The Future of Organics Management in Palo Alto

The Future of Organics Management in Palo Alto City of Palo Alto Public Works Operations March 8, 2010 1

Presentation Overview § § Introductory Comments Problem Statement How We Got Here Blue Ribbon Task Force Recommendations § Further Staff Analysis § Options/Next Steps 2

Problem Statement § Since 1977, Palo Alto has operated a composting facility for green material at the Landfill § The existing composting facility must close in 2012 (approximately) § The 2007 Zero Waste Operational Plan recommends using a regional facility to compost the City’s organic material 3

Quick Review § Colleagues Memorandum (August 2007) § Feasibility Report – Staff Recommendations and Commission Review (December 2008) § Blue-Ribbon Task Force – Convened to Evaluate & Recommend composting alternatives (January, 2009) § Council Direction – Further Staff Study (October, 2009) 4

Task Force Siting Considerations for a Palo Alto Site § Site needs to be at least ~6 acres § Shape & size will impact operational efficiency § Avoid using parkland § Adjacency to Wastewater Treatment Plant is vital 5

Key Areas Adjacent to Wastewater Treatment Plant 1 Airport te nd La iva Pr 2 s 3 Parkland 6

Task Force Key Recommendations for 2012 and 2021 on Airport Site § Establish Aerated Static Piles at Airport Site by 2012, or as soon as possible § Transfer compost to Airport Site when ready. § Take green material to Gilroy Compost Facility (Z-Best) if Airport site is not ready in time. § Establish Dry Anaerobic Digestion at Airport Site by 2021 Note: Federal Aviation Administration has issues with using Airport Site for compost. 7

October 2009 Council Direction To Staff § Analyze and recommend whether Aerated Static Piles should be considered on an interim basis. § Anaerobic Digestion – Evaluate 3 Palo Alto sites: 1) Airport - grassy heliport overflow area 2) Private land along Embarcadero Way 3) Parkland (northwest corner of Landfill site) (Including offset of new lands becoming dedicated parkland. ) § Evaluate Partnering Opportunities and Technology Options which have progressed since Task Force Recommendations 8

Aerated Static Pile § Cost: ~$ 3 Million § Location uncertain § Schedule dependent on location § Not recommended primarily due to cost and no readily available site 9

Anaerobic Digestion Palo Alto Location Analyses 1§ Airport Site (grassy heliport overflow area) 2§ Private Land along Embarcadero Way 3§ Byxbee Park southeast of Wastewater Treatment Plant (northwest corner of Landfill site) 10

Airport Site Aerated Static Piles Anaerobic Digestion § Airport Stake Holders oppose § Federal Aviation Administration opposes (needs Federal Aviation Administration approval) § County still holds lease on the land § Conclusion: Airport is impacted 11

Private Land Along Embarcadero Way § 5 Private Properties along Embarcadero Way were analyzed § Acquisition Estimate: § Low $22 Million § High $37 Million § § Total Area: 8. 3 acres Eminent Domain likely necessary § Conclusion: Extremely Expensive 12

Byxbee Park (northwest corner of Landfill site) X-Section (next slide) 13

Byxbee Park Site Cross Section 14

Byxbee Park (continued) § About 4. 7 Acres could be available without a major modification to the closure plan and moving refuse already in place § Post-closure maintenance and monitoring plan would need to be revised § Smaller than the Task Force site considerations of ~6 acres § Dedicated Park Area – Vote Required § Parkland use could be offset by dedicating new parkland (North Runway; Los Altos 15 Plant Site Wetlands)

Byxbee Park (continued) § Permitting would require CEQA review § Schedule: Best-case startup in 2018 (4. 7 acres) § Baylands Master Plan – major change required § State Lands Commission lease revision needed § Environmental Services Center Project on similar site in 2005 was rejected § Costs – Significant impact on refuse rates 16

Key Areas Adjacent to Wastewater Treatment Plant 1 Airport te nd La iva Pr 2 s 3 Parkland 17

Location of Potentially Offsetting Areas 18

Conclusions on 3 Palo Alto Sites § Airport – Negative impacts exist, therefore inconsistent with Council Direction § Private Lands – Too expensive § Byxbee Parkland – Further staff activity blocked by parkland dedication. 19

Options and Opportunities § Partnering Opportunities § Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Planning Process § Biosolids Issues § Reducing Carbon Footprint 20

Partnering Opportunities § Staff has had preliminary discussions with staff of the other SMa. RT Partners who expressed interest in developing more advanced organics processing facilities on or near SMa. RT § Green. Waste & Kompoferm- Planning an Anaerobic Digestion facility 12 miles from Palo Alto for yard waste and food scrap organics. § Harvest Power is strategizing for a new regional south bay organics management facility 21

Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Planning § Master Planning Process Opportunities § Scheduled to begin in 2010 § Draft Scope of Work calls for the exploration of Anaerobic Digestion options for biosolids with potential for 22 adding food waste.

April 5 Council Action FUTURE TIMELINE Continuing Staff Analysis & Development of Partnering Options and Opportunities Conduct Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Planning Current Compost Closure Interim Composting in Gilroy Switch to Closer, Better Organics Management 2010 2011 2012 ? 23

Next Steps § Return to Council for Action on April 5, 2010 § Develop plans to convert currently closed landfill area to parkland (Byxbee Park) § Continue work on regional options and opportunities and on Wastewater Treatment Master Planning 24

Anticipated April 5 Staff Recommendations to Council Direct Staff to: § Defer further work on a Palo Alto composting site until/unless an available site is identified. § Continue to explore regional partnering and opportunities, especially at the Sunnyvale SMa. RT Station and Zanker Road in San Jose. § Explore related organics management options during the upcoming Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Planning § Resume acceptance of commercial waste at the Palo Alto Landfill in conformance with Council’s earlier direction. 25

Questions/Comments? 26

4 acres Current Conditions 27

Road Shifted 6 acres 28