CC SR 20201006 K - Civil Grand Jury Regarding Organics
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/06/2020
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to respond to a Civil Grand Jury report regarding
“A Diet for Landfills: Cutting Down on Food Waste”.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Authorize the Mayor to sign a response letter to a Civil Grand Jury Report
regarding “A Diet for Landfills: Cutting Down on Food Waste” per California
Penal Code Section 933.05(f).
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Lauren Ramezani, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Ron Dragoo, Principal Engineer
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Letter sent to Mayor and FY 2019-20 Los Angeles County Civil Grand
Jury Report titled, “A Diet for Landfills: Cutting Down on Food Waste”
(page A-1)
B. Draft response letter to the Grand Jury Report recommendations (page
B-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
Every year, in each of California's 58 counties, a group of citizens take an oath to
serve as grand jurors. Its function is to investigate the operations of the various
officers, departments and agencies of local government. Each Civil Grand Jury
determines which officers, departments and agencies it will investigate during its term
of office.
1
The Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury (Civic Grand Jury) consists of 23 members
and a designated number of alternates. Members of the Civil Grand Jury are selected
from a volunteer pool or are nominated directly by a Superior Court judge. The final
23 members are selected randomly by computer. Each July, these citizens are sworn
in as grand jurors for a 12-month period ending June of the following year. Service is
a full-time job.
The Civil Grand Jury has three areas of responsibility:
• to provide civilian oversight of the governmental agencies within Los Angeles
County;
• to inspect jails and juvenile detention centers within the county; and
• to investigate complaints made by individuals in the county.
On July 8, 2020, the City received a letter addressed to Mayor Cruikshank with a pre-
release copy of the 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report titled, “A
Diet for Landfills: Cutting Down on Food Waste” based on state mandates in AB 1826
(Mandatory Commercial Organic Recycling) and AB 1594 (Compostable Organics
Management) (Attachment A). Similar letters and reports were sent to all 88 cities, all
school districts in the county and various county departments. The report is the result
of the Grand Jury’s investigations from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 into how the
county disposes of its waste, and more specifically, how it addresses one of its own
diversion goals: reducing waste sent to landfills by 80% by the year 2025, with a 75%
reduction in the organic waste. In the report, the Grand Jury sets forth
recommendations for the jurisdictions, including having county-owned facilities “lead
by example” in recycling food waste, and a public education campaign around food
waste that creates drop-off food waste centers in more areas of the county and
provides financial incentives — all of which require participation and help from all 88
cities and school districts in the county, in addition to various county departments.
The Grand Jury does not mandate, it makes recommendations.
Per the requirements contained in California Penal Code Section 933.05, the City is
required to respond to this report related to organics waste reduction no later than
Friday, October 30, 2020. There are various sections and recommended actions
proposed by the Grand Jury report that require responses from various county
departments and/or school districts. However, only Sections 1.1, 1.3, 1.8, and 1.14
require a response from cities, including Rancho Palos Verdes. Those sections are
listed below:
“We recommend:
1.1 Each of the 88 cities, and the County’s unincorporated areas, should
establish a weekly food waste drop-off center. The center can be at a
farmer’s market, such as the one held each Thursday near Los Angeles City
Hall, or at another appropriate site. City and County officials can arrange for
the food waste collected to be taken to a nearby facility for recycling, or can
2
establish contracts with organizations such as the Los Angeles Community
Garden Council or landscaping companies for composting.
1.3 County and city officials should create an incentive program for residents
and businesses to separate food waste. This could be in the form of a gift
card to a local grocery store/farmer’s market, or a discount on a solid waste
fee. For example, in the city of Santa Barbara, 150 businesses (restaurants,
grocery stores, coffee shops, etc.) have signed up for the city’s Foodscraps
program, and can save several hundred dollars a month off their trash
collection fee.
1.8 County officials should modify contracts with food vendor companies
that are inside County facilities, such as the Hollywood Bowl, the Arboretum,
the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and cafeterias located at County
hospitals, to include food waste separation and recycling. Especially at the
Hollywood Bowl, which draws more than 17,000 people for most of its
summer concert events, has several food options onsite, and traditionally
draws large pre-concert picknicking crowds, implementing a food waste
recycling program can be part of a public education campaign.
1.14 Elected officials in the County and cities should adopt the 11
suggestions in the March 2018 Countywide Organics Waste Management
Plan and express support for the need to increase capacity and site and
build new facilities to handle organic waste.”
Staff has prepared a draft response addressing these sections, which has been
approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. Staff recommends the Mayor sign
the response letter to the Grand Jury (Attachment B).
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available
for the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not authorize the Mayor to sign the letter.
2. Modify the responses and authorize the Mayor to sign the modified letter.
3. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
3
County of Los Angeles
Civil Grand Jury
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple Street 11th Floor, Room 11-506 Los Angeles CA 90012
Telephone (213) 628-7914 FAX (442) 247-3890
http://www.grandjury.co.la.ca.us
July 8, 2020
Mayor John Cruikshank
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
30940 Hawthorne Boulevard
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Re: A DIET FOR LANDFILLS:
Cutting Down on Food Waste
Pre-release of a report by the 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury
NOTE: DO NOT DISCLOSE ANY REPORT CONTENTS PRIOR TO JULY 31, 2020
Dear Mayor Cruikshank:
California Penal Code Section 933.05(f) states: “A grand jury shall provide the affected agency a
copy of the portion of the grand jury report relating to that person or entity two working days
prior to its public release and after approval of the presiding judge. No officer, agency,
department, or governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior
to the public release of the final report.” The enclosed report will be released to the public on
July 31, 2020.
A response to all Recommendations in a Civil Grand Jury report is required by California Penal
Code Sections 933(c), 933.05(a), and 933.05(b) within ninety (90) days following the release of
the report to the public, and no later than Friday, October 30, 2020. Attached are the
requirements contained in California Penal Code Section 933.05.
Please send responses to:
Presiding Judge
Los Angeles Superior Court
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple Street, 11th Floor, Room 11-506
Los Angeles, CA 90012
civilgrandjury@lacourt.org
Sincerely,
J. Krimmel
Judith Krimmel, Foreperson
2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury
Enclosure: How to respond to recommendations in this report.
A-1
Section 933.05. Responses to findings
(a) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury finding, the responding
person or entity shall indicate one of the following:
(1) The respondent agrees with the finding.
(2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response
shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the
reasons therefor.
(b) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury recommendation, the
responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions:
(1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented
action.
(2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future,
with a timeframe for implementation.
(3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and
parameters of an analysis or study, and a timeframe for the matter to be prepared for discussion
by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the
governing body of the public agency when applicable. This timeframe shall not exceed six
months from the date of publication of the grand jury report.
(4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not
reasonable, with an explanation therefor.
(c) However, if a finding or recommendation of the grand jury addresses budgetary or personnel
matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected officer, both the agency or
department head and the board of supervisors shall respond if requested by the grand jury, but
the response of the board of supervisors shall address only those budgetary or personnel
matters over which it has some decision making authority. The response of the elected agency
or department head shall address all aspects of the findings or recommendations affecting his
or her agency or department.
(d) A grand jury may request a subject person or entity to come before the grand jury for the
purpose of reading and discussing the findings of the grand jury report that relates to that
person or entity in order to verify the accuracy of the findings prior to their release.
(e) During an investigation, the grand jury shall meet with the subject of that investigation
regarding the investigation, unless the court, either on its own determination or upon request of
the foreperson of the grand jury, determines that such a meeting would be detrimental.
(f) A grand jury shall provide to the affected agency a copy of the portion of the grand jury report
relating to that person or entity two working days prior to its public release and after the
approval of the presiding judge. No officer, agency, department, or governing body of a public
agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the public release of the final report.
A-2
A DIET FOR
LANDFILLS: Cutting
Down on Food Waste
2019-2020
Los Angeles County
Civil Grand Jury
A DIET FOR LANDFILLS: Cutting Down on Food Waste A-3
A DIET FOR LANDFILLS: Cutting Down on Food Waste A-4
1
A DIET FOR LANDFILLS:
Cutting Down on Food Waste
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
"Cutting food waste is a delicious way of saving money, helping to feed the world
and protect the planet.”
