City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: September 19, 2023
From: Freddie Agyin, Director of Health and Environmental Control Department: Health and Environmental Control
Submitted by: Veronica Petrosyan, Deputy Director of Health and Environmental Control
Subject
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dyrt Labs, Inc. (Dyrt) Recommendation
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; even if the action was considered a project under CEQA, it would be exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15308, because the composting pilot program is being carried out by a regulatory agency to maintain, restore, or enhance the environment, where the regulatory process includes procedures to protect the environment; and
B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the MOU with Dyrt, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a composting pilot project for a three-month term with an option to extend the MOU for an additional three months for a total six-month pilot term.
Background
Signed into law in 2016, Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) is a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, which include greenhouse gases such as methane. Since the impacts of such pollutants are especially strong over the short term, efforts to reduce current emissions can have an immediate beneficial impact on climate change and public health. As landfills are a major source of methane, reducing the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills is critical to reducing methane emissions. Accordingly, SB 1383 regulations aim to reduce organic waste disposal 75% by 2025 and recover at least 20% of currently disposed surplus food for consumption.
SB 1383 requires all California jurisdictions, including the City of Vernon, to implement mandatory organic recycling programs aimed at residential and commercial solid waste generators.
Jurisdictions are to report on program implementation and maintain records that demonstrate how they are complying with the law. To meet its SB 1383 procurement target goals and assist Vernon food manufacturers/producers in meeting SB 1383 organic waste diversion goals, the City would like to partner with Dyrt Labs, Inc. (Dyrt) in a cost-neutral composting pilot initiative that will include customized tracking software and use of Dyrt’s proprietary composting equipment.
Dyrt provides a cost-effective solution for food producers to divert food waste from landfills and a turnkey waste tracking and organic management platform to show compliance with SB 1383 requirements. Dyrt offers in-vessel composting systems with data analytics to process food waste at the source.
The proposed composting pilot project will consist of the following:
1. Waste stream tracking software specific to the City, businesses, and residential units.
2. Platform connecting businesses with service providers to manage all waste streams including but not limited to municipal solid waste, recycling, organics, and hazardous waste.
3. Residential food waste collection for the 75 residential households located within city limits and processing at one (1) community compost site for residential food waste management and public educational events located at Vernon Village Park, 4675 E 52nd Dr, Vernon, CA 90058.
4. Dyrt composter, made available to private businesses at a discounted rate of 20% under a purchase or lease agreement.
Staff recommends approval of the MOU with Dyrt to pilot the food waste management platform that provides visibility and simplicity for large-scale food manufacturers/producers while assisting the City with SB 1383 compliance. The MOU has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Memorandum of Understanding with Dyrt Labs, Inc.