2011:
The Streets Division is planning a pilot collection program for collecting household organics from a select group of households. The number of households will be determined by the funding available in the 2011 Operating Budget. The funding will also determine the start date.
The goal is to have at least 500 households in two different refuse collection district, one east and one west.
Material collected will include food waste, pet waste, contaminated paper, waxed cardboard and possibly diapers.
In addition to the collection pilot, the program will also include a mail survey of 1000 Madison households and a later internet survey.
The 2012 City Operating Budget includes funding for a feasibility study on an anaerobic digester. The intent is to hire an experienced consultant to conduct the study.;
The Engineering Division conducted a wetlands mapping survey of potential digester sites located near the Dane County Landfill. Other City owned parcels may also be considered for a digester. Those sites are yet to be determined.
City staff is also looking at the various technologies that could be employed for a digester.
2012:
For the first six months of the pilot program we collected 13.8 pounds per household per week. That would translate into 21-25,000 tons of material per year, which is more than our waste sort indicated was in the waste stream. Staff believes that the volunteers are very committed to the program which accounts for the higher than anticipated diversion.
Data was collected from our volunteers for Mater B, the plastic resin producer that provided us with bags for the first six months of the program. They were quite pleased with the response and the information will be presented at a Bio Cycle conference in Portland, OR in April
March, 2012:
City staff has determined that the best location for a digester will be near the Rodefeld landfill. Staff will begin discussions with Dane County on how best to locate the facility and devel...
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