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Public Works committee reviews draft mandatory commercial compost ordinance, approves container amendment
Summary
The committee reviewed a draft ordinance that would require restaurants, food trucks and other commercial food vendors to route food waste into the municipal compost program; members approved an amendment specifying municipality‑approved bear‑resistant collection containers and asked staff to seek attorney review before forwarding to the Assembly.
The Skagway Municipality Public Works Committee reviewed a draft ordinance on Nov. 18 that would require commercial food‑waste generators — restaurants, food trucks and grocery stores — to participate in the municipal composting program.
Deputy Manager Rebecca Kamaka told the committee the draft has been reviewed by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee but not yet by the municipal attorney and described the expected benefits: reduced incineration and local processing into a usable soil product for parks and maintenance. "This is a free service," Kamaka said, and the municipality would "reduce the disposal through incineration and shipping so we can deal with compost here locally at the composting facility." Kamaka added the ordinance is intended to bring food‑waste volume under the compost program so the result is usable topsoil for municipal projects.
Committee members focused on two operational issues: whether the draft's use of "shall" makes composting mandatory, and how the municipality would enforce the requirement. Kamaka acknowledged the language needs clarification and that attorney review is pending. Kamaka explained common drafting conventions: "Usually, the way it's interpreted is may is you don't have to, and shall is you have to." A committee member said enforcement details remain unresolved and requested staff follow up.
Members also debated container standards. A motion to amend the draft to require municipality‑approved bear‑resistant cans for collection was moved and seconded; the committee approved the amendment by voice vote. The amendment explicitly modifies the container requirement to read that restaurants, food trucks, grocery stores and other food vendors "shall dispose of food waste for composting in a municipality approved bear resistant can for collection." Committee members said the change clarifies expectations for businesses and collection crews.
The committee discussed encouraging stamped compostable to‑go packaging and flatware but did not add mandatory language; staff said they would confirm with operations which compostable items are acceptable. Kamaka said staff will incorporate the committee's edits and send the revised draft to the attorney for review before the next Public Works meeting.
The committee did not take final action to send the ordinance to the Assembly; staff will return with attorney‑reviewed language and any recommended enforcement provisions.