--Tristram Stuart, Environmentalist1
Food does not belong in the garbage. When edible, it can and should be consumed
(Appendix 1 and 2). Food waste is the largest portion of the “organic waste” stream
taken to landfills every year, instead of being separated and recycled for secondary
use.2 Diverting organic waste from landfills will significantly reduce methane gas
emissions, which have a negative impact on public health and contribute to climate
change.3
This Committee investigated how Los Angeles County (County) disposes of its waste,
and more specifically, how it addresses one of its own diversion goals: reducing waste
sent to landfills by 80% by the year 2025,4 with a 75% reduction in the organic waste
sent there.5
Organic waste--which also includes green/yard waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and
food-soiled paper6--makes up the largest portion of the garbage going to landfills.7
The State of California has mandated that all commercially-generated organic waste
must be diverted from landfills, and recycled.8
According to the County sustainability plan:9
“Most important to the growth of organics recycling is proper source
separation of waste. Any contaminated waste streams provide difficulties to
waste management and oftentimes deem waste non-recyclable. It is critical
that all LA County residents are educated on waste separation.”
1 https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1504986 (accessed 4/20/20)
2 2018 Countywide Organic Waste Management Plan Annual Report (published December 2019),
https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# Page 8 (accessed on 4/16/20)
3 https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/reducing-impact-wasted-food-feeding-soil-and-composting (accessed
4/14/20)
4 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Page 1 (accessed 10/22/19)
5 “Los Angeles Countywide Sustainability Plan”, https://ourcountyla.lacounty.gov/strategies/strategy-9d?goal=836
6 ibid
7 https://www.salon.com/2018/12/15/already-a-climate-change-leader-california-takes-on-food-waste_partner/
8 https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Recycle/Commercial/Organics/
9 “Our County” Los Angeles Countywide Sustainability Plan, https://ourcountyla.lacounty.gov/strategies/strategy-9d?goal=836
A-5
2
This separation of organic waste is an important component in sustaining an effective
recycling program. Once organic waste is properly separated (both from the rest of
the garbage, and by whether it’s green or food waste), it can be processed through
composting or anaerobic digestion.10
Within the County, the latest estimate shows that 1.9 million tons of food waste is
being sent to landfills each year,11 with a per day estimate of 4,000 to 6,000 tons.12 In
order for that to change, this Committee found that an adequate framework at the
grassroots level is needed. We discovered a labyrinth of ways that food waste
continues to end up in landfills, with many roadblocks standing in the way of fully
implementing the State mandate.
In addition, those residents, schools, and businesses committed to appropriate food
waste separation and recycling are often left to their own devices, unless their waste
hauler or jurisdiction offers this service. The Committee identified several
opportunities for supportive public policies that can incentivize and create avenues to
increase food waste recycling and organic waste diversion rates.
10 ibid. Compost: The product, rich in nutrients, results from the decomposition of organic material. Anaerobic Digestion: Organic
matter, such as food waste or sewage, is broken down to produce biogas and biofertilizer.
https://ourcountyla.lacounty.gov/strategies/strategy-9d?goal=836 and https://ourcountyla.lacounty.gov/wp-
content/uploads/2019/07/OurCounty-Final-Plan.pdf Page 206 (Appendix IV)
11 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# 2018 Countywide Organic Waste Management Plan
Annual Report, Page 9
12 https://www.sgvtribune.com/2016/07/30/your-food-waste-is-clogging-up-californias-landfills-heres-how-recycling-could-fix-it/
(accessed 9/12/19)
2018 Countywide Organic Waste Management Plan Annual Report
(see footnote 11)
A-6
3
BACKGROUND
“People put their trash out, and I like to joke that they think the trash fairies picked it
up . . . they don’t know where it went . . . they just want it gone.”
--waste management expert13
Critical mass in the need for more effective waste management has been building for
years in the County. The year 2019 provided this Committee with two urgent reasons
to make changes when it comes to food waste separating and recycling.
1. Recycle Markets Collapse, Sending More Waste to Landfills
In 2017, China announced it would no longer accept most of the mixed paper
and plastics shipped from the United States and other countries.14
Chinese officials pointed to “contamination”15 as one of the reasons they were
not willing to take America’s shipments.16 All of a sudden, more material is
being landfilled instead of recycled, negatively impacting the County’s
diversion rates.17
A City of Los Angeles official told this Committee that the result of the China
policy change is this: previously, the City received $1 million per year for the
recyclable materials it collected; now, the City pays $5 million per year in
order to have it processed.18
Landfills in the County will eventually reach capacity (Appendix 3).
County officials are looking to organics recycling as a solution.19
2. State Mandates Big Changes in Organics Recycling
The mission of the California Department of Resources Recycling and
Recovery (CalRecycle) includes increasing “the diversion of organic materials
13 Per Committee interview on 1/7/20
14 China National Sword Policy, https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Page 1 (accessed 10/22/19)
15 “Recycling contamination is a significant issue. Contamination happens when items are placed in the incorrect system/bin. If
recyclables are placed in the appropriate recycling bin, but contain food remnants, the food can contaminate the bin and its
contents. Therefore, all the bin’s content would need to be landfilled.” Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future
Annual Progress Report 2019 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Page 6
16 https://e360.yale.edu/features/piling-up-how-chinas-ban-on-importing-waste-has-stalled-global-recycling (accessed 2/20/20)
17 Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future Annual Progress Report 2019
https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Executive Summary, Page 1
18 Interview was conducted on 2/27/20
19 Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future Annual Progress Report 2019
https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Page 1
A-7
4
away from landfills and toward the production of value-added products such as
compost, fertilizers, and biofuels.”20
Assembly Bill 1826 (Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling) required the
following, as of January 1, 2019:21 all businesses and multi-family dwellings
with five units or more, generating four or more cubic yards of solid waste per
week,22 must separate and recycle their organic materials.
As of January 1, 2020, Assembly Bill 1594 requires green waste to be diverted
from landfills for recycling in order to meet diversion goals.23 Otherwise, green
waste in landfills would be considered “disposal.” Landfills use green waste as
Alternative Daily Cover,24 part of operating a landfill.
Failure to comply will subject the jurisdiction (whether County or a city) to
fines of up to $10,000 per day.25
METHODOLOGY
1. Visited the following:
landfills
anaerobic digesters
Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF, pronounced “murfs”)
compost facilities
2. Interviewed waste management experts, including:
County Department of Public Works officials
municipal public works officials
state officials
federal officials
waste haulers
engineers
academicians
atmospheric scientists
food policy experts
business owners
large facility managers
20 https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Organics/
21 https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/recycle/commercial/organics/
22 Waste of about 24 large trash bags: https://wasteindustries.com/commercial/dumpster/4yardtrash
23 https://www.cawrecycles.org/ab-1594-williams-compostable-organics-management
24 https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/Basics/ADCBasic
25 https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/Reporting/Biennial/
F
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A-8
5
teachers and public education officials
non-profit organizations dealing with edible food recovery
3. Conducted in-person interviews, site visits, phone interviews, and research into a
number of the 88 cities in the County to assess food waste collection services available
to businesses, residents or both
4. Conducted on-site visits to the trash areas of some buildings in the County that
generate a large amount of food waste
5. Researched cities in the United States and in other countries that are separating and
recycling food waste
RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION
“In the year 2019, waste management should be more of a priority. We have the
conversion technologies available: anaerobic digestion, thermal conversion, etc. . . .
there isn’t any reason to throw anything in a landfill.”
