Loading...
SR 08-08-2017 11A City Council Report City Council Meeting: August 8, 2017 Agenda Item: 11.A 1 of 3 To: Mayor and City Council From: Susan Cline, Director, Public Works, Office of Sustainability & the Environment Subject: Resolution for California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecyle) Grants Recommended Action Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the application for grant funds from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to reduce, recycle and reuse solid waste generated in the state. 2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to apply for the grant, accept the grant, if awarded, and accept all grant renewals, if awarded. Executive Summary The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers the Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program. The aim of the program is to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions by creating new or expanding existing food waste prevention projects to reduce the amount of food sent to the landfills. This is the first CalRecycle grant of its kind. The City of Santa Monica is eligible for this funding and has benefited in the past from CalRecycle programs. The City intends to apply for a $100,000 grant to build a stronger food recovery program. The City plans to seek Food Waste Prevention and Rescue grants from CalRecycle to work toward Santa Monica’s council adopted Zero Waste and Carbon Neutrality goals by diverting organics from the landfill. While Santa Monica has a citywide organics collection program, food and food-soiled paper continue to be the largest components of the city’s waste stream. The grant funding would facilitate collaboration between local businesses, non-profits, residents, and the City to decrease landfilled organics (food, food-soiled paper) by developing a food recovery and a donation program. The resolution would authorize the City to apply for these funds for fiscal years 2017-2018 2 of 3 through 2022-2023. Background City Council previously adopted resolution number 10657 (CCS) on February 14, 2012 authorizing the City Manager to execute various grant program applications under the CalRecycle program for all grants the City of Santa Monica is eligible for. Resolution 10657 (CCS) expired on June 30, 2017. To date the City has received approximately $900,000 in grant funding from CalRecycle to support various programs ranging from Used Oil and Filter Recycling to Tire Recycling programs. Discussion According to the CalRecycle Business Group Waste Stream characterization calculator, 26,543 tons of food was disposed of in Santa Monica in 2014. Currently, only 10-18 percent of surplus edible food in the United States is recovered and distributed. This could be significantly improved through food waste prevention and donation. The City would use the grant funds to host a food forum that would bring together stakeholders from restaurants, businesses, and non-profits around Santa Monica to discuss food waste prevention and donations. While a vast network of food rescue organizations and businesses exist in the Los Angeles region, a food forum has not taken place in Santa Monica to bring together local stakeholders. The forum would raise awareness by educating local constituents and help to develop a stronger and better coordinated network. Once participating businesses have been identified, pre-waste audits would begin to benchmark the percentage of edible vs. non-edible food waste generated by these businesses. After the preliminary audit, businesses would receive necessary donation materials such as storage and pickup containers and, potentially, refrigerators depending on the volume and type of food donated. The City would contract with local food donation and collection non-profits and utilize an existing mobile application to make food donation and collection more convenient and on demand. The food collected would be donated to populations in need throughout the City. The remaining non-edible food waste, including food-soiled paper, would be diverted from the landfill through composting programs. 3 of 3 Similar to the City Council resolution number 10657 (CCS) adopted on February 14, 2012, which authorized the City Manager to execute various grant program applications under the CalRecycle program, staff would use this resolution as authority to apply for Food Waste Prevention and Rescue grants from CalRecycle over the next five years. Financial Impacts & Budget Actions There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action. If the grant is awarded to the City staff will return to Council with specific budget actions to accept the grant funding and appropriate funds in the amount of $100,000. Prepared By: James Velez-Conway, Senior Sustainability Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council Attachments: A. CalRecycle Grant Authorization Reso 08.08.17 REFERENCE:    RESOLUTION NO. 11073  (CCS)