cycle of food transformation
o Partner with farms – many farms have great programming/tours available and
if your local farms don’t have these things available they may be able to connect
you with others who do
Advanced composting training
o Master composter courses
o Develop resource sharing
o As sites scale up, there is a need for more training
Best management practices are in the process of being developed
Remember to target source reductions and food waste prevention
Challenges/Solutions
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Registering small organic sites
o Solution: Work with the NYSDEC.
Funding
o Solution: Look into NYSDEC recycling/waste reduction municipal grant
program. Submit a pre-application ASAP to reserve a place on the waiting list.
Program offers reimbursement of up to half of the cost of waste reduction,
outreach, education and capital projects. This grant can also fund recycling
coordinator positions. Be creative with your grant writing and build things into
grant language that are not explicitly stated! Break it down to stats: For every
X% increase in residential recycling rates the city saved X% in tipping fees.
Frame projects as an investment that produces a marketable product.
Lack of Space
o Solution: Partner with existing organizations and get creative with space. Some
organizations may have certified commercial kitchens with space for a
composting system. Find spaces within spaces (ex: schools or religious
networks). Look into partnerships with Rails to Trails organizations.
Vermicomposting is a space saving tactic
Unenthusiastic Municipality
o Solution: Money is oftentimes the issue here. County has limited resources. (see
above funding) Also, show the County that you are willing to do the leg work.
Organics Transportation
o The proper equipment and transportation structure is still being explored
Perception of vermin and odor
o Solution: Option to create indoor composting facility. Use department stores
that have gone out of business.
Realistic scaling
o Solution:
Increasing participation
o Solution: Go to farmers markets or church events and spread the word! You can
also use these places as a collection point for food waste.
Finding proper leadership and coordination
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o Solution: Create a team of leaders and replace them as necessary. This way
there should never be a knowledge gap because one previous leader will always
be present in the group
Access to carbon
o Solution: Partner with parks.
Lack of equipment
o Solution: Crowdsourcing, community foundations, Environmental Finance
Center NYS Funding Guide for Sustainable Materials Management
Permitting
o Solution: Work with retired engineers or local chapters of the Society of
Professional Engineers.
Next Steps
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Keep in touch with Google Group
Hold another NYS statewide event on organics
Contact Cornell Waste Management Institute to get your compost facility of program
on their online map.