--County waste management expert26
Landfills
Landfills are complex operations, with liners, rainwater collection, ground
monitoring, and gas collection27 (Appendix 4 “Anatomy of a Landfill”).28
“Landfills in California are the biggest belchers of methane,” the potent
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) that contributes to climate change, according to a
2019 study by research scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena,
CA.29 Researchers used an airborne imaging spectrometer to show that 41
percent of emissions in the atmosphere came from landfills, while the dairy, oil
& gas industries contributed 26 percent each.30
Methane, as described in the Countywide Sustainability Plan, “. . . is released
. . . by the decay of organic waste in landfills.”31
26 Per Committee interview 11/19/19
27 https://www.sfswma.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Anatomy_of_a_Landfill.pdf
(click on Anatomy of a Landfill; accessed on 5/13/20)
28 The illustration was a poster the Committee saw displayed in the lobby area of the Environmental Health Protection Branch of
the County Public Health Department on 2/19/20
29 https://www.sciencenews.org/article/california-landfills-are-belching-high-levels-climate-warming-methane (accessed 1/14/20),
study published in the magazine Nature, Nov. 6, 2019
30 ibid
31 https://ourcountyla.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/OurCounty-Final-Plan.pdf Page 213 (Appendix IV) (accessed
9/13/19)
A-9
6
Landfill managers showed us their onsite gas-to-energy system, which captures
methane and converts it into electricity that can be used by the facility or sold.
Several landfill operators expressed concern that their gas-to-energy operation
depends on the organic waste brought to the landfill.
Gas capture at landfills creates electricity and revenue for the landfill operator,
but also has economic and environmental disadvantages.32 State officials report
that even the best-managed landfills only capture 50% to 80% of the methane
gas generated.33
Even closed landfills in the County may need to be managed for decades.34
The South Coast Air Quality Management District held community meetings
in the fall of 2019 to alert residents in East Los Angeles about Cogen Landfill,
closed in 1959, which was now, 60 years later, showing elevated gas
emissions.35 The County is planning to build a system for managing the
remaining methane gas emissions.36
Per CalRecycle: “Diverting organic waste from landfills to compost facilities
and anaerobic digestion facilities, along with implementing food recovery
programs, will significantly reduce methane emissions from landfills, many of
which are located in or near disadvantaged communities. Reducing these
emissions will have beneficial impacts on climate and public health and will
result in avoided social costs. Social costs estimate the health and
environmental damage that is avoided by reducing GHGs [Greenhouse Gases],
as opposed to representing the cost of achieving the GHG reductions.”37
According to County officials, the demand for organic waste processing
capacity is currently being handled by existing facilities located both in and out
of the County.38 However, looking to the future, County officials said there is
a shortfall when it comes to food waste recycling infrastructure, in particular,
32 https://www.wastedive.com/news/disputed-ground-the-future-of-landfill-gas-to-energy/557706/
33 CalRecycle, ”Proposed Regulation for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Methane Emissions” Page 11 (document
provided to Committee by County official on 12/2/19) https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-
cse&cx=017557373779849962485:erv3s56gka0&q=https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/docs/cr/laws/rulemaking/slcp/impactassessme
nt.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjzkd7nj_3pAhWkJzQIHQo2D18QFjABegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw3wpNngocnTPeO9PaPSWsbG
34 https://pw.lacounty.gov/pmd1/easternhilllandfill/ (accessed 2/20/20)
35 https://pw.lacounty.gov/pmd1/easternhilllandfill/docs/City-Terrace-Community-Meeting-10.29.19.pdf
36 ibid
37 CalRecycle, ”Proposed Regulation for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Methane Emissions” Page 37 (document
provided to Committee by County official on 12/2/19) https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-
cse&cx=017557373779849962485:erv3s56gka0&q=https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/docs/cr/laws/rulemaking/slcp/impactassessme
nt.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiP0pqbmv3pAhX2CzQIHWASARgQFjAAegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw0p_Lv9IiayvzUCkKqB45u
p
38 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/ShowDoc.aspx?id=8693&hp=yes&type=PDF 2018 Countywide Organic Waste
Management Plan Annual Report, Page 1
A-10
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and more facilities need to be built in Los Angeles County, rather than
continuing to rely on out-of-County sources as has been the custom.39
Landfills we visited had a constant flow of trucks bringing in waste from
throughout the County; “tipping fees” were displayed at each front gate, letting
the waste hauler know the cost per ton for the material that was being brought
for disposal.40 A 2019 study by Harvard Law School41 pointed out that banning
organics from landfills can lead to a reduction in landfill hauling and tipping
costs.42
Where solid waste goes in Los Angeles County43
Waste Hauler
The County Department of Public Works serves the 125 unincorporated areas,
and has contracts with 30 authorized waste haulers, including such companies
39 ibid
40 https://www.lacsd.org/services/solidwaste/tipping_fees.asp
41 https://wastedfood.cetonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Harvard-Law-School-FLPC-Center-for-EcoTechnology-CET-
Organic-Waste-Bans-Toolkit.pdf, Pages 20-21 (accessed 11/4/19)
42 ibid
43 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/Help/faq.aspx About Solid Waste, #2, “Where does our solid waste go?”
A-11
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as Athens Services,44 NASA Services,45 Waste Management46 and Waste
Resources.47
Some waste-hauling companies own or operate landfills in the County or in
nearby counties and take material to that landfill.
Most of the 88 cities in the County have a contract with a single waste hauling
company; a small number provide their own municipally staffed waste
collection services for residential or both residential and commercial.48
In 2016, the City of Los Angeles created 11 franchise zones and awarded
exclusive contracts to seven waste haulers to handle the waste for commercial
and multifamily properties.49
Most communities don’t offer a food waste collection service; instead, most
offer one for yard and garden waste.50 In a throwback to the City of Los
Angeles’ ranching days, the City offers curbside collection of horse manure to
its residential horse owners.51
There are more avenues in place for systematic collection of yard/green waste
(Appendix 5).
Only 4% of the County’s organic waste recycling infrastructure is able to
accept food waste.52
Transfer Station/Materials Recovery Facility
These are facilities that receive unprocessed waste, temporarily store it, and
transport it off-site to another facility.53 Some of the facilities also sort and
separate, by hand, or by use of machinery, items that can be recycled or
composted.54
Out of 20 transfer stations in the County, only eight are designated as having
capacity to receive separated food waste.55
44 https://athensservices.com/
45 http://nasaservices.com/
46 https://www.wm.com/us/en/mybusiness
47 www.wasteresources.com
48 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# LA County Countywide Organic Waste Management
Plan March 2018, Page 42
49 https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2016/dec/09/l-council-approves-huge-trash-franchise-system/ (accessed 10/20/19)
50 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# LA County Countywide Organic Waste Management
Plan March 2018, Page 38
51 https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-wwd/s-lsh-wwd-s/s-lsh-wwd-s-c/s-lsh-wwd-s-c-
hmc?_afrLoop=9961970215956670&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null&_adf.ctrl-
state=f6dfvef8p_1#!%40%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D9961970215956670%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%2
6_adf.ctrl-state%3Df6dfvef8p_5 (accessed 5/13/20)
52 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# LA County Countywide Organic Waste Management
Plan March 2018, Page 32, (accessed 5/8/20)
53 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future
Annual Progress Report 2019, Page 50
54 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future
Annual Progress Report 2019, Page 48
55 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# LA County Countywide Organic Waste Management
Plan March 2018, Table 4A-1 (accessed 5/8/20)
A-12
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Composting Facility
There are eight composting facilities and 12 facilities called “chip and grind”;
all of them process green waste, not food waste.56
Waste-to-Energy Facility
The County lists three facilities as providing Anaerobic Digestion, a process by
which organic matter, such as food waste or sewage, is broken down in the
absence of oxygen to produce biogas and biofertilizer.57 Only two process food
waste: the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant in Carson, and the Kroger Co
(Ralphs/Food4Less) facility in Compton which recycles food waste from its
own stores (around 300, from Bakersfield to San Diego).
