Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP)

Source Reduction Strategies for Tribal Solid Waste Programs

“Designing and Managing a Compost Program”

Laura Medvin- Susanville Indian Rancheria

Environmental Technician

What are the benefits of composting?

Depending on your waste stream, anywhere from 30% to 60% of your waste can be Depending on your waste stream, anywhere from 30% to 60% of your waste can be composted. By removing compostable materials you:composted. By removing compostable materials you:

Lessen the weight of waste that ends up in landfills and transfer stationsLessen the weight of waste that ends up in landfills and transfer stations

Reduce the types of waste that smell and attract scavengersReduce the types of waste that smell and attract scavengers

Reduce the amount of waste that contributes to Greenhouse Gases – Reduce the amount of waste that contributes to Greenhouse Gases – especially methaneespecially methane

Compost improves all soil types – opening up heavy clay soils and helping light Compost improves all soil types – opening up heavy clay soils and helping light soils retain moisture and nutrients – which means less watering and reduced soils retain moisture and nutrients – which means less watering and reduced fertilizer usefertilizer use

Compost improves the health of plants, meaning less problems with pests and Compost improves the health of plants, meaning less problems with pests and diseasesdiseases

How does composting work?

A compost pile works to break down certain materials until the items are once again in their original state. The materials must be items that

originated from the earth. A combination of many gases, oxygen, sunlight, water and air assists the decomposition process.

How does composting work? To be more specific…..

Successful composting is all about getting the right proportions of compostable materials, air and water.

Water: The process works best if the compost is kept moist, but not saturated, with water

Air: A well aerated compost pile breaks down quicker

Microbes: The workhorses in any compost system “A living organism that can be seen only with a microscope. Soil microbes help dead plants and animals to decompose

www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/a71fa2b6e2b6d3e980256a6c004542b4/3f488deea330775f80257149004fc2c8!OpenDocument

Browns: The bacteria and fungi use the carbon as an energy source

Greens: These bacteria and fungi use the nitrogen as “digestive enzymes” to break down the carbon

What you will need:

• “Greens” + “Browns” +Water + Air = Compost

• Greens are the nitrogen source and include

– Yard waste (grass trimmings, green leaves, etc)

– Food wastes (kitchen scraps, spoiled fruits and vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds, etc.,)

– Greens are also a good source of moisture

• Browns are the carbon source and include:

– Dry Leaves

– Wood chips and sawdust

– Some paper and cardboard

• What are your sources for compost?

• Are these sources reliable and consistent?

Creating a Tribal Compost System

•What size of system makes sense for you?•Who will manage and staff the program?•What funding do you have available to start, and maintain, a composting program?•Do you have a market – or who will use the finished compost?

Are these sources reliable and consistent?

• 108 Susanville Indian Rancheria Homes• 680 Tribal Members (living on and off the reservation combined)

And/Or • 24 SIR Tribal Business sources

Types of Systems: Large Scale• One example of a large scale system was started by the Eastern

band of Cherokee Indians• They operate one composting project for food wastes

– 72 tons per month collected from area restaurants and the tribal casino

– Mixed with office waste paper at compost facility– Packaged and sold as premium compost at $35 per ton– Provide compost coupons and starter gardening kits to tribal

members• They operate a second composting project for biosolids

– 96 tons per month– Sold for $15 per ton

Types of Systems: Home Bins

• Many communities focus their compost programs on encouraging individuals, households, and offices to use basic bins

• These can be built as part of a community project from construction and demolition debris

• Basic bins can also be purchased from a variety of retail stores or online.

conservationtutorials.org

Wire Screen Compost Bin

Compost bin with pallets

Types of Systems: Tumblers

• The Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove (AK) made tumblers and local kids decorated them. Tribal offices competed to make the best compost.

• Larger tumblers can be purchased, or made with waste materials, for larger scale projects.

• These usually speed up the process.

Bamboo Composters

Automatic Composters

Pile Composting

More Compost Methods

VermicultureVermiculture – “The process whereby worms feed on slowly decomposing materials (eg, vegetable scraps) in a controlled environment to produce a nutrient-rich soil ...www.phoenix.edu/about_us/glossary_of environmental_terms.aspx”

Vermiculture As a pilot project the SIR NRD has constructed several beds inside the

greenhouse. The beds are approximately 5inches deep. Compost is added to these beds weekly. Worms

are breaking down the compost material and making nutrient rich soil.

Plants are growing from this area naturally

as a result of the vermiculture method

Plants are healthyPlants are Producing vegetables

Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria

Received funding from USEPA in 2006 to design and develop a

composting program. The objective of acquiring these funds

was to address the composting need at the casino kitchen.

Vermiculture approach was added later.

Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria

Currently collecting green waste scraps from

21 SIR Business and office areas.

Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria

•The finished product is used for the tribe’s community gardens.

•Compost as well as surplus worms are available for community use•Compost is being mixed into the pre-existing garden soils

• This project is funded and managed by the tribe’s environmental program.

• First year funding provided by a grant from the USEPA Resource Conservation Fund Grant Region 9 in 2006 – this funding was utilized to secure equipment, supplies and a plan for the compost program.

• This program has now been added as a task in the SIR EPA Performance Partnership Grant as part of the recycling program. NOTE: The EPA PPG is intended to act as a capacity building grant only. EPA PPG is a funding source ideal for start up programs.

Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria

Challenges?

•Compost productivity•Developing a marketing strategy•Developing a plan to acquire 100% of green waste coming from the Casino Kitchen•Developing a plan to efficiently process the compost collected•Community/Staff Outreach

Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria

Challenges?

Developing a marketing strategy

The biggest challenge will be to develop the marketing plan.The marketing plan will be determined by compost productivity.Consider this:How will the compost be most useful?

•Soil additive only?•Improving the Tribal community garden?•Growing starter plants in the Tribal community garden?•Selling those starter plants?•Consider the feasibility of growing plants in the community garden? •Are there certain challenges you might face in doing so?

Who will the compost be most beneficial to?Is there an interest or need in the Tribal community?Surrounding communities?

Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria

Financing a Compost Program• Finding start up money is only the beginning of the

battle.• Unless you have a reliable source of money to keep

your compost program going it will not be sustainable.

• The benefit of home/office composting projects are small start up costs (if they are built with scrap material) and individuals are responsible for their maintenance.

• Larger scale programs can, at least, be partly funded through the sale of finished compost.

• Creativity is the key in finding maintenance funds.

Greenhouse Harvest 2010

Laura Medvin

SIR Environmental Tech.

530-251-5646

lmedvin@citlink.net