Item H1TIME APPROXIMATE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: 02/20/13 Division: Public Works/Engineering
Bulk Item: Yes _ No X Department: Solid Waste Management
Staff Contact: Rosa Washington/292-4432
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Presentation by the South Dade Soil Conservation District
(SDCWCD) regarding a public/private pilot program that would explore the feasibility and logistics of
Monroe County reinstating a mulch program for residential and commercial green waste. This would
include an in-depth review of program cost, benefits, savings and marketability of the end product.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The BOCC requested that staff research the possibility of reinstating mulch
program, in an effort to save the haul out costs of green waste.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: BOCC direction to staff.
TOTAL COST: TBD
COST TO COUNTY:
BUDGETED: Yes No
TBD SOURCE OF FUNDS: Special Assessment
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes X No AMOUNT PER YEAR: unknown
APPROVED BY: County Atty. OMB/Purchasing Risk Management _
DOCUMENTATION: Included X
Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
SOUTH DADE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
1450 N. Krome Ave., Suite 104 - Florida City, FL 33034
Telephone: (305) 242-1288 - Fax: (305) 242-1292
vw E-Mail:southdadeswcd@southdadeswcd.org
Website: southdadeswcd.org
The South Dade Soil & Water Conservation District (SDSWCD) is an extension of
the State of Florida, to work with the public, local and state governments for the
protection of the soil and water in our area.
SDSWCD is pleased to offer the following proposal to Monroe Solid Waste
Department:
PROPOSAL FOR MONROE COUNTY SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT
PILOT PROGRAM AT KEY LARGO TRANSFER STATION
TURNING GREEN WASTE INTO A DESIREABLE MULCH PRODUCT
A one-year pilot program of collection, sorting, shredding and coloring the green
waste that is currently delivered to the Key Largo Transfer Station is extremely
important:
1. The high cost of trucking green waste out of the county can be dramatically
reduced or eliminated to provide necessary funding to address other
important environmental issues in the Florida Keys.
2. A good quality mulch conserves water by reducing the amount of water that
evaporates from the soil. Potable water is both expensive and scarce in the
Florida Keys.
3. A good quality mulch spread 2-inches thick prevents weeds and the need for
chemical herbicides that can contaminate local surface and sub -surface
waters.
4. Good quality mulch provides nutrients to sandy soil and improves its ability
to hold water.
5. Good quality mulch is very desirable to enhance residential and commercial
landscaping.
The SDSWCD recommends that a one-year pilot program be established within the
next six months to include:
1. Green waste from residential areas in the upper Keys that has been
separated from other solid waste materials for curbside pickup by
residential customers. This can be done by a notice to residential customers
that only separated green waste will be picked up.
The South Dade Soil & Water Conservation District prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities. The South Dade Soil & Water Conservation District is an
equal opportunity provider and employer.
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2. Separated green waste will be delivered to the Key Largo Transfer Station
to the pilot project site.
3. Co -mingled green waste will be delivered to a separate designated site at
the Key Largo Transfer Station.
4. Separated green waste will be shredded and colored at the site, if so
desired.
5. Co -mingled green waste will be separated by a conveyor equipped with a
magnet and to remove metal and then added to the separated green waste
to be shredded and colored, if so desired.
6. Shredded and colored green waste will be offered for free to the public in
bulk trucks or in containers provided by the public.
7. Shredded and colored green waste can also be offered for sale in bulk or in
bags to landscapers, commercial establishments, or garden shops.
EQUIPMENT AND COSTS FOR PILOT PROJECT
Hammerhead Model 240 portable grinder, 240 h.p. $202,400.00
2 additional screens @ $1,900.00 each 3,800.00
Freight 2,900.00
Installation 2,200.00
Total installed cost $211,300.00
This grinder can be towed with a 2.5 ton truck that will produce 25 to 30
cubic yards per hour. The screens will allow for producing various sizes.
It includes a magnetic head pulley metal collection chute. Being portable,
this grinder can be moved to other transfer stations when it is not in use.
The colorizer for this equipment
Freight
$15,000.00
2,000.00
$17,000.00
In addition, the cost for these training sessions will be $480.00/day, plus
mileage $.51/per mile, meals and hotel expenses.
The South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District, a world-wide
consultant on composting and mulching, is available to provide and install
this equipment and train county employees in the operation of this project
for the prices quoted above plus the cost of any equipment needed to
complete the task.
The company, ScreenUSA, does not lease their equipment. They will resell
it for the purchaser of a pilot project after one year with no commission
charged. The resale price will not be the same as the original price but
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will reflect one year's usage. This model is very popular and they have no
problem in reselling them. At present, there are no used machines
available.
The South Dade Soil And Water Conservation District is available as a
consultant on the marketing and distribution of the colored mulch at its
regular daily consulting fee of $480.00/day, plus expenses (mileage $.51/per
mile, meals and hotel expenses).
An alternative to the one year pilot project would be:
TRAIN LOCAL OPERATORS TO PRODUCE MULCH
The South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District staff will provide
training sessions in the Lower Keys, Middle Keys and Upper Keys for a
business or businesses chosen by the Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC), which have their own shredding and or grinding
equipment.
Each one -day training session will include:
1. Determining the volume of green waste available to be mulched.
2. Determining the local potential market for colorized mulch.
3. What retro-fitting to their present equipment will be required to
produce good quality mulch?
4. Steps necessary to produce a good quality colorized mulch.
5. The cost of colorizing equipment to match the volume of green
waste.
