2001 Trash Cutter Awards Program Case Studies

Stanislaus County:
Best Waste Prevention Program

• Program Description
• Program Summary
• Costs
• Benefits
• Contact

Program Description

Established in 1978, the Stanislaus County food processing residue use program is a cooperative effort of the county, the food processing industry, haulers, and the end users of the food-processing residue. Food processing residues are waste materials generated from food product processing, such as culls, stems, and other fruit and vegetable by-products. These residues are used for animal feed and for soil enrichment. Food processing residues are used by dairies, animal feedlots, animal feed manufacturers, and land-spreading operations.

Program Summary

The current program uses permitting and enforcement procedures. These include a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review for the initial program, an annual review and renewal of the permit, and frequent inspections by a site monitor. The site monitor is a designated employee working in this program to provide inspections and perform project administration. The monitor works closely with the food processing facilities and investigates complaints at the sites.

The permit requires a detailed plan of operation, which includes a description of the drainage system, the maximum amount of residue received per day, and the method of handling the residue. Inspections at each site are conducted frequently during the season. The inspector looks for evidence of flies, odor problems, and improper drainage. The inspector also works closely with the site operator to correct any problems. At the beginning of each season, usually in early July, an initial visit to each of the 21 permitted sites in the county is conducted to establish the level of food processing residue expected during the season. Additional consultations are done by telephone as needed.

The majority of food residue in the program originates from food processing plants within Stanislaus County. Examples of food processors who have played a major role in developing this program include: Tri-Valley Growers, Hunt-Wesson, Del Monte, Stanislaus Foods, Patterson Frozen Foods, and Eckert Cold Storage. Residue use sites include dairies and feedlots, which directly feed the material to livestock; land spreading operations; and animal feed processors. Sites are required to keep current information regarding delivery dates, types of residue, amount of residue, and the hauling companies who deliver the residue. A site activity log assists operators in recording and tracking the required information.

Costs

The program is currently funded through the permit process required by the food residue sites. The program was originally sponsored by the food processing manufacturers. As the program proved its value to the commodity users, the funding system changed. Currently permitted sites are billed for their proportional costs of the program, including the site monitor’s time.

Benefits

During the first 20 years of the program (1978-1998), more than 52 million tons of food residue was diverted from the landfill. This substantial diversion has been instrumental in helping the county meet State-mandated goals for waste diversion. The program has proven to be valuable to the residents of Stanislaus County, the food processing industry, and the residue users. This program has allowed the creation of valuable organic commodities for both animal feed and soil improvement from what was originally a difficult-to-manage waste. It is an environmentally and fiscally sound solution to a challenging waste management problem.

For Further Information Contact:

Stanislaus County
3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite C
Modesto, CA 95358
(209) 525-6740