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UCRRA to set food‑waste tipping fee at $0 next year; agency warns limited hauling and processing capacity
Summary
UCRRA Director Mark Bridal said the agency plans to reduce food‑waste tipping to $0 and increase compost sale pricing to offset costs, but he warned that limited hauling infrastructure and a pause in permitted capacity have reduced volumes and revenue.
Mark Bridal told the committee UCRRA plans to set the food‑waste tipping fee to $0 next year while raising the price of finished compost by $10/ton to balance the program. He said the agency lost a large food‑waste customer while waiting on a permit change to expand capacity from 5,000 to 7,500 tons, and that the agency expects to accept roughly 2,500 tons of food waste this year.
Committee members asked whether lowering thresholds in the county food‑waste law could attract more material; Bridal and Department of Environment staff cautioned that source‑separated organics are not flow‑controlled and that private haulers and processors determine where loads go. Department staff (Amy) said the department is reviewing the county law and will return with metrics on current compliance and the number of businesses covered. Bridal also noted the agency has pursued grants and is seeking proposals to expand collection and processing capacity, including applying for a climate‑smart communities grant to establish collection sites and pickup capacity.