This Committee found a patchwork system of managing food waste, whether
generated from businesses or residents. A consultant hired by the County to examine
the changes needed in order to build a strong organic recycling program identified 11
ways the County can do things differently,58 including:
Getting elected officials more involved in supporting and endorsing change
Reducing amount of food waste at the source (Appendix 6)
Building more capacity at nine anaerobic digestion facilities that can process
food waste
Simplifying the permitting process to increase food waste processing
Creating incentives to start diversion; offer subsidies; modify contracts
Adopting ordinances for single family residences and apartment buildings with
less than five units, with a process that quantifies, monitors and enforces
Emphasize education and public outreach59
“Los Angeles County is close to the largest agricultural production center in the world
and has many viable markets for organic materials . . . There is strong statewide
policy, financial incentives to assist in the development of facilities, and state
incentives for the marketing and sales of the by-products of organic waste recycling
(like compost and mulch) . . . However, the biggest disincentive may be the status quo,
which is less costly to rate-payers and provides for significant revenue for collection
and disposal companies.”60
56 Ibid, Table 4A-1
57 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# 2018 Countywide Organic Waste Management Plan
Annual Report, Appendix B, Table 1B
58 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# LA County Countywide Organic Waste Management
Plan March 2018, Page 39
59 ibid
60 ibid, Page 49
A-13
10
“...at the end of the day, public agencies ultimately control solid waste and how it is
handled. Cities and counties are already sending clear signals to their service-
provider haulers on what types of facilities and programs they need to meet new
legislative mandates.”61
Food Waste Recycling Examples Throughout the County
In the unincorporated areas of the County, a few businesses currently subscribe
to food waste collection services, including four supermarkets that are enrolled
in the County’s pilot food waste diversion program.62
The County’s Department of Public Works headquarters in Alhambra serves as
a good model for other cafeterias: food waste generated at the employee
cafeteria is separated from other trash, composted in special containers outside
the cafeteria, with the resulting compost used to provide nutrient-rich cover to
the onsite garden (Appendix 7). Good signage and ongoing employee training
are vital to this process.
For those businesses separating food waste and having arranged its pickup by
their waste hauler, the food waste is taken to the Puente Hills Materials
Recovery Facility (MRF). The Committee observed that this was a small pile
in a corner of the massive facility (Appendix 8). Food waste material arrives
from restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses from the following
cities: Arcadia, Baldwin Park, Gardena, Glendale, Industry, La Verne, Long
Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Pomona, San Dimas, and Santa Fe Springs. In
addition, some commercial businesses in the unincorporated communities of
Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights have made arrangements to have food
waste processed at this facility, according to an official at the Sanitation
Districts of Los Angeles County (the Districts).63
At the Puente Hills MRF, a bio separator turns the food waste pile into a type
of “slurry” that will then be taken to the Districts’ wastewater treatment plant
in Carson.64 Digesters at the Carson plant use sewage material to turn the food
waste slurry into a biogas that provides electricity to the plant, and provides
compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles that pull up to fuel.65
61 ibid, Page 49
62 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/tf/isw/isw_2019_09.pdf Page 3 (accessed 3/23/20)
63 https://www.lacsd.org/aboutus/default.asp
64 https://www.biocycle.net/2019/12/04/sanitation-districts-gear-food-waste-codigestion/
65 ibid
A-14
11
City of Los Angeles--A City official mentioned several pilot programs that
deal specifically with food waste:66
some food service employees at LAX have been trained to separate
food waste from the trash67
522 homes in the Westchester area have been given special garbage
disposals (In-Sink Pilot) that can break down certain food waste for
processing at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant68
an upcoming pilot planned for 18,000 homes, that will allow food
waste to be placed in the green bin for weekly curbside pickup 69
Manhattan Beach--Since 2015, the city has offered food waste curbside
pickup and recycling to all its businesses and residents, at no extra cost to
them.
The city contracts with Waste Management for its waste hauling needs.
Food waste is taken to the company’s CORe food waste recycling
facility in Orange and turned into “slurry.”
The material is then transported to the wastewater treatment plant in
Carson.
Manhattan Beach residents are billed in a Pay-As-You-Throw system,70
where 100% of the cost is dependent on the weight of the grey-color
bin, which is for regular trash.71
Culver City--The city uses its own city staff for waste collection,72 and
contracts with Athens Services for the food waste that is placed in the green
bins, along with yard waste to be recycled at its composting facility in
Victorville (American Organics), according to a city official.73
Once a year, Athens brings Culver City 20 tons of the compost material
and the city gives most of it away to residents as a gift for gardens.74
“It is the best-smelling stuff you can imagine, it is so earthy and high-
end as a nutrient for the soil,” one city official told us. “Our gardeners
love it.”
66 Per Committee interview on 2/27/20
67 https://www.lawa.org/en/lawa-sustainability/sustainability-elements-material-resource-management (accessed 3/2/20)
68 https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-wwd/s-lsh-wwd-s/s-lsh-wwd-s-o/s-lsh-wwd-s-o-
isp;jsessionid=2bZOgJ_enNejz3sx4nR_7yAVHcBXLbRq6WYPusobejfPxTBx7VDe!-839466798!-945519779?_adf.ctrl-
state=iheptuwke_1&_afrLoop=10334715382636628&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#!%40%40%3F_afrWindowId
%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D10334715382636628%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Diheptuwke_5 (accessed
3/6/20)
69 https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/wcnav_externalId/s-lsh-wwd-s-o-cyfwp (accessed 10/6/19)
70 https://patch.com/california/manhattanbeach/city-approves-pay-as-you-throw-trash-rates
71 https://tbrnews.com/news/manhattan-beach-food-waste-program-recycled-million-pounds-since/article_bcc4a38a-ac25-11e6-
a470-1376873e5c29.html (accessed 9/25/19)
72 https://wasteadvantagemag.com/from-metal-to-plastic-culver-city-ca-makes-the-move-to-more-durable-containers/
73 Committee interview on 10/22/19
74 ibid
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12
Claremont--The city offers its businesses a free food waste recycling program,
and hired a new driver to pick up food waste from about 65 businesses that
have signed up.75
The food waste (food scraps, vegetable trimmings, plate scrapings, and
spoiled food) is taken to a Burrtec Industries facility in Fontana for
recycling.76
The city is working on expanding the food waste pickup in 2021 to all
residents.77
Redondo Beach--The city contracts with Athens Services for waste disposal,78
which offers businesses a food scrap collection program, where food waste can
be placed in the green bin, along with yard waste.79
“A recycling program can reduce your trash service and save you
money,” according to the city‘s website.80
Food Waste Recycling in the United States and Around the World
As of 2016, at least 198 communities in the United States offer curbside food
waste pickup.81 These include cities such as:
Seattle--offers residents and businesses curbside food waste collection
New York City--offers certain businesses curbside food waste collection
San Francisco--in 1996, became the first city in the nation to establish a
large-scale food composting program for businesses and residents.82
Santa Barbara--offers businesses and residents food waste pickup, with a
fee reduction if less trash goes to the landfill83
Portland--offers curbside food waste pickup and yard waste that can be
combined in the green bin
Alameda County84 offers food waste curbside collection in all of its 14 cities
(including Berkeley and Oakland) and six unincorporated areas85
75 Committee interview with city staff member on 1/2/20
76 Per Committee interview on 1/2/20
77 https://business.claremontchamber.org/blog/claremont-chamber-chatter-2371/post/organics-newsletter-article-city-of-
claremont-6317 (accessed 9/13/19)
78 https://athensservices.com/residential-services/city-of-redondo-beach/
79 https://www.redondo.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=2084&TargetID=9 (accessed 10/4/19)
80 ibid
81 https://www.biocycle.net/2015/01/15/residential-food-waste-collection-in-the-u-s-2/ (accessed Jan. 8, 2020)
82 www.nrdc.org/resources/san-francisco-composting, published on 10/24/17, (accessed on 10/30/19)
83 https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/services/recycling/business/bins.asp (accessed 9/27/19)
84 https://www.biocycle.net/2015/01/15/residential-food-waste-collection-in-the-u-s-2/
85https://dusp.mit.edu/sites/dusp.mit.edu/files/attachments/project/Municipal%20Curbside%20Compostables%20Collection%20%
20What%20Works%20and%20Why.pdf Pages 8, 11, 53-56
A-16
13
Dozens of municipalities have formalized weekly drop-off programs for
residential food scraps at central locations, including:
Fort Worth86
Washington D.C.87
Buffalo88
Orlando89
Sweden banned organic waste from landfills in 2005; less than 1% of
household waste goes to landfills; waste-to-energy infrastructure turns food
waste and organic waste into biogas that runs more than 200 city buses, as well
as garbage collection trucks.90
South Korea has had a Pay-As-You-Throw type system of charging
households for waste collection since 2013.91 Food waste has been banned
from landfills since 2005; Seoul’s 10 million residents separate their food
waste. These policies have led Seoul’s food waste to decrease by 10%, or by
more than 300 tons a day.92
Schools in Los Angeles County
Every school in the 80 school districts in the County has excess edible food
and food scraps going to landfills, and County health officials have developed
strategies that can help.93 Cal Recycle also encourages each school district to
work with its contracted waste hauling company to implement organics
recycling on campus.94
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second-largest school
district in the country,95 has a waste hauling contract with Republic Services.96
This Committee could not find a provision for systematic food waste
separation/recycling; the only two bins observed at randomly selected schools
were a large blue dumpster and a black dumpster in parking lots.
