4-28-83 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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RAMSEY COUNTY Public Health Department Raymond G. Cink, Director Environmental Health Division • 1910 W. County Rd. B. - Room 209 Roseville, Mn. 55113 633-0316 — 298-5972 RAMSEY COUNTY MEMORANDUM TO: Solid Waste Management-Advisory Council Members • FROM: Brian R. Golob and Douglas G. Wood DATE: March 17, 1983 RE: Composting Implementation Proposal BACKGROUND ' Composting is a natural process by which microorganisms break down complex organic matter into humus. Humus or compost is a dark, crumbly, partially decomposed form of organic matter similar in nature to the organic matter Sin the soil Yard waste is composed of leaves, grass clippings, and brush. It represents approximately nine to ten percent of the mixed municipal solid waste stream which is equivalent to 45,000 tons per year in Ramsey County. The leaf portion of the total yard waste 'fraction is estimated to be 50 to 60 percent or about 30,000 tons per year. Every Fall, most of the leaves are placed into plastic bags and temporarily stored at each household before being collected by a hauler and transported to a landfill. The fact that the leaves are already source separated presents the county with an opportunity to readily convert a disposal burden into a potential resource. Neighborhood Composting Projects St. Anthony (Planning District 12). In 1981, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) granted $11,500 to District 12 for a one year composting project. St. Anthony presented seven composting workshops which were attended by 92 people. Discussions centered on the following topics: composting methods, mixing compost, bin building, and winter composting. Five composting bins were constructed during the project. New Brighton. In 1981, the City of New Brighton received a $13,000 demon- stration grant from the MPCA to study neighborhood high temperature composting. A coordinator was hired for one year to implement the grant. - Seven neighborhood • composting sites were developed (each with its own bin) which composted approximately 28 cubic yards of yard waste.