More than $200,000 awarded in 
organic solid waste reduction

RALEIGH –  More than $200,000 in state grants has been awarded to support projects that reduce organic (biodegradable) solid wastes that go to landfills.

Grants were awarded to support 13 public and/or private sector projects that meet one or both of two goals: projects that result in a sustainable, well-documented diversion of organic wastes from the waste stream and projects that stimulate market demand for composts and other recycled organic wastes.

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) selected recipients from proposals submitted by local governments and businesses statewide. DENR's Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) will administer the grants.

"Organic solid wastes are a significant portion of North Carolina's solid wastes," said Gary Hunt, DPPEA director. "Diverting those wastes from landfills will help the state meet its goal of 40-percent solid waste reduction by June 30, 2001."

Selected projects include:

• Food Waste Composting Feasibility Evaluation, Huntersville - a project to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of source-separating and composting (with windrows and aerated static piles) grocery store food wastes.
• Increase Waste Wood System Capacity, Conover - a project to expand the throughput capacity of a facility that processes waste wood from the furniture industry into hydraulic mulches and erosion control blankets.
• Food Waste Diversion at the 1999 Special Olympics Games - a project to demonstrate source-separation and windrow composting of pre- and post-consumer dining hall food wastes during the Special Olympics Games in the Triangle.
• Waste Reduction Using Vermicomposting in Public Institutions, Clinton - a demonstration project using a vermicomposting system for handling food wastes at the N.C. Sampson Correctional Institution.
• Recovery, Reuse and Marketing of Products Derived from Source-Separated Food Waste, Asheville - a demonstration project of food waste source-separation and windrow composting at The Biltmore Estate.
• InVessel Food Residuals Composting, Polkton - a demonstration project of food waste source-separation and invessel (rotary drum) composting at the Brown Creek Correctional Institution.
• Effects of Compost on the Growth of Christmas Trees in North Carolina, Ashe County - an evaluation of the growth response and disease suppression characteristics with Fraser fir Christmas trees.
• Composting Production and Marketing, Buncombe County - an evaluation of alternative floor aeration systems for aerated static pile composting of sawmill residuals and dairy manures.
• Sustainable Campus - A Community Project, Asheville - a project to implement source-separation and invessel (modular bin) composting at the University of North Carolina.
• Macon County Solid Waste Management Program - expansion of the existing composting facility to incorporate source-separated food wastes from school cafeterias and restaurants.
• WIN/WIN Mobile Pantry, Charlotte and surrounding areas - a project to develop a mobile distribution system for edible food rescue and distribution in.
• Cool Springs Organic Waste Diversion Project, Statesville - expansion of an existing mulch supply operation to include composting of industrial organic residuals and yard wastes.
• Custom Application of Biofertilizers, Chatham County - a technology development project to evaluate wet and dry methods of distributing large amounts of finished composts.
  

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