86 https://fortworthtexas.gov/solidwaste/compost/
87 https://zerowaste.dc.gov/page/food-yard-waste-residents#:~:text=Food Waste Drop-Off District residents, How to Compost at
Home
88 https://wasteadvantagemag.com/buffalo-ny-offers-food-scrap-recycling-program/#:~:text=The City of Buffalo is,be safely
recycled into compost.
89 https://www.orlando.gov/Initiatives/Food-Waste-Drop-Off
90 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/climate/sweden-garbage-used-for-fuel.html (accessed 1/15/20)
91 https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/27/food-waste-around-world (accessed 5/7/20)
92 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/policies-helped-south-koreas-capital-decrease-food-waste (5/4/20)
93 http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/docs/LACFRI_ShareTablesFoodDonationsInSchools.pdf Page 5
94 https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/reducewaste/schools
95 https://achieve.lausd.net/about#:~:text=Second largest in the nation,,School District Board of Education.
96 https://home.lausd.net/apps/news/article/322535 (accessed 5/10/20)
A-17
14
LAUSD throws away 600 tons of food waste each week, at a cost of at least
$100,000.97 In 2017, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that allows campuses to
collect unopened items and untouched fruit and donate them to food banks.98
In addition, there is a program called Share Table (Appendix 6) where
unwanted items can be safely offered to those who want them.
In Los Angeles County, an estimated two million people face food insecurity.99
Education officials interviewed by this Committee spoke about some LAUSD
schools, where children as young as preschool-age learn about separating food
waste, and teachers and volunteer parents use a compost bin onsite in order to
“feed” the school garden.100 However, several education officials stated that
many schools do not recycle food waste, and the dumpsters are only for trash
and recyclables.
Aside from a school garden increasing healthy eating habits in children,101 the
care and maintenance of a garden teaches students about food waste and
composting. A County official told this Committee that a garden on every
campus would need institutional support from top leadership in order to be
sustained.102
A County health education official expressed frustration that nutrition
education is getting short shrift at schools and recounted a health insurance
executive stating: “We keep seeing kids with Type II diabetes, who don’t know
the difference between a protein and a carbohydrate.”103
A survey sent to all school districts by the County Department of Public Health
in 2019 to assess food waste on the 2,206 campuses in the County got a 50%
response rate, according to a County health official.104 A preliminary look at
the results showed a wide variety of recommended strategies being used to
reduce food waste: from “Offer vs. Serve,” to using the Share Table idea.105
Only 3% of schools reported composting food scraps onsite or offsite,
according to the County health official.
97 https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-edu-school-food-waste-law-20170928-story.html (accessed 5/10/20)
98 ibid
99 https://www.lafoodbank.org/about/hunger-in-l-a/ (accessed 9/20/19)
100 Committee interview on 2/25/20
101 https://www.heart.org/en/professional/educator/teaching-gardens
102 Committee interview on 2/25/20
103 ibid
104 Committee interview on 1/3/20
105 http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/LACFRI/
A-18
15
The County Department of Public Works offers free consultations and
materials in a School Garden Program,106 and has installed gardens at Fishburn
Elementary School in Maywood and McKinley Elementary School in San
Gabriel.107
Obstacles for those who want to recycle food waste
Even when restaurants WANT to separate and recycle food waste, they are
thwarted: the waste hauler takes it to a landfill anyway (Sweetgreen
example)108
Cafeterias located in some buildings owned and/or managed by the State (case
in point, the cafeteria on the ground floor of the Clara Shortridge Foltz
Criminal Justice Center in Downtown Los Angeles)109 do not have any visible
mechanism for separating/recycling food waste, according to numerous
Committee visits per week over a period of several months. According to an
interview with a cafeteria employee on November 15, 2019, the only product
recycled is cooking oil.
The Committee also interviewed a waste expert familiar with the workings of
the Clara Shortridge Foltz building who said food waste collected from the
cafeteria, as well as waste that ends up in the large dumpsters in the loading
dock area of the building, is probably going to a landfill.110 “There is just so
much contamination in the bins,” the expert told our Committee. “It’s cheaper
and easier for companies just to take it to a landfill. All staff would need
training about separating in order for organics recycling to work.” Committee
members visited the loading dock area on October 15, 2019, and observed
seven large dumpsters, most filled with trash bags that appeared to be unsorted,
and blue recycling-designated dumpsters empty and off to the side.
The expert, who is also familiar with waste collection in the Downtown Los
Angeles area, told our Committee that all large companies and agencies in the
area are encouraged to recycle food waste, but few do. Waste hauling
companies that collect trash have to pay to dump the trash, and they “have to
pay more to dump organics, so there needs to be more of an incentive” to get
properly-sorted waste to its proper destination.111
106 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/sg/school.cfm
107 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future
Annual Progress Report 2019, Page 19
108 https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-01-15/sweetgreen-green-image
109 Per Committee interview on 10/15/19, where the “LunchStop Weekly Menu” was provided to cafeteria patrons at the Clara
Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
110 Committee interview on 10/15/19
111 ibid
A-19
16
This Committee identified a food vendor company called LunchStop,112 which
offers franchisees the opportunity to operate employee and other types of
cafeterias113 in the County. Some are in courthouses (such as the one in
Pasadena114 and the one at the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court115) with
no visible food waste recycling option that our Committee could determine.
While many courthouses in Los Angeles County are under the jurisdiction of
the State (Judicial Council of California), most cafeterias in these buildings are
inspected by the County Department of Public Health.116
Even in some buildings or facilities where the County has jurisdiction, the
cafeteria vendor does not appear to offer food waste separation/recycling, e.g.,
at the cafeteria operated by a LunchStop franchisee in the Hall of
Administration,117 where the County Board of Supervisors meets. Our
Committee also learned that there is no separation/recycling of food waste at
the Hollywood Bowl,118 where the County has contracts with other food
vendors.119
Some employees at businesses that have special bins throughout the store
(Target, Costco, etc.) with special signage to collect food waste told this
Committee that those bags are thrown into the regular trash bin in the back.120
For some managers of large facilities in the City of Los Angeles, there seems
to be no cost savings in taking on the issue of food waste. In fact, there is an
added cost for the trouble of separating out food waste and training staff,
several managers told this Committee.121
During the course of our investigation, the Committee found that for those who
do not live in a city that offers food waste recycling options, residents are left
either to do backyard composting themselves, or throw food waste in the trash.
112 http://www.lunchstop.com/
113 http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/117393.pdf
114 https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2011/07/20/pasadena-courthouse-cafeteria-reopens-after-six-year-hiatus/ ; This link
demonstrates that LunchStop was still operating in the Pasadena Courthouse in 2020:
http://www.decadeonline.com/results.phtml?agency=pas&violsortfield=TB_CORE_INSPECTION_VIOL.ENTERED_BY&viol
ortorder=DESC&forceresults=1&forcefac=0&offset=0&businessname=LunchStop&businessstreet=&city=&zip=&facilityid=&F
TS=&soundslike=&sort=FACILITY_NAME
115 http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/117393.pdf
116 https://ehservices.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ezsearch
117 Per Committee visit and interview with cafeteria employee on 11/15/19
118 Per Committee interview with County official on 2/19/20
119 Our Committee found the vendors of Sodexo/Compass and the Lucques Group. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sodexo-
centerplate-idUSKBN1DF0S2 https://thelucquesgroup.com/hollywood-bowl.html Committee concluded that Sodexo was still
one of the vendors, based on the 2019 Public Health Department inspection list:
https://ehservices.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ezsearch
120 Per Committee interview with employees on 11/6/19, and on 11/6/19 and 11/9/19 visits to a Costco and Target
121 Per Committee interviews/visits to large facilities on 11/27/19, 12/16/19, and 2/13/20
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In the city of Los Angeles, for residents, it doesn’t matter how much trash you
generate, the cost is the same, according to the bimonthly bill many of our Jury
members receive every month. Residents are charged a flat Solid Resources
Fee (SRF) that is applied to the City’s Clean Water, Solid Resources, and
Watershed Protection.122 The fee funds the collection of solid waste, landfill
costs, and a numerous list of associated costs. “Since the Solid Resources Fee
funds more than just refuse collection, the fee is still applied—even if your
dwelling produces little, or no, refuse waste,”123 according to the City’s LA
Sanitation website.
