City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 7, 2015
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, ACTING CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for $10,000 to Evaluate the Feasibility of Collecting Food Waste From Multi-family Complexes.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Grant Application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 for evaluating the viability of collecting food waste at apartment/condominium complexes for composting.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Approve the submission of the $10,000 grant application due February 1 for evaluating food waste collection at apartment/condominium complexes; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region III, is soliciting proposals that address the national priorities of increasing composting of food waste and improving recycling of municipal solid waste. This funding supports the EPA's strategic goal of land preservation and restoration. Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $10,000. The funding can be used to fund research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, studies, surveys, and public education. City staff proposes to request $10,000 to demonstrate the feasibility of collecting food waste for composting from two to three apartment/condominium complexes located in an urban setting for a one year period.
DISCUSSION: The U.S. EPA is recommending that, where feasible, localities discontinue disposing of food waste as trash because traditional disposal methods generate global climate change gases. In addition, food waste when converted into compost can be used to remediate degraded soils without the application of petroleum ...
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