For Immediate Release
February 12, 2016
Contact: Jeff Coles
Division DirectorRecycling and Trash Collection Division
479-444-3499jcoles@fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville Launches Composting and Recycling Pilot Projects
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The City of Fayetteville and Kessler Consulting, Inc. are currently developing a Solid Waste Reduction, Diversion and Recycling Master Plan. The plan aims to maximize solid waste reduction, diversion and recycling in order to achieve the goal of 80% waste diversion by the year 2025 as directed by the City Council by resolution in December of 2013. As part of this plan, the City is launching two pilot projects – a Food Waste Composting Pilot Project and a Single Stream Recycling Pilot Project.
The Food Waste Composting Pilot Project was recently approved by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and entails the City collecting food waste materials from the following local participants – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Senior Center, Happy Hollow Elementary School, and local restaurants Greenhouse Grille, Woodstone Pizza, Khana Indian Grill, The Farmer’s Table, Arsaga’s at the Depot, and Starbucks on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The pilot project utilizes a style of composting called “Modified Static Aerobic Composting” which uses specialty enzymes provided by the company Harvest Quest. During the several months-long pilot project, the City will be evaluating the feasibility to conduct a citywide food waste composting program for the future. The pilot project began on Jan. 20, 2016; the collected organic materials will undergo the composting process for four to six weeks. Internal temperatures reach approximately 140 degrees Fahrenheit – producing compost material suitable for home and garden use.
The Single Stream Recycling Pilot Project is being conducted in select neighborhoods to study an alternative method for collecting household recyclables. This pilot project will generate data to evaluate the effectiveness of cart-based, single stream recycling collection. Single stream recycling refers to a system where all non-organic recyclables go into the same cart for collection. Residents in the selected neighborhoods will be given a 64-gallon cart with a blue lid for their recyclables for the duration of the pilot project and will return to using green curbside bins when the pilot project ends. The City will also be evaluating single stream apartment recycling with two participating apartment complexes. Other than the participants, the City will not be altering collection methods for residents or businesses. The Single Stream Recycling Pilot Project will begin on February 18, and continue through May 19, 2016. To sort materials, the City has partnered with Harmon Recycling – who will report back with data on the amounts, values and end markets for the materials collected and the rate of contamination associated with this type of collection.Results from the Food Waste Composting Pilot and the Single Stream Recycling Pilot Projects will help the City evaluate collection costs, processing viability and contamination involved with these collection systems. The information will be included in the Solid Waste Reduction, Diversion and Recycling Master Plan to assist the Fayetteville City Council in making informed decisions about the future of waste diversion and recycling in Fayetteville.
Visit this City webpage to learn more about the pilot projects and Fayetteville’s Solid Waste Reduction, Diversion and Recycling Master Plan.
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