Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Waste And Water Reuse topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee discusses composting vendor transition, rainwater reuse and reclaimed-water options
Summary
Members reviewed status of composting discussions with Republic (service vendor), reported a personnel loss at Republic requiring renewed contact, and raised low-cost pilot ideas such as rain-barrel or cistern capture from solar carports for irrigation reuse.
Carmel’s climate advisory committee covered waste, composting and water-reuse ideas at its Jan. 28 meeting, including next steps after a personnel change at Republic Services and a description of local pilot ideas for rainwater capture.
Composting and Republic Services Committee members noted prior conversations with Republic about expanding curbside or municipal composting. Staff said a long-time Republic contact had passed away and that the vendor’s new contact will need to be engaged to continue discussions; committee members offered to help with Republic contacts.
Rainwater capture and reclaimed water Members raised several low-cost demonstration ideas to display water reuse and to reduce irrigation demand, including selling rain barrels through a local vendor and installing a cistern under a solar-panel parking canopy to collect runoff for park and median irrigation. Staff cautioned these ideas are likely to be more demonstrative than transformational because city irrigation for large spaces is currently supplied from hydrant/utility sources and the volumes needed are substantial; nevertheless, members said showpiece projects could help public education and lead-by-example messaging.
Reclaimed-water systems Committee members also discussed a broader reclaimed-water option for city green space irrigation and wastewater‑side improvements; staff said wastewater treatment upgrades and existing data could support calculations of carbon impacts if reclaimed systems were pursued.
Next steps Staff will reinitiate Republic discussions with the vendor’s replacement contact, track composting pilot opportunities, and return with feasibility notes on a rainwater-capture demonstration and reclaimed-water options.
