Agenda Text
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Submitting an update on the residential food composting pilot project.
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Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
My staff has completed several actions to initiate residential food composting pilot project. These actions included:
a) Public education material development;
b) Selection of organic collection cart for pilot project;
c) Identification and mapping eligible households for the pilot project;
d) Creation of residential sign-up and feedback form;
e) Development of rules and processes for the 12-month duration of the project;
f) Development of a composting website; and
g) Release of a request for proposal (RFP) for collection and processing services for the pilot project and evaluation of proposals from qualified bidders.
All of the price quotes received from all qualified bidders exceeded the projected cost. In addition to raising concerns for the pilot project, these price quotes suggest additional issues related to the ultimate citywide expansion of food waste composting. Hence, we have delayed the implementation of the pilot project. We are revisiting the entire topic, defining alternative scenarios, and conduct cost/benefit analysis of the project based on such scenarios prior to starting the pilot project. We will continue to work with the Somerville Composting Advisory group (to the Mayor) on this effort to delineate a plan forward.
We will be able to offer a path forward, in the next two months, for a fiscally responsible pilot project that will serve the goals of solid waste reduction, food composting, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emission.
We will update the board once this process is completed.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph A. Curtatone
Mayor