6. How and where to sell the finished colorized mulch.
The cost for these training sessions will be $480.00/day, plus mileage
$.51/per mile, meals and hotel expenses. The length of the training
sessions is dependent on the level of training required by the trainees.
The South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District is qualified to
provide training on quality compost production and end product
marketability.
Morgan Levy, Administrator Bill Townshend, Project Manager
2/20/2013
t
Proposed Pilot Mulch Programs for
Monroe County, Florida
By: South Dade Soil & Water Conservation District
February 20, 2013
t/iU/2033
South Dade Soil &
Water Conservation District (SDSWCD)
SDSWCD's Mission is:
To provide leadership in implementing
conservation programs and technology
that facilitate enhancement, sustainment
and stewardship of our natural resources
and environment.
]/N/2 3
About the South Dade Soil &
Water Conservation District (SDSWCD)
• Located in Homestead, Florida;
• Organized in 1982, as a governmental
subdivision of the State of Florida;
• Non -Profit 501-C3;
• A worldwide consultant on organic recycling;
• Recently completed projects at the National
Archives Building in College Park, MD and
Charlotte, N.C. Airport.
2/20/2013
Status of Green Waste in
Monroe County
• Represents between 25-32% of the County's
refuse;
• Shipped to Waste to Energy (WTE) plant as trash
at the haul out rate of $84.52 per ton;
• 46,000 tons of separated yard waste per year
since 2009 hauled out has cost the County
approximately $3,000,000/year;
• County receives no benefit from the WTE process
other than knowing that the material was
repurposed somewhere else.
3/ W013
Why Mulch?
• Produces healthier plants;
• Essential to improving the soil's structure and
fertility with organic material;
• Controls erosion;
• Conserves water which is both costly and
scarce in the Keys;
• Saves money and time.
aao33
Monroe County's
Mulch Challenges
• Mulch produced by strictly industrial shredder;
• Fibrous and soggy;
• Seldom appealing for landscaping or
other uses;
• Poor mulching can produce weed seeds and
invasive species in mulch;
• Staff not trained to easily spot signs of disease
and or contamination.
2/20/2013
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2/20/2013
i
Pilot Project #1
• Work with Key Largo area hauler for one year;
• County would purchase a portable grinder
which would cost approximately $211,300.00
(new);
• Residential green waste separated and
mulched at the Key Largo Transfer Station;
• Mulch may be stored on site, available to the
public, or bagged and sold;
• Two temporary employees required.
MW2-
Pilot Proposal #1(Cont.)
Optional Equipment
• Colorizer (including freight) $17,000.00
Training
• SDSWCD would serve as consultants;
• Help in installation of equipment;
• Provide training for County staff and or hauler
at a cost of $510.60/day, which includes labor,
travel and meals.
i/30/3M3
Approximate Cost of
Pilot Project # 1
• Equipment (New) $ 211,000.00
• Colorizer (optional) $ 17,000.00
• Training (one year including labor, travel, meals)
$ 16,849.80
Two Temp Employees
2,080 hrs @ $15.00 per hr. _ $ 62,400.00
Total $ 307,249.80
zl aw-
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2/20/2013
Proposal #1 Benefits to
Monroe County
• Explore if mulch is the answer to the County's
green waste challenges;
• Will encourage public and commercial use of
good quality, colorized mulch;
• Increase recycling credits towards state
mandated goals;
• Reduce carbon footprint/road maintenance by
eliminating truck trips;
• Advance industry;
• Create jobs;
• Savings from reduced haul out costs.
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Pilot Proposal #2
• SDSWCD would provide training sessions to a
local business that already has own equipment,
and its own employees;
• Business would be identified by Monroe County;
• County would establish fee to be paid to the
business per cubic yard/per month, in addition to
any income derived by the business from the sale
of the mulch;
• Business may have to invest in additional
equipment (i.e. colorizer) or retrofit current
equipment.
W./2—
Pilot Proposal #2 (Cont.)
TRAINING
• Training sessions include:
— Equipment required to produce best product
(grinder, screens, blowers, colorizer);
— How to determine volume of separated green
waste;
— Requirements for good quality mulch that is
marketable;
— How to colorize mulch;
— Packaging and bulk sales;
— Market development strategies.
V./2-
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2/20/2013
4
Approximate Cost of Proposal #2
• Training (One Year including labor, travel, meals)$ 16,849.80
• Two Temp Employees
(2,080 hrs. @ $15.00/hr.) _ $ 62,400.00
Approx. Cost $ 79,249.80
Total cost is contingent on the goals set by the
County and how fast employees learn the
process and produce a quality product.
L WND
Proposal #2 Benefits to
Monroe County
• Encourages development of mulch industry;
• Create jobs;
• Encourages the use of quality mulch by public
and commercial sites;
• Utilizes and recycles a valuable organic
resource;
• Realize savings from reduced haul out costs.
Wn n-
Benefits of Quality Mulch
for Monroe County
• Quality grinding of yard waste can reduce the
volume by 60%;
• Reduce carbon footprint and road
maintenance by eliminating trucks on the
road;
• Increases County's recycling credits towards
State mandated recycling goals;
• Reduce haul out costs.
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2/20/2013
For questions and information
• For questions and or additional information
contact:
pBill Townshend or Morgan Levy
SDSWCD
1450 N. Krome Avenue
Florida City, FI. 33034
(305)242-1288
mlevv@southdadeswcd.org
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