In Santa Cruz County, food is the largest component of the waste stream for food handling businesses. For most restaurants and grocery stores, 40-75% of total waste is food scraps — spoiled fruits and vegetables, stale bakery items, kitchen prep trimmings, and leftover plate scrapings, which can be composted into a beneficial soil amendment, thus greatly reducing the amount of material going into landfills and saving on disposal bills. Three options for diverting food scraps are described below.
FOOD SCRAP COLLECTION PILOT PROGRAM
Food scraps and soiled paper (Download Poster) are collected from restaurants and other businesses, transported by Green Waste Recovery to a compost facilityl and converted into compost.
FOOD DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
Businesses are encouraged to donate edible food to community organizations who distribute food to those in need. California’s Good Samaritan Law ensures liability protection for such donations.
ON-SITE COMPOSTING
Some businesses are able to compost their food scraps at their business location. Successful projects include:
Example of three-bin composter for camps
and conference centers
Earth Tubs (In-Vessel Composting Units) in operation at the
California Grey Bears Food Redistribution Center.
Worm Composting (Vermicomposting) bins at
Camp Campbell Environmental Education Center
For informationabout food scrap diversion contact:
| Recycling and Solid Waste Services |
County of Santa Cruz Public Works Department
Phone: (831) 454-2160
Email |
View Report
Pilot Program