A City official stated, “it’s hard for people to separate food waste; it can be
smelly; where do you keep it, etc. We’re working on a good way to do it. We
have pilot programs.”124
This Committee found strong interest from residents and businesses
interviewed. For those residents who are already committed to food waste
separation and recycling (whether from their single-family house, or
apartment), the only option our Committee found was LA Compost:125
a nonprofit organization that has a drop-off booth at several weekly
farmer’s markets
relies on volunteers and donations
operates several hubs throughout the City where residents can drop off
their food waste126
in January of 2020, before the Covid-19 Pandemic, only eight of the 32
hubs were open due to growing demand, and not enough capacity127
during the pandemic, LA Compost continued accepting food waste
drop-offs at one of the 26 community gardens throughout the City, and
volunteers said that every Sunday, there was a constant stream of
people
122 https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-au/s-lsh-au-r/s-lsh-au-r-
b;jsessionid=uynsAdj5Ie5pC1htNKKGWExRuZ0qern6N_Mv-lZPs-8bGx0gKmqt!-839466798!-
945519779?_afrLoop=8682239760179039&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=Ed19lWET&_adf.ctrl-
state=197i51z7vh_1#!%40%40%3F_afrWindowId%3DEd19lWET%26_afrLoop%3D8682239760179039%26_afrWindowMode
%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D197i51z7vh_5 (click on “About Us” and then “Understanding Rates”)
123 ibid
124 Per Committee interview on 2/27/20
125 www.lacompost.org
126 https://www.lacompost.org/faq
127 https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/the-challenges-of-composting-in-la/composting-in-la-isnt-as-easy-as-it-sounds
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Many college campuses in the County have ongoing sustainability initiatives:
Cal State Northridge--dining services staff collects kitchen plant food
waste and uses it for composting in its garden on campus.128
Occidental College in Eagle Rock--students have begun composting
programs for food waste, but continue to find it challenging to sustain
the program as students graduate.129 In 2016, the campus contracted
with waste hauling company Athens Services to have food waste taken
to the company’s composting facility in Victorville.130
Students whose home cities, like Seattle, have curbside compost pickup
programs express surprise that fellow students are not as diligent about
food separation/recycling.131
The County’s Department of Public Works has identified nearly 200 facilities
where organic waste should be separated and recycled, from cafeteria kitchen
food prep areas (“back of house”); cafeteria dining areas, lunch rooms,
employee workstations, landscaping.132 Educational material has been
provided, and compliance is encouraged, according to County officials.133
However, County officials said they don’t know how many of the identified
entities are meeting the mandate, which requires organic waste recycling as of
January 1, 2019,134 and that more action may be forthcoming once the State
outlines regulations around the $10,000 fine per day. A random check by our
Committee calling and visiting a few of the facilities, in conjunction with our
conversations with waste haulers, leads us to believe that there is room for
improvement in implementing organic waste recycling in these facilities.
128 https://www.csun.edu/sustainability/sustainable-garden-education-center
129 https://www.theoccidentalnews.com/features/2018/03/27/good-waste-composting-efforts-campus/2892421 (accessed 11/3/19)
130 https://www.theoccidentalnews.com/news/2016/01/01/college-looking-to-further-expand-composting-program/2880886
131 https://www.theoccidentalnews.com/news/2018/03/20/student-led-compost-initiative-begins-braun-hall/2891999 (accessed
2/17/20)
132 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/organics/pdf/AB1826Memo_2018.pdf
133 Per Committee interviews on 10/7/19 and 11/19/19
134 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/organics/pdf/AB1826Memo_2018.pdf Page 2
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COVID-19
The pandemic provides an opportunity to reimagine how things can be, and our
Committee was pleased to see the word “waste” in the mix in an article published
on May 13, 2020, in the Los Angeles Times: 135
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Tom Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund
manager turned climate change activist, to co-chair his Task Force on Business
and Jobs Recovery. Twenty state lawmakers signed a letter last month to
Steyer and Newsom’s chief of staff, Ann O’Leary, urging the governor’s office
to consider recovery investments that prioritize “clean economy job creation.”
The letter reads, “We know the clean economy — transportation, housing, energy,
water, manufacturing, waste, and natural and working lands — is one of the most
cost-effective, resilient job creation sectors economy-wide.”
RECOMMENDATIONS
This Committee recommends a public education campaign around food waste that
creates drop-off food waste centers in more areas of the County and provides financial
incentives, as well as County-owned facilities “leading by example” in recycling food
waste—all of which require a little help from our friends.136
We recommend:
1.1 Each of the 88 cities, and the County’s unincorporated areas, should establish a
weekly food waste drop-off center. The center can be at a farmer’s market, such
as the one held each Thursday near Los Angeles City Hall, or at another
appropriate site. City and County officials can arrange for the food waste
collected to be taken to a nearby facility for recycling, or can establish contracts
with organizations such as the Los Angeles Community Garden Council or
landscaping companies for composting.
1.2 County officials should initiate programs using composting technology (such as
Compostology137 or Earth Cube138) that can compact food waste and can be
easily installed in offices and schools.139
135 https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-05-13/half-million-clean-energy-job-losses-amid-coronavirus
136 From the Beatles song “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
137 https://www.compostology.us/about (accessed 9/26/19)
138 http://compostingtechnology.com/in-vessel-composting-systems/earth-cube/
139 https://www.biocycle.net/2015/03/31/school-district-rolls-out-food-waste-reduction/ (accessed 10/12/19)
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1.3 County and city officials should create an incentive program for residents and
businesses to separate food waste. This could be in the form of a gift card to a
local grocery store/farmer’s market, or a discount on a solid waste fee. For
example, in the city of Santa Barbara, 150 businesses (restaurants, grocery
stores, coffee shops, etc.) have signed up for the city’s Foodscraps program, and
can save several hundred dollars a month off their trash collection fee.140
1.4 County officials should work with community colleges and workforce training
programs, to increase classes about food waste recycling and careers in waste
management that focus on diversion and conversion technologies.
1.5 County officials should create a garden/compost program at Pitchess Detention
Center in Castaic and investigate the option of a garden at some or all of the
juvenile detention facilities.
1.6 The County Department of Public Health should develop a program to train its
300 food inspectors as “ambassadors” when they are in the field. The inspectors
need to be armed with the Food DROP brochure,141 as well as information about
how that establishment can safely separate and recycle any food waste. (This
recommendation is also for Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own
Public Health departments.)
1.7 The County Department of Public Health should take the lead in creating a food
waste education component as part of its permit process required for all outdoor
public events that will be serving food. Department officials can work with the
event manager ahead of time to plan for excess edible food donation, and for
how food waste will be collected and separated. (This recommendation is also
for Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own Public Health
departments.)
1.8 County officials should modify contracts with food vendor companies that are
inside County facilities, such as the Hollywood Bowl, the Arboretum, the Los
Angeles County Museum of Art, and cafeterias located at County hospitals, to
include food waste separation and recycling. Especially at the Hollywood Bowl,
which draws more than 17,000 people142 for most of its summer concert events,
has several food options onsite,143 and traditionally draws large pre-concert
picknicking crowds, implementing a food waste recycling program can be part
of a public education campaign.
140https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/services/recycling/business/foodscrap.asp#:~:text=About%20The%20Program,like%20your%
20recycling%20and%20trash. (accessed 2/17/20)
141 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/sbr/food-drop.aspx
142 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Bowl
143 https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/visit/when-youre-here
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1.9 The County Board of Supervisors should require that the vendor operating the
Hall of Administration cafeteria institute procedures to separate food waste, both
in the food prep area, and in the dining room.
1.10 The City of Los Angeles should partner with LA Compost to expand that
organization’s footprint in the city to increase its capacity to collect and compost
food waste.
1.11 The City of Los Angeles should work with its 99 Neighborhood Councils to
increase public education around food waste separation/recycling programs.
1.12 All 80 school districts located in the County should work with local public
works and health department officials to create a garden and compost program
in every school,144 and monitor edible food recovery efforts.145
1.13 All 80 school districts should develop a garden/compost program that can be
available for students in the myriad after-school daycare options available on
campus (LACER, After the Bell, STAR, etc.).
1.14 Elected officials in the County and cities should adopt the 11 suggestions in the
March 2018 Countywide Organics Waste Management Plan146 and express
support for the need to increase capacity and site and build new facilities to
handle organic waste.
144 www.ecocycle.org (accessed 5/2/20)
145 https://www.ecocycle.org/files/School%20Compost%20Programs%20Pathways%20to%20Success.pdf “School Compost
Programs: Pathways to Success” (accessed 4/3/20)
146 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# LA County Countywide Organic Waste Management
Plan March 2018, Page 39
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REQUIRED RESPONSES
Responses are required from:
Recommendation Responding Agency
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9,
1.14
County Board of Supervisors
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9,
1.14
Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.12,
1.14
County Department of Public Works
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9,
1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14
County Chief Sustainability Office
1.1, 1.3, 1.8, 1.14 Mayors of 88 cities
1.5 County Department of Probation
1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.12, 1.13 County Department of Public Health
1.6, 1.7 Long Beach Department of Health and
Human Services
1.6, 1.7 Pasadena Public Health Department
1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.12, 1.13 County Department of Environmental
Health
1.14 Internal Services Department
1.8 County Parks and Recreation Department
1.1, 1.3, 1.8, 1.10, 1.11, 1.14 Mayor of City of Los Angeles
1.12, 1.13 Superintendents of all 80 school districts
1.12, 1.13 Los Angeles County Office of Education
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Hind Baki, Chair
Nirja Kapoor
John Palos
Jenalea Smith
Judith Whitman
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APPENDIX 1147
147 https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-hierarchy
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APPENDIX 2148
148 https://ilsr.org/food-waste-hierarchy/
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APPENDIX 3149
Active Landfills in Los Angeles County
Landfill Site Owner Operator End of
Operation
Antelope Valley
Recycling and
Disposal Facility
Waste Management,
Inc.
Waste Management,
Inc.
2042
Azusa Land
Reclamation (Inert)
Azusa Land
Reclamation Co., Inc.
Waste Management,
Inc.
January
2025
Burbank Landfill #3 City of Burbank City of Burbank
Department of Public
Works
January
2053
Calabasas Landfill County of Los
Angeles
Los Angeles County
Sanitation Districts
September
2025
Lancaster Landfill &
Recycling Center
Waste Management,
Inc.
Waste Management,
Inc.
March
2044
Pebbly Beach
Landfill (Avalon)
City of Avalon CR&R Environmental
Services
July 2028
San Clemente Island
Landfill
U.S. Navy U.S. Navy January
2032
Savage Canyon
Landfill
City of Whittier City of Whittier Public
Works Department150
December
2048
Scholl Canyon
Landfill
Co-Owned by City of
Glendale and Los
Angeles County
Sanitation Districts
Los Angeles County
Sanitation Districts
December
2024
Sunshine Canyon
Landfill
Republic Services,
Inc./BFI
Republic Services,
Inc./BFI
February
2037
149 http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/EP/solid_waste/facilitieslandfill.htm?func=1&Landfill=landfill (accessed 1/31/20);
https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/OnlineServices/search-solid-waste-sites-esri.aspx (accessed 2/5/20)
150 https://www.cityofwhittier.org/government/public-works/trash/landfill-services
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APPENDIX 4151
151 https://www.sfswma.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Anatomy_of_a_Landfill.pdf
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APPENDIX 5
Green Waste Pick-up and Recycling options available in County Unincorporated
Areas (CUC)
The County’s Department of Public Works oversees the waste hauler
agreements for the 125 unincorporated areas,152 which include Altadena,
Hacienda Heights, and Marina Del Rey. About 1 million people live in those
areas; the “Mayor” of each area is the corresponding member of the County
Board of Supervisors.153
Many franchise waste haulers offer separate collection and recycling services
for green waste.154 Some waste haulers offer one solid waste bin for mixed
refuse for commercial clients. The mixed waste is hauled to a material
recovery facility where some things may be diverted from a landfill, unless
there is too much contamination.155
Landscapers can deliver green waste generated from their operation to
processing facilities that specifically recycle green waste. Currently, there are
over 100 facilities in Los Angeles County and nearby counties that accept
green waste generated in Los Angeles County.156
In 2018, Public Works consultants visited over 70 multi-family complexes and
found that only a few generated more than 1 cubic yard of green landscape
waste.157
The various waste haulers serving residents in the CUC are required to provide
three separate bins: one for trash, one for recyclables, and one for green
waste.158
Green Waste Pick-up and Recycling Options Available for City of Los Angeles
The State’s most populous city, Los Angeles, manages its waste through the
LA Sanitation Department.159 For approximately 80,000 businesses and multi-
family complexes, the City of Los Angeles is divided into service areas and
assigned a waste hauler under the RecycLA program.160 The program assigns
seven waste haulers to 11 zones in the City.161
152 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/WasteHauler/
153 https://lacounty.gov/government/about-la-county/unincorporated-areas/
154https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/docs/pdf/faq/Commercial%20Waste%20Franchise%20System%20FAQ%20for%20Waste
%20Haulers.pdf
155 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future
Annual Progress Report 2019, Page 47-48
156 www.dpw.lacounty.gov/Epd/Tf/lsw/lsw
157 ibid
158 https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/News/swims-more-links.aspx?id=4# LA County Countywide Organic Waste Management
Plan March 2018, Executive Summary xi
159 www.lacitysan.org
160 https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-wwd/s-lsh-wwd-s/s-lsh-wwd-s-zwlaf/s-lsh-wwd-s-zwlaf-au?_adf.ctrl-
state=3z2x730v8_5&_afrLoop=11962272467624951#!
161 https://www.waste360.com/commercial/los-angeles-bpw-award-11-franchise-zones-seven-waste-haulers
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Green waste is taken to Griffith Park, where it’s mixed with zoo doo (collected
from herbivores at the adjacent Los Angeles Zoo) and biosolids (sewage
products).162 The Griffith Park Composting Facility makes a final compost
product that is used throughout the park, and for the City’s Free Mulch Give-
Away Program.
The mulch produced by the City is registered and trademarked as Topgro ®;
the City gives its Department of Recreation and Parks half the compost
created, and the rest is sold to private entities such as landscape companies.163
Residential customers in the City are provided three bins for separating items
for trash day:164 one for trash, one for recyclables, one for green waste (no food
waste can be placed in this bin as it would contaminate the green waste); an
extra bin for horse manure is provided for a nominal fee.165
162 https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-wwd/s-lsh-wwd-s/s-lsh-wwd-s-gw/s-lsh-wwd-s-gw-gpcf#:~:text=The
Griffith Park Composting Facility,trimmings from acres of landscaping.
163 https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-wwd/s-lsh-wwd-s/s-lsh-wwd-s-gw/s-lsh-wwd-s-gw-faq?_adf.ctrl-
state=3z2x730v8_758&_afrLoop=11962739376231226#!
164 https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home?_adf.ctrl-state=3z2x730v8_758&_afrLoop=11962955571838333#! Scroll down to
“What Goes in Each Bin”
165 ibid
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APPENDIX 6
Edible Food Recovery
In 2018, the County Department of Public Works launched the Food Donation
and Recovery Outreach Program Food DROP website (www.FoodDROPLA.
com) to provide resources for businesses in the unincorporated communities to
safely donate excess edible food and reduce food waste. In addition to federal
Good Samaritan laws that can provide legal protection, donating edible food
can possibly provide a tax deduction.166
In 2018, the County’s Smart Business Recycling Consultants visited over 130
large food service establishments to survey how they currently manage
organics and recyclables and to connect these businesses with local charities to
donate edible excess food. Twenty-six businesses indicated that they donate
edible food.167
Organizations like Food Forward168 last year collected 26 million pounds of
edible food from various companies.169 The organization’s four 26-foot trucks
pick up produce that otherwise would go to waste and distribute the bounty to
agencies serving the needy from Santa Barbara to the California-Mexico
border. Staff pick up excess produce from the largest produce market in the
United States, located in Downtown Los Angeles, and nearby produce houses,
as well as farmer’s markets. Volunteer teams also are sent to pick residents’
backyard fruit and distribute to food pantries.
Companies like Imperfect Produce170 ship boxes of imperfect-looking fruits
and vegetables, and packaged food that has been rejected for cosmetic reasons.
There are many websites available to help residents who want to reduce food
waste in their kitchens
www.savethefood.com
www.cawrecycles.org (Californians Against Waste)
For the K-12 school environment in Los Angeles County, the County
Department of Public Health has developed resources to help each campus
reduce food waste.
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/LACFRI/
166 www.FoodDROPLA.com
167 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/tf/isw/isw_2019_09.pdf Page 3
168 www.foodforward.org
169 https://www.dailynews.com/2019/06/20/this-new-produce-depot-is-a-game-changer-for-north-hollywood-based-food-forward/
(accessed 2/23/20)
170 www.imperfectfoods.com (accessed 9/25/19)
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APPENDIX 7171
Food Waste Recycling: County Department of Public Works Headquarters172
171 https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/Roadmap/PDF/annual_report_2019.pdf
Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future Annual Progress
Report 2019, Page 37
172 All photos in Appendix 7 were taken by members of the 2019-2020
Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury on 3/11/20
The Department reported that, in
2018, its food waste reduction
practices in the cafeteria prevented
over 300 pounds of food waste
from being generated, and did not
generate any leftover food for
donation.
In addition, almost 18,000 pounds
of food waste was collected from
the cafeteria kitchen, dining area,
break rooms, and special events
and sent to be recycled at an
anaerobic digestion facility. An
additional 1,200 pounds of food
waste from the cafeteria kitchen
was composted on site in the worm
bins (see picture below).
County Department of Public
Works Headquarters in Alhambra:
Photos of the employee cafeteria
signage, showing food waste
separation, and serving as a model
for other County facilities.
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The food waste separated in the cafeteria is then brought to special worm-composting
bins onsite. Worm composting is using worms to recycle food scraps and other
organic material into a valuable soil amendment called vermicompost. Worms eat
food scraps, which become compost as they pass through the worm's body.173
173 http://compost.css.cornell.edu/worms/basics.html (accessed 5/3/20)
The compost is then used at the onsite garden, which grows vegetables that
can be offered to employees or cafeteria cooks.
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APPENDIX 8
Food Waste Transfer and Processing: Puente Hills Materials Recovery Facility 174
174 All photos in Appendix 8 were taken by members of the 2019-2020
Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury on 10/15/19
A line of trucks bringing various types of separated waste
such as cardboard and bottles/cans for recycling. The
smallest pile below is the food waste pile.
A-36
October __, 2020
Presiding Judge
Los Angeles Superior Court
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple Street, 11th Floor, Room 11-506
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Subject: Response to the 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury-
“A Diet for Landfills: Cutting Down on Food Waste”
Honorable Presiding Judge and Grand Jury,
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes understands the concerns expressed in the 2019-
2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury A Diet for Landfills: Cutting Down on Food
Waste. On behalf of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, please accept this as our official
response to the Report.
Below please find Findings 1.1, 1.3, 1.8, and 1.14, and the City’s Response (in blue):
1.1 Each of the 88 cities, and the County’s unincorporated areas, should establish a
weekly food waste drop-off center. The center can be at a farmer’s market, such as
the one held each Thursday near Los Angeles City Hall, or at another appropriate
site. City and County officials can arrange for the food waste collected to be taken to
a nearby facility for recycling, or can establish contracts with organizations such as
the Los Angeles Community Garden Council or landscaping companies for
composting.
Response to 1.1: The City supports this Recommendation. However, the City does not
have a farmer’s market or a community garden within its jurisdiction. As such, the City
recently adopted an organic waste recycling ordinance that considers AB 1826 and AB
341. The ordinance goes into effect on January 1, 2021. Furthermore, in compliance
with SB 1383, the City plans to implement residential and commercial food waste
recycling programs by January 1, 2022. Once established, instead of taking the material
to a food waste drop-off center in a neighboring city, the new City program would create
a more convenient recycling opportunity for residents and businesses. Furthermore, the
City has two Trader Joe’s grocery stores. They donate their food waste to Food Finders,
a non-profit organization that distributes the eatable food items to missions, shelters and
to people with food insecurity.
1.3 County and city officials should create an incentive program for residents and
businesses to separate food waste. This could be in the form of a gift card to a local
grocery store/farmer’s market, or a discount on a solid waste fee. For example, in
the city of Santa Barbara, 150 businesses (restaurants, grocery stores, coffee
B-1
shops, etc.) have signed up for the city’s Foodscraps program, and can save several
hundred dollars a month off their trash collection fee.
Response to 1.3: The City supports this Recommendation. As such, the City recently
adopted an organic waste recycling ordinance that considers AB 1826 and AB 341 . The
ordinance goes into effect on January 1, 2021. Currently, the City offers commercial
haulers and haulers servicing businesses, a discount on solid waste (AB 939) fees
when they recycle. That discount also applies to food waste recycling. Currently, the
City does not have a residential food waste recycling program. However, in compliance
with SB 1383, the City plans to implement a citywide residential and commercial food
waste recycling programs by January 1, 2022. The City will continue to explore other
incentive opportunities to promote organic waste collection. Meanwhile, the City has an
incentive/reward program for residents who recycle. Every month, four residents who
recycle, receive a check for $250 as a “Thank You” for their recycling efforts. There is a
total of 48 winners a year. Once food waste recycling is added to the recycling program,
those customers will also be eligible for the monetary incentive.
1.8 County officials should modify contracts with food vendor companies that are inside
County facilities, such as the Hollywood Bowl, the Arboretum, the Los Angeles
County Museum of Art, and cafeterias located at County hospitals, to include food
waste separation and recycling. Especially at the Hollywood Bowl, which draws
more than 17,000 people for most of its summer concert events, has se veral food
options onsite, and traditionally draws large pre-concert picknicking crowds,
implementing a food waste recycling program can be part of a public education
campaign.
Response to 1.8: The City supports this Recommendation. However, this particular
Recommendation requires direct action from the County and is not a City actionable
item.
1.14 Elected officials in the County and cities should adopt the 11 suggestions in the
March 2018 Countywide Organics Waste Management Plan and express support
for the need to increase capacity and site and build new facilities to handle organic
waste.”
Response to 1.14: The City supports this Recommendation and the need to increase
capacity and site, and build new facilities to handle organic waste. As such, the City
recently adopted an organic waste recycling ordinance that considers AB 1826 and AB
341. The ordinance goes into effect on January 1, 2021. Furthermore, in mid/late 2021,
the City is planning to further update the ordinance to consider all other upcoming
regulatory requirements, specifically AB 1594, AB 876, and SB 1383. Adopting SB 1383
will result in implementing citywide residential and commercial food waste recycling
programs by January 1, 2022. This will include providing education and guidance in
program implementation, working closely with the residential and commercial haulers,
including revisions to current contracts or entering into new contracts with haulers that
include provisions for reporting, self-haul standards, and/or enforcement, where
B-2
needed. As mentioned earlier, the City has an incentive/reward program for residents
who recycle. Once food waste recycling is added to the recycling City’s program, those
customers would also be eligible for the monetary incentive.
This response letter by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, has been reviewed,
commented upon, and approved by the Mayor and City Council at its October 6, 2020
meeting.
Sincerely,
John Cruikshank
Mayor
cc: Members of City of Rancho Palos Verdes City Council
Ara Mihranian, City Manager
Ramzi Awwad, Deputy Director of Public Works
Ron Dragoo, City Engineer
B-3